Cool Season Annual Forage Mixtures Trial

In 2019, the University of Vermont Extension’s Northwest Crop and Soils Program evaluated the performance of cool season annuals for forage planted in mixtures and in monoculture. In the Northeast, cool season perennial grasses dominate pastures and hay meadows that farmers rely on. Often times during the fall months, the perennial pasture will decline in yield and quality. The addition of cool season annual forages into the grazing system during this time may help improve the quality and quantity of forage and potentially extend the grazing season. Recently, there has been a growing interest in utilizing multiple cool season forage species to maximize yield and quality. We compared eleven varieties of eight annual species alone and in two-and-three species mixtures to evaluate potential differences in forage yield and quality. While the information presented can begin to describe the yield and quality performance of these forage mixtures in this region, it is important to note that the data represent results from only one season and one location