Eastern Colorado Seed, LLC

Small Grain Forages

Intimadator/Forerunner
Bearless Triticale

Adaptation: The variety thrives in the mild winters of California and is winter-hardy enough to produce forage from the Pacific Northwest to the Mid-West. A versatile new option for the Dairy, Beef, Equine, Sheep producers and commercial hay growers.

Usage: Plant Intimidator/Forerunner from late summer to late winter/very early spring. Intimidator/Forerunner spends the cooler days of winter growing large numbers of tillers that will grow upright when spring temperatures rise and the day length increases. The crop canopy will fill rapidly with broad succulent leaves and compete well against unwanted weeds. Its greatest value may be the two cut management. Intimidator/ Forerunner can be cut and ensiled prior to “boot” or heading stage and let to re-grow for a second cut for hay, silage, or grazing. In dryland conditions Intimidator/Forerunner can be cut at the appropriate time for hay allowing grazing on the stubble and re-growth.

Harvest/Maturity: For two cut usage we suggest the first gutting be at early boot or flag leaf stage for the best quality of product. The second cutting presents some option to the forage producer. The greatest tonnage/quality mix (and in dryland situations) the crop can be cut near anthesis (pollination) time for hay or silage. Letting the crop mature longer does produce more dry matter per acre but digestibility and overall quality of the forage product will decrease.

Crop Characteristics: Intimidator/Forerunner is a “beardless” or “awnletted” variety. This means Intimidator/Forerunner will display a very high percentage of heads with little or no long awns, Unlike many triticales available today, Intimidator/Forerunner is a true forage variety. It is designed and bred for grazing, hay or silage. Intimidator/Forerunner can grow to average heights of 50 to 60 inches for forage purposes. Straw strength is good. This crop will stand well with higher rates of nutrients. Stems are soft and highly palatable to livestock. Lower leaves stay green and “hang on” to provide a good leaf/stem ratio. Intimidator/forerunner triticale appears to be resistant to current races of stem and leaf rusts. The variety displays good winter-hardiness on a par with many winter wheats grown in the west.
Triticales are noted to be very good users of Nitrogen and Phosphorous. Where environmental concerns are present Intimidator/Forerunner is an excellent choice to help tie up excess nutrients on lands where animal wastes are applied. Particularly in these situations, we strongly recommend forage analysis of the crop to guard against any possible nutritional imbalances caused by high nutrient availability.

Cultural Practices: As with any crop good seedbed and seed placement to soil is essential to success. Triticales planted in the fall generally need nutrition similar to winter wheat. However Intimidator/Forerunner reaches for higher levels of nitrogen and can fully use higher levels of N toward forage production. Seeding rates should be between 50 and 100 lbs. Per acre.

Magnum Oats

Magnum Oats are very tall and prolific forage, producing a high volume of plant material of very high quality hay and/or greenchop for all livestock. The height of the Magnum, six feet or taller, along with its density make it the most impressive forage oat available in the market place today. Once magnum oats are introduced into a geographic growing area, repeat sales the following year readily occur because its performance is so impressive.

Magnums forage and hay are very sweet and even with the larger straw, cattle and horses will readily clean up the feed trough. Magnum oats are small seeded, with good seedling vigor and great tillering. This variety has rapid elongation with broad leaves growing upright to produce a large almost bushy plant. If left ungrazed and with good growing conditions Magnum Oats can reach five feet at the head emergence and will exceed five feet after full heading. Yields have ranges from 3.5 to 4.0 tons per acre at boot stage and increase up to 5.0 tons per acre and more at soft dough stage. We have seen yields up to 7.0 tons per acre, but consistent averages are in the 5.0 ton area.

With a seed count of 18,000 to 20,000 seeds per pound a grower can generally cut the planting rate to 50% of common oats. Commonly Magnums are seeded from 50# to 75# per acre. Magnum oats can be planted in combination with Magnus peas to increase protein. Blends with Forerunner triticale and Turnips increase forage production and extends grazing periods. The old walken oats won’t even stand a chance against Magnum. Magnum oats are grown under P.V.P and unauthorized propagation is prohibited.