Orchardgrass - FSA2031

When weak tall fescue stands are destroyed so fields may be renovated, you may consider replanting the field with orchardgrass. Tall fescue is probably the best choice for cool season pastures, but orchardgrass is a good second choice. It probably fits better for dairies than beef operations, hay than pastures, higher than lower elevations and northern than southern counties.

Orchardgrass has been used in a number of beef operations in the state very successfully. The key to orchardgrass persistence in beef cattle operations is to avoid overgrazing during the summer months. This typically means that very little grazing or harvest for hay should be planned after the first week in June for most of Arkansas.

Orchardgrass is a long lived perennial cool season bunch grass that produces an open sod. It grows best at a combination of 72 degrees Fahrenheit day and 54 degrees Fahrenheit night temperatures. Orchardgrass is less tolerant than tall fescue of heat and drought. Temperatures in excess of 82 degrees Fahrenheit greatly reduce its growth. Orchardgrass is tolerant of shade. It is especially well adapted for planting with legumes such as red clover, and is one of the better grasses to grow with alfalfa. Orchardgrass grown in mixtures with endophyte-free fescue and legumes can be a very good combination, also. It starts growth early in March, develops rapidly and flowers in May. Flowering date depends on the variety, temperature and length of day.

Orchardgrass shows less summer dormancy than tall fescue. It is not as well adapted to poor drainage. It will grow on thinner and less fertile soil than will timothy or bromegrass, but is not as well adapted as tall fescue to tight, poorly drained soils.

Each orchardgrass plant produces many sterile, non-jointing tillers in the spring which recover within two to three weeks after harvest. These tillers account for the leafiness of aftermath production.

Some of the varieties sold in Arkansas are briefly described in Table 1.

Select a variety by first studying the description and yield history in the tables of this publication. Early maturing varieties generally produce more than late maturing ones. When grown with alfalfa, use a late maturing variety since it will better match the maturity of the legume.

Table 1. Varieties Described (Tested in Arkansas Variety Trials)¹
Orchard- grass Variety	Yield of Dry Matter T/A				Maturity	Best Adapta-tion	Traits
Orchard- grass Variety	Bates-ville 1989-92	Hope 1986-88	Fayette-ville 1986-88	Fayette-ville 1989-92	Maturity	Best Adapta-tion	Traits
Hallmark	---	3.8	3.5	---	Early to medium	Mid-south	leafiness, yield, leaf disease resistance
Potomac	---	---	3.4	---	Early	Mid-south	Yield, persistence, resists rust
Benchmark	2.9	---	---	5.2	Medium - early	Midwest	Yield
Crown	---	3.6	3.4	---	Medium - early	All orchard - grass areas	Yield, resists rust, somewhat hardy
Rancho	2.7	---	3.6	4.8	Late like Able	North	Rust resistance is good. Holds green color late.
Shiloh	---	3.9	3.7	---	Early	Mid-south	Yield, long lived, developed for South
Boone	3.2	4.1	3.3	5.2	Early	Mid-south	Yield, persists, use in pasture.
Potomac	---	3.4	3.4	---	Late	Mid-Atlantic	Yield, matures with alfalfa
Paiute	2.8	---	---	5.2	---	---	---
Piedmont	2.6	---	---	4.8	---	---	---
Justus	3.0	---	---	5.1	Mid-season	Midwest	Rust resistance, nutritive value
1 Table 1 indicates listings of orchardgrass varieties that have been grown in Arkansas or orchardgrass variety trials in Louisiana or Kentucky, their brief descriptions and yield results. This table is not intended as a variety recommendation guide due to a lack of forage variety testing in Arkansas since 1993.

Orchardgrass should be planted between either September 1 and October 15 or March 1 and April 1. Plant 12 pounds of seed per acre in pure stands or 6 to 8 pounds with clover or other legumes. If orchardgrass is broadcast or if the seedbed is poor, add 2 to 4 extra pounds per acre. Place the seed no deeper than 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep. Cultipack after seeding. Proper planting is especially helpful in protecting young winter sensitive orchardgrass seedlings.

