6 Best Orchard Grass Seed For Hay Production On Small Acreage Farmers Trust

Staring at a dwindling stack of hay bales you bought last winter is a familiar feeling for any small farmer. The cost adds up fast, and the quality can be a gamble. Deciding to grow your own hay is a huge step toward self-sufficiency, but choosing the right seed can feel like a shot in the dark.

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Why Orchard Grass for Small Farm Hay Bales?

Orchard grass is the workhorse of the small-acreage hayfield for a reason. It establishes quickly, often providing a decent cutting in its first year, which is a huge win when you’re trying to get a system going. Unlike some fussier forages, it’s a bunchgrass that regrows rapidly after cutting, making it ideal for getting two or even three cuttings in a good season.

The real value for a small operation is its versatility. It produces soft, palatable hay that most livestock—from horses and cattle to goats and sheep—will clean up without hesitation. It also plays well with others, mixing beautifully with legumes like clover or alfalfa to create a balanced, high-protein feed that can reduce your reliance on purchased grain.

For those of us managing just a few acres, orchard grass offers a high-yield potential without demanding industrial-scale inputs. It’s efficient. You can produce a surprising amount of high-quality forage from a small plot, making it one of the most practical choices for feeding your animals from your own land.

Potomac: The All-Purpose, Reliable Standard

If you’re just starting out or need a dependable, no-frills option, Potomac is your grass. It’s an older, public variety, which means the seed is affordable and widely available at nearly any co-op or seed dealer. Think of it as the classic, reliable farm truck; it’s not fancy, but it gets the job done year after year.

The tradeoff for its reliability and low cost is that it lacks the bells and whistles of newer, private varieties. Its disease resistance and yield potential are good, but not chart-topping. For a simple hayfield where you need consistent performance without a huge upfront investment, Potomac is a safe and economical bet.

Don’t underestimate the value of a proven performer. While newer varieties might promise more, Potomac has been successfully baled on small farms for decades. It’s a known quantity, and in farming, predictability is often worth more than potential.

Crown Royale: Top Choice for Maximum Hay Yield

When your primary goal is putting as many bales in the barn as possible, Crown Royale is a name that consistently comes up. This is a variety bred specifically for tonnage. It’s an aggressive, fast-growing grass that can produce impressive yields, making every square foot of your limited acreage count.

To get that high performance, however, Crown Royale expects to be well-fed. It performs best on fertile ground and will respond exceptionally well to nitrogen fertilizer. If your soil is poor or you plan on minimal management, you won’t unlock its full potential, and a less demanding variety might be a better fit.

Think of it this way: if you have good soil and are committed to fertilizing after each cutting, Crown Royale will reward you with a heavy crop. If you’re looking for a low-input solution, its high-octane genetics might go to waste. It’s a high-performance engine that needs high-performance fuel.

Tekapo: Late-Maturing for Alfalfa Mixtures

Mixing grass with alfalfa is the classic way to produce top-tier dairy-quality hay, but it comes with a timing challenge. Most orchard grass varieties mature and head out before the alfalfa is at its optimal stage for cutting. This forces a compromise: either you cut early and sacrifice grass yield, or you cut late and end up with stemmy, low-quality grass in your beautiful alfalfa.

Tekapo solves this problem. It’s a late-maturing orchard grass, specifically selected to reach peak quality at the same time as alfalfa. This synchronization is a game-changer. It allows you to cut the entire field when both the grass and the legume are at their nutritional peak, resulting in consistently high-quality mixed hay.

If you plan to grow an alfalfa-grass mix, choosing a late-maturing variety like Tekapo isn’t just a good idea—it’s essential for success. It eliminates the management headache of mismatched maturities and ensures every bale is as good as it can be. This is a strategic choice for producing premium feed.

Persist: The Long-Lasting, Durable Pasture

Many small farms need their fields to do double duty, providing both hay and grazing. This is where a variety like Persist shines. It was bred for exactly what its name implies: persistence. It stands up better to grazing pressure, hoof traffic, and weather extremes than many high-production hay-type varieties.

The tradeoff is that its overall yield might be slightly lower than a pure hay variety like Crown Royale. But what you might lose in a single cutting’s tonnage, you gain in the longevity of your stand. Re-seeding a field is a major expense in time and money, so a stand that lasts for years longer provides significant value.

Consider Persist if your hayfield will also serve as a fall pasture or if you practice rotational grazing. Its robust root system and tolerance for stress make it a resilient, long-term investment. It’s the choice for farmers who value durability and flexibility over sheer peak production.

Icon: Superior Digestibility for Quality Hay

Not all hay is created equal. For some animals, particularly dairy goats, sheep, or horses with high energy needs, the digestibility of the forage is more important than the total weight of the bale. Icon is a "soft-leaf" orchard grass, bred for lower fiber content and higher palatability.

This means animals can extract more energy and nutrients from every bite. The softer leaves and stems are easier to chew and digest, leading to better animal condition and performance. When you’re feeding animals for production—be it milk, fiber, or athletic performance—this focus on quality over quantity can make a real difference.

Choosing Icon is a deliberate move to produce a premium product. The hay will be noticeably softer and greener when cut at the right stage. If you’re selling hay to discerning horse owners or feeding your own high-value livestock, the superior quality of Icon hay can command a better price or deliver better results in your animals.

Benchmark Plus: Premium Forage Performance

For the farmer who wants it all and is willing to invest in it, Benchmark Plus is a top-tier option. This variety combines the high yield potential of a Crown Royale with the superior forage quality of an Icon, along with a strong disease-resistance package. It’s an elite grass designed for maximum performance.

This level of performance comes with a higher seed cost. The decision to use a premium variety like Benchmark Plus hinges on your goals and management. It’s best suited for well-managed fields with good fertility where its genetic potential can be fully expressed. Planting it on a neglected, low-pH field would be a waste of money.

Think of it as an investment. The higher upfront cost can be returned through increased yield, better animal health, and a more resilient stand that fights off disease. If you are serious about producing the best possible hay from your acreage, Benchmark Plus delivers on its promise of premium performance.

Seeding and Management for Optimal Hay Growth

Even the best seed in the world will fail in a poorly prepared field. Your success starts long before you open the seed bag. The single most important step is getting a soil test. Don’t guess—know your pH and nutrient levels so you can amend with lime and fertilizer accordingly. Orchard grass hates acidic soil.

When it comes to planting, a properly calibrated seed drill gives the best results, but many small farmers don’t have one. Broadcasting seed can work well, but you need good seed-to-soil contact. Lightly tilling or harrowing the field and then using a roller or cultipacker after seeding is crucial to press the seed into the soil.

Once your stand is established, management becomes key.

• Seeding Rate: Aim for around 15-20 lbs per acre when seeding alone. If you’re mixing it with a legume, reduce that rate to 8-12 lbs.
• First Year Care: Don’t get greedy. A light cutting in the first year is okay, but the main goal is to let the plant establish a strong root system. Avoid cutting it too short.
• Cutting Height: Never cut orchard grass shorter than 3-4 inches. The plant stores its energy reserves for regrowth in the base of the stem. Scalping the field will weaken the stand, reduce the next cutting’s yield, and invite weeds.
• Fertilization: Orchard grass is a heavy user of nitrogen. To get good regrowth and multiple cuttings, you need to replenish nutrients. Applying fertilizer after the first and second cuttings will fuel the next round of growth.

Ultimately, the best orchard grass variety is the one that aligns with your specific goals for your land and your animals. Whether you prioritize sheer tonnage, stand longevity, or nutritional quality, there’s a seed that fits your system. Choosing thoughtfully is the first step toward a barn full of your own high-quality hay.