Brought to you by KWS
Harvesting Fast Spring Rye soon
Fast Spring Rye is a product from the hybrid rye breeding of KWS and has been specially developed as a fodder crop between two maize crops. It combines the properties of a catch crop with those of a protein producer. With Fast Spring Rye, the environmental impact is lower and a livestock farm is less dependent on external protein sources for its necessary protein supply.
Fast Spring Rye is able to develop very quickly in early spring due to more tillering and faster length growth compared to traditional cut or leaf rye. When harvested in April, dry matter yields between 4.000 and 5.000 kilos per hectare can be achieved. Depending on the level of additional fertilization with nitrogen, the raw protein percentage of the fresh product at harvest is between 15% and 18%. This is comparable to the high quality of grass. This results in a protein yield of between 640 and 950 kilos of protein per hectare and at a market price of €0,60/kg of protein in a gross financial return of €500.
Choose the right harvest time
The optimal harvest moment is in growth stage 37/39, the so-called flag leaf stage, when the last leaf unfurls. This has been achieved with a crop length of approximately 70 centimetres. It is much better to mow under favorable drying conditions. The weather therefore determines the mowing time, even more than the ideal crop length.
When mowing, a cutting height of 8 to 10 centimeters is desirable. By maintaining this cutting height, contamination with soil particles and thus quality reduction is prevented. When mowing, the dry matter percentage is around 20%. Opt for mowing for optimal drying by best placing the crop crushed and wide. A drying time of a maximum of 48 hours is desirable to achieve the ideal dry matter percentage of the harvested product of 30% to 35%. The most common methods of harvesting are chopping or finely chopped pressing into bales and then wrapping. With a later harvest towards the end of April or early May, the dry matter yield increases further due to an increase in crop mass, but the protein percentage actually decreases due to dilution. Also with a view to preparing for sowing and sowing the maize, waiting that long is not desirable.
Fast Spring Rye does not dry out the building material extra
For a timely start of the maize growing season, it is desirable to carry out stubble cultivation, fertilization, plowing and seedbed preparation for maize sowing as soon as possible after harvesting the Fast Spring Rye. The use of glyphosate is not necessary before or after this soil treatment. When the maize has been plowed for sowing, regrowth and thus competition for moisture and nutrients with the next crop of maize is not an issue.
Due to the timely harvest of the Fast Spring Rye in April, sufficient moisture remains in the soil for a smooth start of the next crop of maize. In addition, less moisture and nutrients are needed to digest the remaining crop residues. Contrary to what is sometimes claimed, there is no question of a seedbed that is too dry for the next crop of maize. In the meantime, a lot of practical experience has been gained with this.
Do you need help determining the optimal harvest time for your Fast Spring Rye or would you like more information about this innovative crop? Then please contact your KWS consultant! Also look this video to see the harvest of Fast Spring Rye!
