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2024-2025 Fall-Seeded Winter Forages and Cover Crops

In fall 2024, a trial evaluating fall-seeded winter forages and cover crops was established at the Rock Springs and Landisville research locations.
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Updated:
July 30, 2025
Winter cover crop trials at Landisville

Winter cover crop trials at Landisville

Planting occurred in early October, and harvest took place in spring 2025. The trial featured two harvest management systems: a single-cut system and a multi-cut system.

Cereal species were harvested using the single-cut approach, while annual ryegrasses were evaluated under both systems. Four annual ryegrass varieties were included in each. In the multi-cut system, annual ryegrass was harvested twice—first on May 20 at Landisville and on May 27 at Rock Springs, followed by a second cut on June 24 and June 20 respectively, weather permitting. In the single-cut system, varieties were harvested at the late-boot to the heading stage, except barley at the soft dough stage, depending on weather conditions. Harvesting for this trial began on May 1, 2025, and concluded on June 5, 2025.

Our soil fertility program is based on phosphorus and potash maintenance applications that are aligned with soil test recommendations. Plots received 30 pounds of nitrogen per acre in the fall, 100 pounds at spring green-up, and, for the multi-cut system, an additional 50 pounds after the first harvest. For detailed recommendations on establishment, fertilization, and other management practices, please refer to the current Penn State Agronomy Guide.

Table 1 lists the fall-seeded winter forage and cover crop varieties included in this trial that are currently available—or may soon become available—in Pennsylvania (availability may vary; please confirm with suppliers). Tables 2 through 5 provide guidelines for assessing the production potential of these varieties.

Table 1. 2024-2025 Fall-Seeded Winter Forage and Cover Crop Varieties Marketed in Pennsylvania and Listed in This Report.
Species/Variety Marketer Appears in Table No.
Annual Ryegrass 　 　
BAR LMF 490-3(2n) Barenbrug USA 4,5
BAR LMF 490-4(2n) Barenbrug USA 4,5
Centurion(2X) Mountain View Seeds 2,4
DSVLw A2481 DSV Zaden Nederland BV 2,4
DSVLw A2482 DSV Zaden Nederland BV 2,4
DSVLw M2487 DSV Zaden Nederland BV 2,4
Jackson WAX 4,5
Maximus(4N) Barenbrug USA 4,5
ME-4 WAX 4,5
ME-94 WAX 4,5
Nelson Tetraploid WAX 4,5
Ribeye(2n) Barenbrug USA 4,5
Tetraprime II Mountain View Seeds 2,4
WAX Marshall WAX 4,5
WMCT WAX 4,5
WMWL WAX 4,5
WMWL-2 WAX 4,5
Cereal Rye
KWS Progas KWS Cereals 2,3
KWS Aviator KWS Cereals 2,3
Rye Grazemaster II Seedway 2
Barley 　 　
VT beahm VA Crop Improvement Assoc. 2
SB 151 VA Crop Improvement Assoc. 2
PSU 8 Check 2
PSU EXP Check 2
Triticale 　 　
2021u03 Oregon Trail Seeds 2,3
2021u05 Oregon Trail Seeds 2,3
BCT19004 Seed Link 2
BCT19005 Seed Link 2
BCT23001 Seed Link 2
BCT23002 Seed Link 2
BCT23003 Seed Link 2
Triticale Hybrid Flex Seedway 2
Triticale Hyoctane Seedway 2
Triticale Maverick Seedway 2

Seed Sources

Barenbrug USA
Tangent, OR 97389
Phone: 541-926-5801
www.barusa.com

DSV Zaden Nederland BV

Neepawa, MB R0J 1H0
Phone: 800-430-5955
www.dsv-northstar.com

KWS Cereals USA
495 County Rd 1300 N
Champaign, IL 61822
Phone: 303-489-4265
www.kws.com

