Native Emergency Hay Crops

DS-24-97, May 2004

Duane Berglund, Extension Agronomist Name

Description Hay Value/Time to Cut

Lake reed Coarse grass from Can be used to supplement (Phragmites stout rhizomes other hay or forage. Rather communis) forming dense stands unpalatable to sheep. Has a 5 to 8 feet high. laxative effect. Sometimes 2 Leaves about 1 inch cuttings if first crop is cut Found: Marshes, or more wide early Cut before heading shallow lakes, 10 to 12 inches long. if possible. streams, and Late in season the around springs. stems bear large fluffy flower clusters.

Hollow stem Grows 3 to 5 feet Used quite regularly and (Fluminea tall. Leaves are of extensively as a coarse hay festucacea) moderate width but but of less value than upland stiff so that the hay. Cut at flowering time or upper ones point when area is dry enough. Found: On ground upward. Stems have ordinarily unusually large central flooded during cavities, hence the early summer. name "hollow stem." Flower Drainage heads somewhat like brome- ditches, grass. Has expansive potholes and rhizomes and forms a old lake beds. compact sod. Very common and may occupy several acres of nearly pure stand.

Manna grass Perennial grasses Soft and palatable. (Glyceria) with pale green soft leaves. Heads Found: Shallow like bromegrass water, wet but seeds small. places or seepage areas.

Russian thistle Bushy annual 1 to 3 Protein about like alfalfa, (Salsola kali) feet tall. Branching with TDN-10 to 15% less. Hay with stems more or at blossom stage before less reddish and spines form. Makes good Found: Stubble leaves small, stiff silage when mixed with or other and sharp. other crop. Laxative and cropland. should not make up over 1/2 of ration.

Kochia - Bushy annual 1 to 7 Nearly equal to alfalfa burning bush feet tall. Leaves protein, 11-22 percent. Hairy or Mexican 2 to 4 inches long leaves give hay a gray fireweed attached directly appearance. Makes good silage (Kochia to stem. Leaves and when mixed with other crop. scoparia) stem somewhat hairy. Less laxative than Russian Plants vary in color, thistle. Cut for hay or Found: Stubble often turning red silage when 20-26 inches or other in fall. tall and before seed is cropland and produced. tolerates saline soils.

Slough sedge Grass-like perennial Commonly cut along with (Carex with 3-angled stems, other slough hay. atherodes) 2 to 4 feet high. Fair quality. Also other slough sedges. Found: Low grassland areas. Often in large bunches in edges of ponds or mixed with hollow stem.

Foxtail or Grass-like annuals. About like millet. pigeon grass (Setaria) Found: Cropland or fallow.

Prairie Bulrush Three-angled stems Has little value for forage (Scirpus rise about 2 feet purposes. Distinctly paludosus) from short rhizomes unpalatable to sheep. with bulb-like Found: Shallow brown tubers, and prairie are topped with a ponds and dense cluster of sloughs where several spikes of soil is flowers. strongly saline.

Common Bulrush Stems cylindrical, Little or no value. (Scirpus spongy and slightly validus) tapering. Three to 7 feet tall. Found: In Tassel-like flower shallow water, cluster at tip of stem. on marshy ground or on solid ground after water dries up.

Wild Barley Perennial 1 to 2 feet Bristles or awns stick to (Hordeum tall. Branching at clothing, hair or wool. jubatum) base leaves 1 to 5 Awns may work into nostrils, inches long. Head mouth and eyes of livestock Found: Very 2 to 5 inches long causing soreness. Little or common along with stiff, brittle low value. road sides, white awns or bristles waste ground, 1 to 2� inches long. low places - especially sloughs that are occasionally flooded.

Cattail (Typha Perennials 3 to 7 Little or no value. latifolia) feet tall growing from rhizomes. Found: Wet Upright dark green areas of leaves. Flowers very standing water. small and closely crowded on a stout stalk.

Note: Plants such as Scouring rush, Water hemlock and Arrowgrass are also found in low wet areas and are poisonous to livestock.