05/03/2026
Scouting our forage crop yesterday morning. This mix of triticale, peas, vetch and crimson clover was seeded in early October after soybeans were harvested and we'll plant corn into the article after this crop is harvested. Estimating we're about 1-2 1/2 weeks away from harvest. Splitting the stems open, the seed head is still very low in the triticale plants, at least 2 more leaves are going to emerge before the seed head. The optimal time to mow a cereal crop like this is at boot stage, when the seed head is in the "boot" right before it emerges. The longer we wait to mow the higher the yield will be but as soon as the seed head emerges quality drops quickly. Protein and energy will drop, while fiber, particularly non digestible fiber rises.
Hopefully we get some warmer weather to get this crop moving towards maturity so we can get it harvested and corn planted early. Also hoping the legumes (peas, vetch, crimson clover) in the mix will increase protein. Triticale by itself is typically 12-14 percent protein but we're hoping for 16-20 percent with the legumes.
