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ProCrop |
Orchard Grass, Ryegrass, Timothy
| Grass | When to harvest* | Harvest Methods | Comments |
| Orchard Grass | Mid-July to early August. Heads will look light brown some will be greenish, stem turning yellow to brown. Seed head moisture content 35-40% | Set swather to cut 12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm) high to avoid basal leaves. Air intake should be cut down. Set cylinder speed and concave so seed is not de-hulled. | Seed shatters Straight combing is not recommended. |
| Ryegrass
Italian Perennial |
Crop will be on greenish side with a seed moisture content of 45% | Swath and combine from swath when dried to about 35% seed moisture. Avoid direct combining as shattering losses can be high. | Shatters very easily. Not usually winter hardy. |
| 1 to 2 florets will come off the head when pulled between fingers. Crop will be greenish with seed moisture of 50 to 50%. | Swath and combine. Avoid direct combining as shattering losses can be high. | Shatters easily when mature -- not usually winter hardy. | |
| Timothy | Early to mid-August Heads will be gray with brownish tinge and are gold colored at the base. Seed head moisture content 40 to 50% |
Swath when 50 to 60% of head is ripe. Can straight combine when tips of head show slight shattering. Cylinder speed about 600 to 800 rpm, adjust concave 3/16 to 3/8 inch in front and back 1/16 to 1/8 inch at back. | Easily de-hulled. Seed shattering, de-hulled seed and maturity can vary with the variety grown. |
* Moisture content for entire seed heads established by research at Agriculture Canada, Beaverlodge. You can use a commercial tester or a home oven set at 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Use a scale to determine before and after drying weights. Allow about 4 hours for drying to reach a stable weight when using the home oven method.
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