Winter rye vs winter wheat

[SwampCat]

I have done side by side tests of WW and WR. My deer prefer WW if available, but will eat the rye ok if wheat is not in the plot. Rye yellows up quicker than wheat in wet soil. I save some of my wheat to make heads to keep the doves fat during summer. The WR is not nearly as attractive to doves. Deer, coons, turkeys, doves and hogs all relish the awned wheat heads - not so much the rye heads. I pay $11 a bag for non-certified wheat seed. Rye in my area is about $14.

After 40 some years of planting food plots, I have figured out simple works better for me. Wheat and durana for the deer and turkeys, millet for ducks and doves. I plant about 60 acres per year.

 

[KSQ2]

I have my local coop guy tracking down some awnless wheat for me as I type this. He said it shouldn’t be a problem getting some. I’m planning to mix the wheat and rye about 40% rye 60% wheat. I’ll put in a little oats as well, since they usually don’t last the winter and won’t take up too much ground for the clover.

 

[Creek chub]

I only said to research pasture purposes due to that's primarily how a wheat plot will be used. There is also a lot of info out there on how to grow it for grain production but it's kind of irrelevant.

But, here is a field that is used as cattle pasture during the winter to reduce hay feeding. We pull the cattle in the spring in time to let it head out and produce grain, which gets bailed for the next winter's feed.

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Are you driving a Ford 8N tractor in this pic?

 

[Creek chub]

Thanks for all the replies and feedback!
I think it’s neat to hear what folks do in different parts of the country.

 

[catscratch]

Are you driving a Ford 8N tractor in this pic?

It's an Alice Chalmers WD-45 with the wide front end. It's my dads, he also has a Ford 8N Jubilee. I personally don't own a tractor (yet), everything I do on my place is a form Throw-n-Mow. What do you have?

 

[Creek chub]

It's an Alice Chalmers WD-45 with the wide front end. It's my dads, he also has a Ford 8N Jubilee. I personally don't own a tractor (yet), everything I do on my place is a form Throw-n-Mow. What do you have?

I have a hand me down 8N. It ain’t pretty but starts up every time and does everything I need to do. Of course if I was rolling in money I’d like to have a newer tractor with a front end loader and backhoe but that’s just a dream of mine

 

[Chainsaw]

I prefer it all--winter wheat, rye, triticale and oats. They all draw deer(winter wheat and oats more than rye although rye does have some draw for fall draw) and there are other benefits the following spring like first food available (rye) and cover for fawns (rye). They plant and play well together. The triticale I'm not sure about it's draw or fawn cover or early sprouting but being a cross of rye and wheat it gets planted just in case.

 

[Creek chub]

I prefer it all--winter wheat, rye, triticale and oats. They all draw deer(winter wheat and oats more than rye although rye does have some draw for fall draw) and there are other benefits the following spring like first food available (rye) and cover for fawns (rye). They plant and play well together. The triticale I'm not sure about it's draw or fawn cover or early sprouting but being a cross of rye and wheat it gets planted just in case.

I’ll probably do a mix of winter wheat and crimson clover late August. If the wheat doesn’t look like it’s gonna do well on my marginal soil, I’ll overseed winter rye late September or early October

 

[dogghr]

I know one thing for any that want to complain of weed and grass in their plots, worrying of chemicals to use, you best be spreading WR 50-100#/ac each year. It does the trick better than WW for sure.
Funny, Lickcreek on the old forum spent many a page arguing with those against his advocating using WR in his mixes. Pretty cheap invasive control.

 

[Chainsaw]

I know one thing for any that want to complain of weed and grass in their plots, worrying of chemicals to use, you best be spreading WR 50-100#/ac each year. It does the trick better than WW for sure.
Funny, Lickcreek on the old forum spent many a page arguing with those against his advocating using WR in his mixes. Pretty cheap invasive control.

For sure Dogghr, each one adds to more positive results.

 

[Creek chub]

I know one thing for any that want to complain of weed and grass in their plots, worrying of chemicals to use, you best be spreading WR 50-100#/ac each year. It does the trick better than WW for sure.
Funny, Lickcreek on the old forum spent many a page arguing with those against his advocating using WR in his mixes. Pretty cheap invasive control.

Any harm in doing a mix of WW and WR as far as weed control goes?

 

[weekender21]

I mixed WR, WW and oats last winter along with annual clover and a variety of brassicas. I probably put more than 100 pounds/acre of cereal grain. The plot was looking a little thin in November so I added an additional 20 pounds of WR. The plot looked pretty good this spring but I still think it could have been a little thicker.

I'm adding all three (WR, WW, Oats) again this year but with a higher percentage of WR. I may not make it back to our property after September and I have a little more faith in the WR to grow in our poor/improving soil.

 

[catscratch]

Any harm in doing a mix of WW and WR as far as weed control goes?

No harm at all. Both will grow and do their perspective jobs well.

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[KSQ2]

The coop has Kingrazer awnless, soft, winter wheat ordered for me. Come September, I'm planning to plant it with WR and oats, along with forage radish, and a combo of red and mostly white clovers. Thanks for the info fellas!

 

[catscratch]

The coop has Kingrazer awnless, soft, winter wheat ordered for me. Come September, I'm planning to plant it with WR and oats, along with forage radish, and a combo of red and mostly white clovers. Thanks for the info fellas!

Sounds like a killer combo and almost exactly like what I plant. Good luck this fall.

What varieties of clover are you planting? I'm thinking of trying some named varieties this yr. Maybe an improved med red, large ladino, arrowleaf, and frosty bermseem.

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[KSQ2]

Sounds like a killer combo and almost exactly like what I plant. Good luck this fall.

What varieties of clover are you planting? I'm thinking of trying some named varieties this yr. Maybe an improved med red, large ladino, arrowleaf, and frosty bermseem.

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I've ordered Alice clover from Welters for years, I like the nitrocoat on it. I then mix it with ladino white and common red clover I get in bulk at the Coffeyville feed store. Per acre: 3 lbs Alice, 3 lbs. ladino, and 2 lbs. red. I'll later frost seed the same with what I have left over. I planted crimson clover years ago and liked it ok, but this is simple and it's worked for years. Next spring will be the first time in a while I'll be planting spring plots; I haven't done exclusive brassica plots in a long time and I'm going back to it on two properties this year for some more late season forage. Anyway, I'm planning to use berseem clover then along with oats, because of the large amounts of nitrogen it produces.

 

[Turkish]

We use throw and mow exclusively. Last year we were unable to obtain any WR. Our plots were a complete and utter failure. I’m not going without WR, until I get a no till drill.

 

[Drycreek]

This is WW in mid January. I don’t see how you can get a better plot. It had zero weeds when I planted IC peas in late May and last week had a few goat weeds and a small amount of grass among the stripped pea vines.

 

[g squared 23]

Rye may have more soil benefits, but wheat is hands down (in my area) the much better attractant. I mix to get benefits of both, but if I had to pick one, it would be straight winter wheat.


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