A pasture with mixtures of orchardgrass and endophyte infected fescue often is selectively grazed more heavily. In spite of this weakness, attempting to maintain 25 to 50 percent mixtures of orchardgrass with endophyte infected tall fescue is a good idea.

Use a complete fertilizer such as 13-13-13 at planting time to help assure good stands. Rates of 300 pounds per acre are common when a soil test report is not available. A soil test report for the field is a much better guide than rules-of-thumb for determining fertilizer rates.

Orchardgrass requires relatively high soil fertility – particularly nitrogen – for high yields. The most profitable rate of nitrogen fertilizer for pastures is probably about 100 to 120 pounds per acre annually. Fifty to 60 pounds per acre after each hay cutting gives good yields. Total nitrogen applied for the year depends on weather, environmental considerations and on the yield desired.

Annual applications of 2 to 4 tons of broiler litter per acre supply adequate fertility for high yields. Phosphorus and potassium levels in the soil are likely to increase over time with these rates.

A good management scheme for orchardgrass is to hay the first spring production in the late boot to early heading stage of growth. Then graze the aftermath growth rotationally. Allow approximately a 3-week rest period between grazings, depending on soil moisture conditions and regrowth rate of the orchardgrass.

The feed value of aftermath forage does not decline rapidly with time as the first growth does. Therefore, time of harvest is less critical for the second and succeeding hay harvests. However, growth accumulation of more than five weeks is not encouraged.

Hay crops may be taken every four or five weeks when moisture and fertility are available. Delaying the first harvest beyond early bloom not only lowers its quality, but also reduces aftermath yield by perhaps 15 percent.

Fields should be grazed frequently and heavily in April and May. Frequent and heavy grazing during this period will suppress seed head formation significantly and, therefore, help maintain forage quality for the grazing animal. Leave a 3 to 4 inch stubble for quick regrowth. Delayed grazing tends to force clover out of the stand. Avoid continuous close grazing because this weakens stands by removing stored reserves near the soil surface. Rotational grazing by turning onto fields when they are between 8 and 11 inches tall gives a good combination of quality, yield and legume maintenance. Orchardgrass should be thought of mainly as a hay crop unless it is rotationally grazed. It will not survive as well as tall fescue under poor grazing management and low soil fertility.

As much as two-thirds of the total year’s production may come from aftermath harvests if fertility is not limiting (see Tables 2 and 3). Hay yields of 5 tons per acre may be harvested in good years. Most of the yield comes in April and May.

Table 2. Seasonal Distribution of Orchardgrass Dry Matter Yield 1989-92 at Fayetteville, AR (Combined Average of Four Varieties*)
	Previous Fall		Spring and Summer
Yield	October	November	April	May	June	August
T/A	0.5	0.2	0.9	1.3	1.3	0.4
%	10	5	20	28	28	9
*Benchmark, Boone, Justus, Paiute

The TDN and crude protein values of orchardgrass may be similar but generally of higher value than those of tall fescue – especially during spring and summer months.

Beef animal conception rate may increase by 18 percent and animal gain by 1/2 pound per day when cattle graze orchardgrass rather than endophyte infected tall fescue.

Aphids frequently attack pure stands of orchardgrass in the spring, but economics seldom justify the treatment in Arkansas. In diverse mixtures of orchardgrass, endophyte-free fescue and legumes, aphids are seldom a problem. If insect problems arise, contact your county Extension agent for recommended insecticides and rates.

Rust and brown stripe are two common diseases of orchardgrass. Look for rust on the top of leaves. It is worse in wet years. Diseases are worse in dry parts of the year and when soil fertility is low. Control by spraying is generally not economical. Selection of resistant varieties and early harvest are the best ways to manage around a portion of the leaf disease problems.

Since space will not allow the inclusion of the normal sequence of operations table, a brief explanation of the equipment and operations follows.

