TriCal 2700

Primary Uses

• TRICAL® 2700 is an excellent spring forage crop.  It can be  spring planted either alone or with forage peas
• Used as a nurse crop for alfalfa, the stall phase of seedling growth does not over shadow or out compete the alfalfa.
• When TRICAL® 2700 is blended with TRICAL® 102 in a fall grazing blend it provides a substantial increase in forage production. (blend TRICAL® 2700 at a rate of 20%-35% with TRICAL® 102 ) The spring growth habit of TRICAL® 2700 prolongs the onset of fall dormancy and the plant continues a vigorous vegetative growth well into the early winter.

Key Attributes

• TRICAL® 2700 is a spring awned forage type triticale.
• TRICAL® 2700 is somewhat facultative. This means it has some winter parents and will survive a moderate or temperate winter.
• TRICAL® 2700 grows vigorously as a seedling until the third or fourth tiller and then enters a stall phase of five to eight days before resuming very rapid stem elongation and vegetative growth.

Agronomics

TRICAL® 2700 has a tall erect growth habit and exhibits a dense canopy of dark green leaves.

TRICAL® 2700 has superior tolerance to disease and tough growing conditions compared to other spring forages.

Management Tips

Primary Planting Time: Early spring, (February to April)

Seeding Rates:

• Spring planting rates are typically higher than fall planting rates simply because of the lack of time to produce tillers.
• Plant 100 to 120 pounds per acre on irrigated ground with conventional seeding equipment into a well prepared seed bed. Seedling nutrition is best banded below the seed.

Fertility: Total fertility needs are dependent on the intended use of the crop and the environment. Generally the crop needs 110-140 units of nitrogen (plus balancing the nutrients) to take it to the late boot stage of development. 

Harvest Late Boot: Late boot harvest always produces the highest quality forage product with crude protein ranging from 18%-22% and total digestibility near 85%.

Soft Dough: Soft dough harvest is possible but not recommended because of the bearded head.  While TRICAL®  2700 has excellent digestibility at late boot, after heading TRICAL®  2700’s fiber increases even more than other varieties.

Silage: Ensiling triticale should occur at 65% moisture. As with other forages a quality liquid inoculant is recommended to be applied at a minimum of 100,000 CFU (colony forming units) per gram of silage. This will help prevent harmful yeasts and molds from occurring and by lowering the pH of the forage prevent heating and help preserve a quality product.

Blends: When harvesting blends containing forage peas, make sure to design the blend to harvest the crop before the peas start to develop seeds in the  pod.  In baled hay product the pods with seeds can retain moisture and create a white moldy spot.

Always test for nitrates before feeding.