Bounty Annual Ryegrass

Bounty Annual Ryegrass is the top survivor 2 out of 3 years. Bounty has been used on farms for 9 years from WI to TN with similar success. Bounty is an exclusive variety of Saddle Butte Ag Inc. The Commission Blend also had Bounty in it along with several of the other varieties trialed and some that were not in the trial.

A055-30r	19.7
Table 2. Summary Table of Annual Ryegrass Root Growth
Variety	3 year mean of root growth in inches
Angus 1	18.9
Bartissimo	21.1
Bounty	24.1
Commission Exp	22.7
Fantastic	11.0
Florina	22.8
Flx2002	25.2
Flying a	21.4
Gulf	16.9
Jackson	19.1
King	23.7
Marshal	24.1
Passerel	20.4
Ribeye	23.4
Saddle butte	26.4
Saddle pro	24.4
Soil builder	24.1
Tam90	19.2
LSD 0.05	6.6
LSD 0.1	5.5

Measuring the corn rooting depth where annual ryegrass had been grown for three years as a cover crop. The corn exceeded 48 inches following the old root channels made by the Bounty Annual Ryegrass. In an adjacent plot in the same field but no ryegrass, the corn was only 30 inches deep. One can expect Bounty to root 20-40 inches the first year depending on the soil type. We expect the roots to be 48-60 inches deep after three years of annual ryegrass cover crop. In trials, as the annual ryegrass rooted deeper so did the corn or soybean crops that followed. Each year as the ryegrass roots deeper, so do the following crops. Compared to zone tillage, this is much cheaper and in many cases much more effective because of the additional benefits that annual ryegrass adds. Bounty Annual Ryegrass not only provides excellent rooting depth but also increases the soil organic matter which improves water storage and water infiltration. Each time the soil organic matter is improve one percentage point; one acre will store 10,000 more gallons of water. Annual Ryegrass cover crops have increase water infiltration rate by 400% in three years. This along with the increase storage by the organic matter relates to increased crop yields especially during periods of drought.

A055-30r	72.7	17.3	34.3	41.4
Table 1. Summary of Annual Ryegrass Varieties' Winter Hardiness
Variety	2006 stand means	2007 stand means	2008 stand means	3 year mean
Angus 1	65.0	5.7	36.0	35.6
Bartissimo	82.0	21.7	45.0	49.6
Bounty	82.3	81.7	65.7	76.6
Commission Blend	90.7	38.3	45.0	58.0
Fantastic		28.3		28.3
Florina	41.0	50.0	53.3	48.1
Flx2002	29.3	38.3	63.3	43.7
Flying a	70.0	17.7	36.7	41.4
Gulf	88.3	2.0	40.0	43.4
Jackson		63.3	67.7	65.5
King	81.3	71.7	83.3	78.8
Marshal	77.3	60.0	65.0	67.4
Passerel +		58.3	60.0	59.2
Ribeye	74.3	48.3	41.7	54.8
Saddle butte	59.0	66.7	61.7	62.4
Saddle pro	74.3	66.7	61.7	67.5
Soil builder	86.0	59.3	49.0	64.8
Tam90	57.7	36.7	58.3	50.9
LSD 0.05	12.8	13.5	13.0	21.7
LSD 0.10	10.6	11.3	10.8	18.0

Once again, Bounty Annual Ryegrass was right at the top of the trial for rooting depth. Saddle Butte is a blend of Bounty and Florlina. Both Bounty and Florlina are exclusive products of Saddle Butte Ag Inc.

Bounty annual ryegrass in corn

In trials in Florida, Bounty was number two in crude protein for the season. In trials in Tallasee, AL Bounty was in the top five out of nineteen and there was less then 2% difference between Bounty and the top yield. In trials in Jeanerette, LA Bounty was 2nd, less than 1.5% below the top yielder. Bounty Annual ryegrass has topped the trials for forage yields in Griffin Georgia. This was a two season average. Varieties in the trial were ones like Ribeye, Passerel, Marshal and many more. Bounty has proven to be a consistent height yielder across the South Eastern US. It has also been one of the higher protein varieties in yield and protein trials.

When overseeding in warm season grasses, it is hard to beat Bounty annual ryegrass with its high forage yields and high protein. These will help make the winter grazing more profitable.