Except for the fertilizer spreader, machinery and equipment used in this analysis are assumed to be owned by the farmer. The field is plowed one time in late August with a chisel plow pulled with a 85 hp tractor. In early September, the field is tilled one time with a disk pulled by a 85 hp tractor. Mixed fertilizer (10-20-10) is then applied at the rate of 300 pounds per acre. The fertilizer spreader is pulled with a 60 hp tractor. A final disking follows the fertilizer application.

Seeding is done with a 12 foot drill pulled with a 50 hp tractor. The seeding rate is 12 pounds per acre. The only other assumed operation in this analysis is the application of 177 pounds of ammonium nitrate (60 pounds of N) in March of the following year. In some years, it may be necessary to apply one quart of 2,4-D in the spring for broadleaf weed control.

The estimated cash costs for establishing orchardgrass are summarized in Table 4. Specified operating costs per acre are those expenditures that would generally require annual cash outlays and would be included on an annual operating loan application.

Machinery fuel, repair and ownership costs were calculated using a budget generator based on parameters and standards published in the American Society of Agricultural Engineers 1994 Handbook. Therefore, the producer’s actual costs may likely vary from estimates shown in this analysis.

All costs were derived from the operations mentioned above. Selected input costs include diesel, $0.70 per gallon; labor, $4.90 per hour; and interest, 8 percent. Mixed fertilizer cost was $180 per ton, ammonium nitrate $180 per ton and Boone orchardgrass seed, $1.40 per pound.

Table 4. Specified Operating Costs per Acre
Resource or input	Our Estimates	Your Estimates
Seed	$16.80
Fertilizer	$43.58
Machinery:
Fuel, Oil, Lubricant	$1.97
Repairs	$4.88
Labor	$5.24
Interest on Op. Cap.	$2.55
Total Specified Operating Costs	$75.02

Fertilizer was the most expensive input item, accounting for 58 percent of the total specified operating costs of $75.02 per acre (see Table 4).

Machinery ownership costs represent the capital replacement of owning and using equipment and can vary greatly from one farm to another depending on the farm’s size, management skills and annual use. Total specified ownership costs presented in Table 5 are estimated to be $10.18 per acre and include depreciation, interest, taxes and insurance. These costs were based on the initial cost and expected useful life of the machinery and were allocated on a per acre basis using estimated performance rates and hours of annual use.

Table 5. Specified Ownership Costs per Acre
Resource or input	Our Estimates	Your Estimates
Implements	$5.49
Tractors	$4.69
Total Specified Ownership Costs	$10.18
Total Specified Operation and Ownership Costs	$85.21
Not included in this report are charges for land, risk, overhead labor, other overhead, real estate taxes and management.

These are economic costs and may differ from short-run tax based cash accounting figures for a particular year. The economic approach spreads these costs over the entire useful life of the machinery. In the long-run the farm business must cover these costs to remain viable.

Total specified operating and ownership costs presented in Table 5 are estimated to be $85.21 per acre. Notice that charges for land, farm overhead and management are not included in the $85.21. Therefore, the costs shown should be used as guides for planning purposes only. Use the “Your Estimates” column to change our estimates by adding, deleting or changing costs to reflect your specific situation.

Once a stand of orchardgrass is established, management practices normally include maintaining the proper fertility level, controlling weeds, harvesting and/or grazing. With proper care, the stand should be productive for several years.

If establishment costs were pro-rated over five years, the cost per each productive year for establishment is $15.00 per acre. To cover total specified operating and ownership costs, the annual cost is $17.04 per acre.

Information presented in this document is prepared solely as a general guide and is not intended to recognize or predict the costs and returns from any one particular farm or ranch operation. The mention of any commercial product in this analysis does not imply its endorsement by the United States Department of Agriculture or the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service over other products not named, nor does the omission imply that they are not satisfactory.

Larry J. Sandage, Extension Forage Specialist
Tony E. Windham, Extension Economist - Management

LARRY J. SANDAGE is an Extension forage specialist, Livestock and Forestry Branch Station, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas, Batesville.
TONY E. WINDHAM is an Extension economist - management and section leader - agricultural economics, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas, Little Rock.

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Publications Orchardgrass Cool Season Perennial Grasses Series

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Orchardgrass
Cool Season Perennial Grasses Series