As we move closer to March, those growers who are planning on renovating or make new seedings of forages should consider making seedings timely. University of Missouri Extension Guide 4652, “Seeding Rates, Dates and Depths for Common Missouri Forages” is an excellent reference to help you make those decisions.

Cool season grasses such as bluegrass can be seeded during a January and February time frame. However, smooth brome and timothy should be seeded during February and March. Orchard-grass should be delayed to late March and early April. Tall fescue should be seeded before April 15.

Legumes such as red clover and ladino should be seeded from February to April 15. Other legumes such as Birdsfoot trefoil should be seeded February through early March. Alfalfa should be seeded before April 15.

Warm season grass seeding should be delayed. Big bluestem, Indian-grass and switchgrass should be seeded in the months of April to May. However, Eastern gamma grass should be planted in May.

Be sure to soil test to determine nutrient levels. University of Missouri Extension offices can receive your soil samples and they can be analyzed by the soil test lab at the University of Missouri. Nutrient recommendations are made specific for crops being seeded and along with other recommendations to maintain productive forage stands.

For more information, contact Wayne Flanary, Field Specialist in Agronomy, University of Missouri Extension at 816-279-1691.