Kummerowia striata, commonly known as common lespedeza, is an introduced annual plant that thrives across the southern and eastern regions of the United States. This versatile plant is a favorite among grazers like cattle and other herbivores, making it a valuable addition to pastures and mixed grasslands. Blooming from August to September, common lespedeza produces subtle purple flowers that may easily go unnoticed. It flourishes in full sun and exhibits adaptability to various soil types. While it can become weedy if left unchecked, effective control measures such as chemical and mechanical treatments are available to manage its spread and maintain ecological balance.

Lathyrus sativus, commonly known as chickling vetch, emerges as a versatile and valuable cool-season annual legume, prized for its dual benefits as a nitrogen source and forage crop. Whether planted in early spring or late summer, it serves as a reliable option for enhancing soil fertility and providing nutritious forage for livestock. With its high palatability, chickling vetch is suitable for both pasture and hay production, offering flexibility in agricultural management. It can be harvested for hay or grazed approximately 60 days after planting, allowing for rapid utilization and maximum yield potential. In addition to its role as a forage crop, chickling vetch exhibits impressive nitrogen-fixing capabilities, enriching the soil and supporting subsequent crops in rotation. Chickling vetch is often included in mixed plantings with oats, peas, radishes, and other cool-season annual forages, enhancing diversity and productivity in cropping systems.

Brassica oleracea, commonly referred to as collards, transcends its role as a leafy green vegetable to also serve as a valuable forage crop, particularly for livestock. Characterized by their large, dark green leaves that grow in a rosette formation, collards are known for their robust flavor and hearty texture. They are a cool-season vegetable, thriving in mild climates and often enduring frost with resilience. Recognized for its adaptability and nutritional value, collards offer numerous benefits in the realm of animal agriculture. As a forage crop, collards provide a rich source of nutrients for grazing animals, including cattle, sheep, and goats. Their large, dark green leaves are not only palatable but also highly nutritious, containing essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that contribute to animal health and productivity. One of the key advantages of collards as a forage crop is their versatility in cultivation and management. They are relatively easy to grow, adapting well to a range of soil types and climates. Collards are typically planted as a cool-season crop, thriving in mild temperatures and often enduring frost with resilience. In addition to their nutritional benefits, collards offer advantages in forage management. They exhibit rapid growth and regrowth, allowing for multiple harvests or grazing cycles throughout the growing season. This characteristic enhances the efficiency of forage production and utilization, maximizing yields and extending grazing periods for livestock. Furthermore, collards can play a role in diversifying forage systems and mitigating seasonal feed shortages. Their inclusion in pasture mixes or as a standalone forage crop provides farmers with additional options for meeting the dietary needs of their livestock, particularly during periods of limited forage availability.

Brassica carinata, also known as African cabbage or Ethiopian mustard, is a resilient member of the Brassicaceae family, recognized for its versatility and unique characteristics. With a hard, erect central stem that remains upright even in winter, it displays remarkable resilience in adverse weather conditions. This attribute not only aids in its survival but also makes it adept at trapping snow during the winter months, contributing to moisture retention in the soil. Beyond its agronomic benefits, African cabbage offers additional advantages in agricultural practices. It demonstrates efficacy in controlling several parasitic nematodes, making it a valuable tool in integrated pest management strategies. However, despite its numerous strengths, it is worth noting that African cabbage is considered less palatable for livestock forage compared to other brassicas. Nevertheless, its nutritional value and adaptability make it a valuable asset in sustainable farming systems, offering both food security and soil health benefits.

Astragalus canadensis, commonly known as Canada milkvetch, stands as a robust and smooth-stemmed plant, celebrated for its ornamental value and ecological significance. Inhabiting a diverse range of habitats, Canada milkvetch can be found in dry prairies, moist shores, riverbanks, marshy grounds, and open or partly shaded areas. It thrives in well-drained soils under sunny conditions, showcasing its adaptability to various environments. However, it exhibits low tolerance to root disturbance and cannot withstand extremely cold weather conditions. While germination may be slow, typically occurring within four to nine weeks for fresh seeds, patience is rewarded with the emergence of vigorous seedlings. Astragalus canadensis remains valued for its ecological role and aesthetic qualities, contributing to the biodiversity and visual allure of natural landscapes.

Scientific Name: Bromus hordeaceus

Blando brome is a cool season annual bunchgrass native to Europe. It is widely distributed throughout the ranges of California, including the Sierra foothills, and range areas bordering the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley and the high mountain chaparral ranges of southern California. Blando brome growth starts in the fall and matures by April or May of the following year. This grass has excellent reseeding abilities, along with a dense and fibrous root system that aids in reducing soil erosion. It is adaptable to a wide range of soils and climates, is low-growing, and matures early. Blando brome is often used in ranges, pastures, and as a cover crop for vineyards and orchards.

Produced by S&S Seeds

Scientific Name: Hordeum brachyantherum

Meadow barley is a perennial grass native, to western North America, from Alaska to northern Mexico, and parts of eastern North America. It is a tufted grass that produces compact, narrow purple flower clusters. Similar to other barleys, the smaller lateral spikelets come in triplets.

Host plant: white-lined sphinx, alfalfa looper moth, venerable dart, armyworm moth, bilobed looper moth, bronzed cutworm, and glassy borer

Produced by Hedgerow Farms

Our Southern Subtropics Poultry Forage Mix contains a selection of legumes and forbs designed specifically for the hot, humid summers and mild winters of the Deep South. This mix produces excellent chicken forage that is naturally low-growing and nutrient-dense. It also contains common flax; a well-known source of omega-3 fatty acids. Ideal for large acreages or small backyard plots. Can also be used as a cover crop. This mix produces a pasture that will contain approximately:

30% White Dutch Clover

20% Red Clover

15% Crimson Clover

15% Buckwheat

10% Strawberry Clover

10% Common Flax

In an effort to help our customers visualize the finished product, note that the percentages listed above are what you can expect the stand to contain once established. For the contents of this seed mix by weight, please contact us to request a digital copy of the seed tag.

Also known as forage pea or Austrian winter pea, field pea is a cool-season annual legume used as a green manure cover crop, pasture forage, and in wildlife food plots. Field peas are quick to establish and produce abundant biomass. Very cold hardy and water efficient. Field pea prefers well-drained loam or clay soils and are often partnered with cereal grains such as oats. Makes an excellent component of big game food plots. For best results, sow in the fall or early spring.

Scientific Name: Pisum sativum ssp. arvense

Hybrid pearl millet is an introduced, warm-season annual grass commonly used for livestock forage and as a cover crop. It’s very quick to establish and can be ready for grazing in as little as four weeks after planting. Unlike sorghum and sudangrass, there is no risk of prussic acid poisoning with pearl millet. It can grow very tall and upright, often reaching between 6 and 10 feet high. Does well in soils with low fertility. Hybrid pearl millet also produces seeds that are an excellent food source for birds and makes an excellent component in wildlife food plots.

Scientific name: Pennisetum glaucum

Note: Seed has been treated with fungicide