Organic
…Forage uses may vary based on category…
Descriptions
Fertile Forage and Byron Seeds are supporters of the organic farming movement. We believe that there is a need for good, healthy forage for our livestock and good, healthy food for our families. It seems that others agree with us because there is an ever increasing demand for a source of unmodified food and forage.
Mixtures of high quality forages are critical to the success of livestock based farms. With organic farms, it’s even more important. Diversity is extremely important to defend against pests and to give a more balanced nutrition to herds and flocks. When one variety or species is weak, another component of the sward will usually be productive. Adding legumes to provide protein to the diet and nitrogen to the soil is also critical to productivity. All the KingFisher Mixtures have been put together for both agronomic performance and sound ruminant nutrition. We have confidence in all the components of our mixtures. As well, these combinations have been proven to work together well in our plots. Please select the mixtures that will work best for your soils, fertility and livestock.
In order to carry the KingFisher Organics label, our forages must meet our high standards for yield, palatability, quality, disease resistance, persistence, and other important criteria. And of course, it needs to be Certified Organically grown. However, we will not put the KingFisher Organics name on just any bag of seed just because it is organically grown. It also needs to be an improved variety showing superior genetic characteristics.
Notes
- Please keep the bag tags for your organic records. These bag tags are used to confirm that the seed you used was organic.
- Most of our conventional seed is also available as untreated, for those situations where a suitable organic variety is not available.
Showing 1–12 of 72 results
Organic Alfalfa (9)
Organic Annuals (20)
Organic Blue Grass (1)
Organic Clovers (11)
Organic Festulolium (1)
Organic Italian Ryegrass (1)
Organic Meadow Fescue (2)
Organic Mixes (8)
Organic Orchardgrass (2)
Organic Perennial Ryegrass (7)
Organic Tall Fescue (1)
Organic Timothy (3)
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Organic Alfalfa (9)
Alfalfa is the forage base for many farms today. It is a legume that can fix most of its own nitrogen. We carry two alfalfa varieties, a tap root or deep rooted plant that has good drought tolerance and it grows pretty well during the hotter part of the summer. The second variety is a branchroot alfalfa for wetter and heavier clay soils. Due to the pressures of the rotation schedule on many farms, alfalfa stands are only in production for three or four years before decreases in productivity are noticed. It is important to get all the yield possible in this short time and these high performing varieties are what we focus on.
Establishment
Alfalfa can be planted in the spring or late summer, but we recommend late summer whenever possible. Planting depth should be 0.25 to 0.50 inches with good soil contact. If spring sown, a nurse crop of grass or small grain is recommended to maximize the tonnage in the seeding year. We usually recommend seeding grass with alfalfa to give a higher tonnage and better quality feed for the life of the stand. Alfalfa exhibits autotoxicity, which means established plants (older than 6 months) give off compounds that prevent new alfalfa seedlings from establishing.
Management
Once established, alfalfa stand can last for many years. Many modern varieties can handle 28 day cutting schedules and in fact, some elite varieties need that type of management to perform their best. One very critical aspect of alfalfa management is knowing when to take the last cutting in the fall. By using Growing Degree Days (GDD) you can determine the best time to take the last fall cutting. An early fall cut can be taken as long as the plants can accumulate more than 500 GDD to replenish root reserves. A late fall cutting can be taken as long as no more than 200 GDD will accumulate before killing frost (25°F).
Certified Organic
Organic seeds are grown by certified organic growers that adhere to the strict organic practices required by the Organic Food Production Act of 1990. No chemical fertilizer, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides are allowed in the production of this seed. Genetic purity is maintained throughout the production, processing, and packaging of this seed. Organic certificate available upon request.
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Organic Annuals (20)
...Forage uses may vary...
Certified Organic
Organic seeds are grown by certified organic growers that adhere to the strict organic practices required by the Organic Food Production Act of 1990. No chemical fertilizer, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides are allowed in the production of this seed. Genetic purity is maintained throughout the production, processing, and packaging of this seed. Organic certificate available upon request.
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Organic Blue Grass (1)
...Forage uses may vary...
Certified Organic
Organic seeds are grown by certified organic growers that adhere to the strict organic practices required by the Organic Food Production Act of 1990. No chemical fertilizer, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides are allowed in the production of this seed. Genetic purity is maintained throughout the production, processing, and packaging of this seed. Organic certificate available upon request.
