Seeding depth and seed-to-soil contact are critical. A general rule-of thumb is that seeds should not be seeded deeper that five times their diameter. For most forage crops this means that seeding depth should not exceed 3/8". Seeding deeper will reduce drastically the number of seedlings that will establish.

Hay and Specialty Hay Resources

• Hay Marketing Plan Gets Results - Hay and Forage Grower Magazine
• Hay Quality Sensory Evaluation Guidelines (PDF: 95 KB / 2 pages) - Utah State University
• New Markets Developed for Specialty Hay (PDF: 68 KB / 2 pages) - University of Wyoming
• North American Forage and Hay Production Information - Hay and Forage Grower Magazine

Specialty Forage Blends

• Hog Production Alternatives (PDF: 1.08 MB / 29 pages)  - ATTRA
• Small Grain Cereals for Forage (PDF: 127 KB / 7 pages) - Kansas State University Extension
• Alternative Feeds for Ruminants - North Dakota State University
• Forage Production From Spring Cereals and Cereal-Pea Mixtures -Ontario Agriculture and Rural  Division
• Forage Yields from Rye, Oat, Barley, Wheat and Triticale Varieties 2003-2004 (PDF: 87 KB / 12 pages) - Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc.
• Pea and Small Grain Mixtures - University of Wisconsin Extension
• Comparative performance of triticale and other small grain forages - Wheat Information Service
• Forages of All Seasons - Cereal crops - University of Wyoming
• Small Grains as Forage Crops - West Virginia University Extension

Forage Links

• Forage Establishment - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Forage Information System - Oregon State University
• Forage-Livestock Systems - Cornell University
• Forage Management: Production and Maintenance - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Forage Production and Management (links to many publications) - Manitoba Agriculture and Food, Canada
• Forage Production and Management Information - South Dakota State University
• Forage Production Factsheets and Links - New England Cooperative Extension
• Forage Selection - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Forages - Penn State University
• Forages Home Page - Penn State University
• Forages in Mississippi - Mississippi State University
• Grazing Systems Planning Guide - University of Minnesota
• Low Input Forage Rotation: Similar Returns, Reduced Costs - CIAS, University of Wisconsin
• Knee Deep in Grass: A survey of twenty-nine grazing operations in Minnesota - University of Minnesota
• Successful Forage Establishment - Penn State University

Associations and Other Resources

• American Forage and Grassland Council
• Minnesota Forage and Grassland Council
• Also see  Grazing - Minnesota Department of Agriculture