FSM Brand Snowbelt Orchardgrass

Agronomic & Performance Characteristics:

  • Impressive sward density
  • Excellent yields, averaging 7.68 tons per acre in a 3 year Eastern Canada forage trial
  • Good heat and drought tolerance
  • Superior winterhardiness
  • Good digestibility with a dNDF of 65-85% depending on stage of harvest and season

FSM Brand Snowbelt Orchardgrass is well suited for dry hay production, alone or with red clover or alfalfa; or as a winter hardy, heat and drought tolerant component of high quality pasture. In pasture mixes, we recommend including 20 to 35 percent Snowbelt Orchardgrass by weight; use 4 to 8 pounds per acre when seeding with alfalfa or red clover for hay. Snowbelt prefers moderate to well drained soils and has good tolerance to heat and dryer conditions. For best results, seed into a firm seed bed when temperature and moisture will be adequate but not excessive for at least 30 days after planting (generally March through early May in spring, August through early-October in fall). Herbicide is not usually needed, except to kill or suppress a sod for no-til planting. Late fall and early spring seedings will generally establish but not be highly productive the fist summer. Fertilizer requirements are similar to other cool season grasses. Snowbelt should be harvested during the third week of May (just before head emergence) and every 30 to 40 days thereafter through the growing season either mechanically or by grazing. Snowbelt should not be harvested lower than 3-4 inches under any circumstance! Proper harvest height management is critical for regrowth, along with temperature and moisture conditions after harvest.

FSM Brand Snowbelt Orchardgrass is untreated and a non-GMO variety, however, always confirm acceptability for organic production with your certifying agency.

FSM Brand Snowbelt Orchardgrass exhibits impressive sward density and superior winterhardiness to other orchardgrass varieties, producing excellent yields of very good quality, leafy forage.

Download FSM Technical Bulletin: FSM Snowbelt

FSM Snowbelt
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