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Organic Clovers (11)
...Forage uses may vary...
Certified Organic
Organic seeds are grown by certified organic growers that adhere to the strict organic practices required by the Organic Food Production Act of 1990. No chemical fertilizer, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides are allowed in the production of this seed. Genetic purity is maintained throughout the production, processing, and packaging of this seed. Organic certificate available upon request.
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Organic Festulolium (1)
Festulolium is a cross between a fescue and a ryegrass. There are thousands of ways to cross, virtually as many mediocre festuloliums, but these are the best available in the world.
Establishment
Seed size is identical in size and weight with tall fescue and they mix well together without separating. Seeding rate as a nurse crop with tall fescue and alfalfa is between 2 to 3 lbs per acre. For pastures in the upper Midwest, we use 5 lbs per acre. For a pure stand the seeding rate is the same as tall fescue. This is not commonly done as stand life is approximately 3 years with the first year being the most productive and declining from there on. However this characteristic with its fast establishment makes it an excellent nurse crop for alfalfa and tall fescue.
Management
Festulolium fertilizer requirement are intermediate between ryegrass and tall fescue.
Certified Organic
Organic seeds are grown by certified organic growers that adhere to the strict organic practices required by the Organic Food Production Act of 1990. No chemical fertilizer, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides are allowed in the production of this seed. Genetic purity is maintained throughout the production, processing, and packaging of this seed. Organic certificate available upon request.
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Organic Italian Ryegrass (1)
Italian ryegrass is a winter annual plant that requires vernalization (a period of cold and reduced day length) to initiate heading. When sown in spring, very few seedheads will be observed throughout the seeding year. If fall sown, the plants will head profusely the following spring. Italian ryegrass is extremely high yielding and is typically the highest quality grass we know of. It’s lower cost and ease of seeding make Italian ryegrass an excellent choice as a nurse crop for other species or a great short term forage.
Establishment
Italian ryegrass can be sown by itself or sown in mixtures, serving as a nurse crop for slower establishing species. Planting depth should be 0.25 to 0.50 inches. Broadcast sowing into thin stands can be successful, but no-till drilling is the recommended method to thicken existing stands. Depending on the time of planting and conditions, the first harvest can come as early as 45 days after planting.
Management
If you have lots of nutrients on the farm, Italian ryegrass can be a good choice to utilize and recycle those nutrients. It can be easily used to extend thinning alfalfa or mixed stands for one more year. This will result in high yields of excellent quality forage without the hassle of a total stand renovation. With its upright growth habit, Italian ryegrass is better suited to mechanical harvest than grazing, but we have many folks who successfully graze it. Like perennial ryegrass, the waxy coating on Italian ryegrass retards drydown so it isn’t a good choice for dry hay.
Certified Organic
Organic seeds are grown by certified organic growers that adhere to the strict organic practices required by the Organic Food Production Act of 1990. No chemical fertilizer, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides are allowed in the production of this seed. Genetic purity is maintained throughout the production, processing, and packaging of this seed. Organic certificate available upon request.
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Organic Meadow Fescue (2)
Of all the different grass species, meadow fescue has one of the broadest ranges of application. From dry hay to pasture, from heavy soils to light, meadow fescue can provide good tonnage and excellent quality. Meadow fescue is a semibunch type, cool season, European grass that has great winter hardiness. It will yield slightly less than tall fescue and orchard grass but has better fiber digestibility and palatability for grazing applications.
Establishment
Meadow fescue will establish faster than tall fescue or orchardgrass but will still benefit from a nurse crop. Use a low rate of a small grain or combine with festulolium or ryegrass to help suppress weeds. Meadow fescue is a good no-till option but will not express itself until the following year.
Management
Meadow fescue needs fertile soils for optimum performance. They work well in intensively managed grazing or hay production if not mowed lower than 3 inches.
Certified Organic
Organic seeds are grown by certified organic growers that adhere to the strict organic practices required by the Organic Food Production Act of 1990. No chemical fertilizer, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides are allowed in the production of this seed. Genetic purity is maintained throughout the production, processing, and packaging of this seed. Organic certificate available upon request.
