Rye Grain or Cereal Rye (Secale cereale) is one of the most versatile and commonly used cover crops in the country. If you are looking for a winter hardy cereal crop with fast spring growth, then cereal rye (Secale cereale) is your perfect cover crop. Rye is known for its late fall to early spring nutrient scavenging and grazing potential. It has been successfully used for erosion control in some areas.
Also known as Winter Rye or Cereal Rye, Rye Grain is a cool season annual cereal grain. It occurs naturally in most states and is prolific along roadsides and in open fields in the Intermountain West. It can become weedy, and in some circles it is considered a noxious annoyance. This negative perspective has more to do with Rye Grain contaminating pure grain stands than with it’s actual usefulness.
Rye Grain will scavenge excess nitrates, prevent erosion, add organic matter and suppress weeds, though it is sometimes considered weedy itself. It can be mixed with legumes, grasses or other cereal grains. Cereal Rye is taller and quicker-growing than wheat. It can serve as a windbreak and trap snow or hold rainfall over winter. It sows readily into many high-value and agronomic crops and resumes growth quickly in spring, allowing timely killing by rolling, mowing or herbicides. Many like to pair rye with a winter annual legume such as hairy vetch.
Beards, Dwarf Beards and Awnlettes
Making Sense of Grain Beards
What is the difference between “bearded” and “dwarf beard” and “beardless” varieties? How do I choose the one best for me?
The table below will help you visualize the different characteristics of each variety, if they have beards (or not) and why it matters. See our BEARDED GRAINS blog post for additional information.
Species | Variety | Planting Season | Beard Expression | Comments |
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Oat | Otana | Spring | Beardless | Oats do not have a beard |
Oat | Monida | Spring | Beardless | Oats do not have a beard |
Oat | Intimidator | Spring | Beardless | Oats do not have a beard |
Oat | Monico | Spring | Beardless | Oats do not have a beard |
Oat | Magnum | Spring | Beardless | Oats do not have a beard |
Oat | Everleaf™ Falcon Oat | Spring | Beardless | Oats do not have a beard |
Oat | Everleaf™ 126 Oat | Spring | Beardless | Oats do not have a beard |
Barley | Vaquero | Spring | Beardless | May express a beard up to 4/10,000 plants (.04%) |
Barley | Sunstar Double | Spring | Bearded | Bearded forage barley |
Barley | Claymore | Spring | Bearded | Bearded forage barley |
Barley | Haymaker | Spring | Beardless | Forage barley |
Barley | Lavina | Spring | Beardless | Forage barley |
Barley | Goldeneye | Spring | Bearded | Grain barley |
Barley | Sunstar Pride | Fall | Bearded | Fall forage barley |
Barley | Valor | Fall | Beardless | Fall forage barley |
Barley | Baldwin | Fall | Awnletted | Beard expression if planted after October 15 |
Triticale | Merlin Max™ | Facultative | Beardless | Forage triticale |
Triticale | Gunner™ | Facultative | Beardless | Forage triticale |
Triticale | 131 | Fall | Beardless | Forage triticale |
Triticale | 141 | Spring | Awnletted | 141 was used facultatively at high elevations |
Triticale | Luoma | Fall | Awnletted | Forage triticale |
Triticale | Flex 719™ | Facultative | Awnletted | Forage triticale |
Triticale | FX 1001 | Fall | Nearly Beardless | FX 1001 may have up to 3% beard expression |
Triticale | Motley™ | Facultative | Nearly Beardless | Forage triticale |
Wheat | Jefferson | Spring | Bearded | Hard red grain wheat for milling |
Wheat | Twin | Spring | Beardless | Soft white forage wheat |
Wheat | Brundage | Fall | Beardless | Soft white forage wheat |
Wheat | Ray | Fall | Beardless | Hard Red forage or milling wheat |
Wheat | Willow Creek | Fall | Beardless | Hard Red forage or milling wheat |
Rye | Rymin or VNS | Facultative | Bearded | Cereal forage rye |
Peas | Austrian Winter Peas | Facultative | Beardless | Peas do not have a beard |
Grain Mixture | Fall Forage Blend | Fall | Beardless | May contain awnletted varieties |
Grain Mixture | Prosper 3 Grain Forage Mixture | Spring | Beardless | Forage mixture |
Grain Mixture | Prosper Plus with Peas | Spring | Beardless | Prosper with forage peas added |
Who is Great Basin Seed?
Great Basin Seed is a seed company that specializes in seed sales and consultation for home, ranch, farm, range and reclamation. We have been a leader in the seed industry since 1974.
Our History
We've been in the seed business since 1974.
What We Offer
We offer seed for home, farm, ranch, range and reclamation projects.
Meet the Gang
We have the best employees in the world! We are proud of the work they do, and trust them to serve you!
Right: Company founder Lloyd and his wife Paula Stevens in a wildflower seed production field circa 1977
Quick Plant Facts
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Common Name: | Cereal Rye, Grain Rye, Winter Rye |
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Sun & Shade Tolerance: | Full Sun |
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