Dakota Farmer

Teff grass can produce a large amount of forage quickly.

April 16, 2014

2 Min Read

Teff grass is native to Ethiopia, says Rutendo Nyamusamba, South Dakota State Univeristy Extension agronomy-crops field specialist. It grows well in many environments and soil types. In trials at SDSU in Brookings, S.D., teff  yielded 1.3 to 5.3 tons per acre of biomass.

Teff is best sown when soils warm-up to 65 degrees Fahrenheit followed by warmer growing temperatures of at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Nyamusamba.

"Teff is very intolerant of cold temperatures and frost, with a reported 100% kill when temperatures dropped to below 32 degrees Fahrenheit," she says.

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Producers should consider growing teff grass if you are looking to:
•Produce emergency forage or a rescue crop.
•Supplement hay during the summer.
•Double crop following wheat or another cereal crop.
•Plant a forage crop after alfalfa.
•Grow a green manure crop.
•Control soil erosion.
•Make use of corners in fields with center pivots.
•Extend the production of an old alfalfa stand.

A firm seedbed is important as teff is sow only 1an eight to one quarter inch.  Seeding deeper than half inch has great potential of a stand failure. However, seeding this shallow can be a challenge.

At the Dakota Lakes Research Farm, teff  seed is packed into the bottom of the trench and the trench is left open. Surface seeding is possible if there is enough moisture. Teff seed is small with a seed count of 1.14 million to 1.50 million un-coated seeds per pound.

A seeding rate of 4 to 8 pounds per acre is the general recommendation. Teff produces many tillers. With favorable temperature and moisture, teff germination is rapid, taking three to five days.

Thinking About A Cover Crop? Start With Developing A Plan. Taking time to design your cover crop plan will increase the successful establishment of the crop and potentially allow for improved staggering of fall harvest.

"The first two weeks following germination are concentrated in establishing the roots hence the need to think about weed competition at crop establishment," she says.

Teff can be seeded from late May to July.

"Optimum production was achieved in late May planting where first cutting was done in early August and a second harvest mid-September or the stand can be grazed. Because of its shallow root system, it is recommended that grazing be done on re-growing teff after the second cutting," she says.

Grazing before the first cutting might result in animals pulling plants out of the ground. A first cutting height of 3 to 4 inches gives better regrowth as it allows enough leaf blade to remain for photosynthesis. There have not been many concerns with disease and insect problems. However, a stem-boring wasp caused significant damage and stunting of growth in one year of the trials conducted by SDSU at Highmore and Brookings.

Source: SDSU

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