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Organic Mixes (8)
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Organic Orchardgrass (2)
Orchardgrass is a perennial, cool-season bunchgrass best suited for fertile, light to medium soils with good drainage. It can persist on moderately poor drained soils. Orchardgrass has good winterhardiness, tolerance to shade and moderate tolerance to drought. It is an excellent choice for pasture, hay, greenchop or silage and is well adapted to grow with legumes such as clover and alfalfa. There is typically a 10 to 20 day spread in heading date between early and late maturing varieties. Use a later heading variety as a companion to alfalfa.
Establishment
Orchardgrass can be planted either in early spring or late summer depending on area of country being grown. Orchardgrass is suited for light to medium soils with good drainage. Seeding depth is generally 1/4 to 1/2 inches in a firm seed bed. Rolling or using a cultipacker after seeding ensures even germination and emergence.
Management
Orchardgrass is very responsive to fertilizer and aftermath production can be excellent with proper fertility and split N applications. For optimum 1st harvest yield and quality, orchardgrass should be harvested in early-mid boot stage at a cutting height of 3 to 4 inches so it can recover quickly and persistence can be maintained. For grazing, excellent grazing management is required to maintain ersistence and productivity. Graze to 3 to 4 inches and rest 28 days in between rotations. Orchardgrass does not persist well under continuous grazing.
Certified Organic
Organic seeds are grown by certified organic growers that adhere to the strict organic practices required by the Organic Food Production Act of 1990. No chemical fertilizer, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides are allowed in the production of this seed. Genetic purity is maintained throughout the production, processing, and packaging of this seed. Organic certificate available upon request.
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Organic Perennial Ryegrass (7)
If you look at global grazing agriculture, perennial ryegrass is the most widely used grass for grazing in the world because of its aggressive growth and high forage quality. Use has been limited in North America but in the last two decades, usage has increased. With proper management and high fertility, perennial ryegrass can be persistent for 5 to 7 years or more in the Midwest. Companies like Barenbrug and DLF are constantly developing varieties that are better adapted to usage in the Midwest. All the varieties we select have excellent grazing tolerance.
Establishment
Perennial ryegrass can be sown by its self or sown in mixtures with legumes or other cool season grasses. Planting depth should be 0.25 to 0.50 inches. Broadcast sowing into thin stands can be successful but no-till drilling is the recommended method to thicken existing stands. Plants are ready for harvesting when they no longer can be pulled out by the roots.
Management
Successful use of perennial ryegrass requires aggressive management and high fertility. Intensively managed pastures are a great place to use perennial ryegrass. Perennial ryegrass makes excellent haylage or balage, but does not dry well for hay. Residual heights can be lower with perennial yegrass compared to other grasses. Grazing down to about 2 inches in spring and fall is optimum but we find leaving higher residual of at least 3 inches in the summer helps persistence and overall productivity of the stand.
Certified Organic
Organic seeds are grown by certified organic growers that adhere to the strict organic practices required by the Organic Food Production Act of 1990. No chemical fertilizer, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides are allowed in the production of this seed. Genetic purity is maintained throughout the production, processing, and packaging of this seed. Organic certificate available upon request.
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Organic Tall Fescue (1)
Description
Tall fescue can grow in wet conditions well but is also very drought tolerant. On dairy farms tall fescue is a fabulous addition to the hay portfolio and on beef operations in the Midwest it remains the foundation of pasture systems. In the past number of years, tall fescue has made many appearances at the World Dairy Expo Forage Super Bowl! While tall fescue has long been thought of as a Southern grass, more recently it has shown it can thrive in Wisconsin and Minnesota! Our suppliers are heavily invested in tall fescue breeding programs and bring us a wide selection of varieties for the various situations we face throughout the Midwest.
Establishment
Tall fescue is fairly easy to establish, but remember, a good seed bed is at the heart of excellent stands of hay or pasture. It can be no-tilled into existing alfalfa stands (.25 to .50 inches deep) immediately after harvest. (Talk to your dealer about the proper timing for your area.) When seeding in a prepared seed bed, make sure sufficient packing has been done before and after seed is put down. Also, 20 to 30 units of N at seeding is necessary for a faster establishment.
Management
Tall fescue can be planted with alfalfa, with grass hay mixes, or simply in mono-culture for hay or pasture systems. Remember that tall fescue, like most cool season grasses, stores 90% of food for regrowth after harvest in the bottom 2 to 2.5 inches of the stem. This means that for maximum growth and production at least 3 to 4 inches of stubble should remain after harvest. Also, for top yield, we recommend 1 to 1.5 lbs of available N for each day of growth. Tall fescue can tolerate less than ideal fertility but, like most crops, it gives best yield and quality in balanced soils. Tall fescue is the best grass for stockpile grazing.