Mountain View Seeds
Salem, OR 97305
Phone: 503-588-7333
www.mtviewseeds.com

Oregon Trail Seeds
Imbler, OR 97827
Phone: 541-898-7333
www.otseeds.com

Seed Link
208 St. David Street
Lindsay, Ontario, K9V 4Z4, CANADA
Phone:705-324-0544
www.seed-link.ca/

Seedway
275 N 8th St
Mifflinburg, PA 17844
Phone: 800-338-2137
www.seedway.com

The Wax Company LLC
212 Front St N,
Amory, MS 38821
Phone: 662-256-3511

Virginia Crop Improvement Association
9225 Atlee Branch Lane
Mechanicsville, VA 23116
Phone: 804-472-4649
www.virginiacrop.org

Table 2. 2024-2025 Fall-Seeded Winter Forages and Cover Crops Trial--Single-Cut Management Sequence--Rock Springs.
a. Annual Ryegrass
Species/Variety Harvest date Yield CP%§ ADF§ aNDF§ 30-hr NDFD%§ TTNDFD%§
Centurion(2X) 2025/6/5 3.19 11.93 34.32 58.14 60.66 51.96
Tetraprime II 2025/6/5 3.11 11.75 31.07 53.09 62.31 57.64
DSVLw A2481 2025/6/5 2.63 12.91 31.98 54.43 61.89 55.32
DSVLw M2487 2025/6/5 2.23 12.71 31.64 54.02 61.91 55.52
DSVLw A2482 2025/6/5 1.34 17.52 25.43 43.00 68.49 63.67
 
GRAND MEAN 　 2.50 13.36 30.89 52.54 63.05 56.82
CV (%) 　 10.21 　 　 　 　 　
LSD (p = .05) 　 0.40 　 　 　 　 　
b. Cereal Rye
Species/Variety Harvest date Yield CP%§ ADF§ aNDF§ 30-hr NDFD%§ TTNDFD%§
KWS Progas 2024/5/8 2.53 14.37 33.23 57.19 60.52 57.43
KWS Aviator 2024/5/8 2.08 13.81 33.97 56.80 59.16 56.28
Rye Grazemaster II 2024/5/8 1.68 18.57 29.27 50.07 63.65 60.57
 
GRAND MEAN 　 2.10 15.58 32.16 54.69 61.11 58.09
CV (%) 　 11.93 　 　 　 　 　
LSD (p = .05) 　 0.43 　 　 　 　 　
c. Barley
Species/Variety Harvest date Yield CP%§ ADF§ aNDF§ 30-hr NDFD%§ TTNDFD%§
VT beahm 2025/6/5 5.55 10.09 35.21 58.89 53.74 43.40
SB 151 2025/6/5 5.43 10.07 33.48 56.61 54.22 46.35
PSU 8 2025/6/5 4.64 8.96 32.96 55.36 52.34 40.93
PSU EXP 2025/6/5 4.48 9.02 34.12 56.39 52.50 41.97
　 　 　 　 　 　 　
GRAND MEAN 　 5.03 9.54 33.94 56.81 53.20 43.16
CV (%) 　 5.91 　 　 　 　 　
LSD (p = .05) 　 0.94 　 　 　 　 　
d. Triticale
Species/Variety Harvest date Yield CP%§ ADF§ aNDF§ 30-hr NDFD%§ TTNDFD%§
BCT23003 2025/5/27 4.66 11.41 36.19 63.51 57.12 48.73
Hyoctane 2025/5/27 4.35 10.84 35.32 61.93 56.01 49.09
BCT19005 2025/5/27 3.99 11.04 35.76 62.66 58.26 51.88
2021u05 2025/5/27 3.98 13.71 30.80 56.21 61.56 56.49
Maverick 2025/5/27 3.88 11.78 35.52 62.86 56.84 49.35
BCT23001 2025/5/27 3.80 12.90 34.50 61.36 59.21 51.45
BCT23002 2025/5/27 3.77 14.16 32.03 59.01 62.96 55.99
BCT19004 2025/5/27 2.94 14.21 30.95 54.34 61.77 55.50
Hybrid Flex 2025/5/8 2.18 15.90 32.39 54.17 62.36 58.93
2021u03 2025/5/8 0.93 17.35 29.65 52.75 66.43 62.40
GRAND MEAN 　 3.44 13.33 33.31 58.88 60.25 53.98
CV (%) 　 14.73 　 　 　 　 　
LSD (p = .05) 　 1.13 　 　 　 　 　

