Rye Grain

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.