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Organic Timothy (3)
Known for its palatability and superior winterhardiness, timothy is the latest heading of all cool season perennials. It is well suited as dry cow hay due its low uptake of minerals such as potassium. It makes excellent horse hay. Timothy has a shallow root system allowing great spring production with poor performance in the heat and drought. However, it does well on heavy, wet, and peaty soils. The small bulb at the base stores nutrients giving it persistence through the drought and heat periods.
Establishment
Timothy can be spring or late summer planted. It needs to be planted into a very firm seedbed keeping the depth 1/8 to 1/4 inches. It is slow to establish so control weed pressure and leave 4 to 6 weeks from seeding date to summer drought for spring plantings and the same period before frost for fall plantings. In the South, timothy is often Fall planted as a cover crop, harvested or grazed in the spring and then killed off to make way for spring crops.
Management
Choose an earlier heading variety when combining with alfalfa because timothy will not tolerate harvest during the jointing (stem elongation) and early heading stages. Keep the cutting height 3 to 4 inches for stand persistence. Does not graze well. Use a late heading variety for grazing. It tolerates mechanical harvest well, with proper fertility. Fall cuttings hould be early enough to allow carbohydrate reserves to be replenished. An early application of N will significantly boost production.
Certified Organic
Organic seeds are grown by certified organic growers that adhere to the strict organic practices required by the Organic Food Production Act of 1990. No chemical fertilizer, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides are allowed in the production of this seed. Genetic purity is maintained throughout the production, processing, and packaging of this seed. Organic certificate available upon request.
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4010 Peas Organic
$0.72 per lb
Total (50 lbs): $36.00Welcome to Byron Seeds only Point of Sale Site. We carry Byron Seeds best products – including 4010 Peas Organic Seed.
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AF7101 Organic 85 Day
$3.61 per lb
Total (50.00000000 lbs): $180.50AF7101 Organic 85 Day Forage Sorghum Seed from Alta Seeds has good standability and superior digestibility a good double crop. Buy yours here!
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Alsike Organic
$4.33 per lb
Total (50 lbs): $216.50Certified Organic Alsike Clover Seed from DLF is more tolerable to wet conditions than red clover, is good for short rotations, and is opportune for extensive grazing.
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Arvika Peas Organic
$1.01 per lb
Total (50.00000000 lbs): $50.50Certified Organic Arvika Peas from Byron Seeds is a high yielding, good forage quality pea with lavender flowers on a very tall plant.
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AS9301 Organic
$3.19 per lb
Total (50 lbs): $159.50Certified Organic AS9301 Sorghum Sudan is a hybrid of gene 6 and brachytic of the highest quality being very leafy and fine stemmed great for dairy. Buy yours here!
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Aston Energy Organic
$5.88 per lb
Total (50 lbs): $294.00Certified Organic Aston Energy Perennial Ryegrass Seed is a late diploid that gives density with early spring growth. Ryegrass seed in stock. Discounts available!
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Athos Organic
$5.90 per lb
Total (50 lbs): $295.00Athos Orchargrass Seed from DLF is one of the latest maturing varieties with good fall growth that ranked #1 in official UK grazing trials.
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Balin Organic
$6.85 per lb
Total (50 lbs): $342.50Certified Organic Balin Kentucky Bluegrass Seed from DLF and Byron Seeds was bred for high yields and tolerance to intensive grazing. Buy yours here!
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Buckwheat Organic
$1.16 per lb
Total (50 lbs): $58.00Organic Buckwheat Cover Crop Seed is a short lived summer annual that is one of the fastest and easiest establishing cover crops available. Buy yours here!
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Byron’s Fall Triticale Organic
$0.54 per lb
Total (50 lbs): $27.00 -
Byrons Spring Triticale Organic
$0.66 per lb
Total (48 lbs): $31.68Certified Organic Byrons Spring Triticale Seed is a widely adapted, highly versatile triticale with excellent spring growth. Buy yours here!
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Calibra Organic
$4.85 per lb
Total (50 lbs): $242.50Certified Organic Calibra Perennial Ryegrass Seed is proven to be very productive even in short growing seasons and high sugar for digestibility ease. Buy yours here!
Showing 1–12 of 72 results