§Forage quality analysis for the first cut samples.
CP=crude protein.
ADF= Acid Detergent Fiber.
aNDF= Neutral Detergent Fiber.
30-hr NDFD= 30-hour neutral detergent fiber digestibility.
TTNDFD=total tract NDFD.
CV=coefficient of variation.
LSD=least significant difference.
All harvest events occurred in 2025.

  • Yields are given in tons per acre on a dry matter basis.

  • Variety means are means derived from LS Means.

Table 3. 2024-2025 Fall-Seeded Winter Forages and Cover Crops Trial--Single-Cut Management Sequence—Landisville
a. Cereal Rye
Species/Variety Harvest date Yield CP%§ ADF§ aNDF§ 30-hr NDFD%§ TTNDFD%§
KWS Progas 2025/5/1 2.10 19.20 27.58 50.18 62.97 60.83
KWS Aviator 2025/5/1 2.09 18.44 28.94 51.33 62.84 59.63
GRAND MEAN 　 2.10 18.82 28.26 50.76 62.91 60.23
CV (%) 　 18.06 　 　 　 　 　
LSD (p = .05) 　 0.66 　 　 　 　 　
b. Triticale
Species/Variety Harvest date Yield CP%§ ADF§ aNDF§ 30-hr NDFD%§ TTNDFD%§
2021u05 2025/5/27 2.21 14.48 33.09 58.50 61.10 56.96
2021u03 2025/5/8 1.59 18.32 27.17 48.00 66.75 62.97
GRAND MEAN 　 1.90 16.40 30.13 53.25 63.93 59.97
CV (%) 　 5.63 　 　 　 　 　
LSD (p = .05) 　 1.01 　 　 　 　 　

§Forage quality analysis for the first cut samples.
CP=crude protein.
ADF= Acid Detergent Fiber.
aNDF= Neutral Detergent Fiber.
30-hr NDFD= 30-hour neutral detergent fiber digestibility
TTNDFD=total tract NDFD.
CV=coefficient of variation.
LSD=least significant difference.
All harvest events occurred in 2025.

  • Yields are given in tons per acre on a dry matter basis.

  • Variety means are means derived from LS Means.

Table 4. 2024-2025 Short-Lived Winter Forages and Cover Crops Trial--Multi-Cut Management Sequence--Rock Springs.
Annual Ryegrass
Species/Variety Yield
1st-Cut		 Yield
2nd-Cut		 Yield
Total		 CP% ADF§ aNDF§ 30-hr NDFD% TTNDFD
Centurion(2X) 2.14 1.71 3.84 13.03 31.00 53.59 60.73 55.83
DSVLw A2481 1.83 1.86 3.69 15.53 28.62 47.78 62.00 58.12
WMWL-2 1.83 1.55 3.38 15.89 27.14 46.67 64.37 60.05
Ribeye(2n) 1.83 1.42 3.25 12.93 31.06 54.06 62.12 54.92
Tetraprime II 1.66 1.57 3.24 14.83 28.13 45.06 62.44 62.53
WAX Marshall 1.69 1.43 3.13 14.16 30.35 50.09 59.82 55.11
ME-4 1.54 1.55 3.09 15.33 27.22 46.69 62.99 58.63
WMWL 1.47 1.50 2.97 15.78 27.88 47.70 63.24 60.12
ME-94 1.42 1.54 2.96 14.70 28.78 48.57 63.17 58.21
Nelson Tetraploid 1.45 1.49 2.95 16.33 30.27 47.39 57.10 49.52
DSVLw M2487 1.24 1.51 2.75 14.40 29.27 47.90 61.37 58.12
BAR LMF 490-4(2n) 1.14 1.59 2.73 14.67 28.34 48.52 63.64 58.45
BAR LMF 490-3(2n) 1.39 1.31 2.70 15.81 28.69 48.51 64.74 57.91
WMCT 1.54 1.11 2.65 14.56 29.35 50.19 62.26 58.73
Maximus(4N) 1.29 1.30 2.60 14.49 29.54 49.52 63.91 59.70
Jackson 0.93 1.34 2.27 16.32 29.47 49.43 64.97 59.62
DSVLw A2482 1.01 0.99 2.00 15.59 28.40 43.97 61.55 60.56
GRAND MEAN 1.49 1.46 2.95 14.96 29.03 48.57 62.38 58.01
CV (%) 25.78 13.28 14.52 　 　 　 　 　
LSD (p = .05) 1.00 0.50 1.11 　 　 　 　

§Forage quality analysis for the first cut samples.
CP=crude protein.
ADF= Acid Detergent Fiber.
aNDF= Neutral Detergent Fiber.
30-hr NDFD= 30-hour neutral detergent fiber digestibility
TTNDFD=total tract NDFD.
CV=coefficient of variation.
LSD=least significant difference.
All harvest events occurred in 2025.

  • Yields are given in tons per acre on a dry matter basis.

  • Variety means are means derived from LS Means.

Table 5. 2024-2025 Short-Lived Winter Forages and Cover Crops Trial--Multi-Cut Management Sequence--Landisville
Annual Ryegrass
Species/Variety Yield
1st-Cut		 Yield
2nd-Cut		 Yield
Total		 CP% ADF§ aNDF§ 30-hr NDFD% TTNDFD
WMCT 2.56 2.15 4.72 15.26 39.67 60.93 54.06 47.31
ME-4 2.48 2.12 4.61 15.42 38.70 60.07 53.57 48.82
WMWL 2.69 1.91 4.60 13.36 39.79 63.06 52.97 47.36
WAX Marshall 2.69 1.90 4.59 15.21 39.20 61.57 53.03 47.79
WMWL-2 2.71 1.78 4.49 15.32 38.49 60.29 53.63 47.39
BAR LMF 490-4(2n) 2.52 1.81 4.33 13.86 39.30 61.73 51.68 46.36
ME-94 2.63 1.64 4.28 14.60 39.33 62.19 52.50 45.80
Ribeye(2n) 2.55 1.72 4.27 14.03 40.33 63.33 52.89 48.99
Nelson Tetraploid 2.50 1.77 4.27 16.06 39.78 59.95 51.68 44.89
Jackson 2.27 1.79 4.07 14.62 40.59 63.70 52.19 45.49
BAR LMF 490-3(2n) 2.20 1.69 3.89 14.21 40.89 62.79 50.64 46.03
Maximus(4N) 2.09 1.64 3.73 14.99 40.30 62.15 53.95 48.61
GRAND MEAN 2.49 1.83 4.32 14.75 39.70 61.81 52.73 47.07
CV (%) 13.12 9.23 8.52 　 　 　 　 　
LSD (p = .05) 1.15 0.42 0.92 　 　 　 　 　

§Forage quality analysis for the first cut samples.
CP=crude protein.
ADF= Acid Detergent Fiber.
aNDF= Neutral Detergent Fiber.
30-hr NDFD= 30-hour neutral detergent fiber digestibility
TTNDFD=total tract NDFD.
CV=coefficient of variation.
LSD=least significant difference.
All harvest events occurred in 2025.

  • Yields are given in tons per acre on a dry matter basis.

  • Variety means are means derived from LS Means.

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