Updated guide provides tips for growing teff grass as forage

The third edition "Teff Grass Crop Overview and Forage Production Guide" is now available online from Cal/West Seeds at its website, www.teffgrass.com.

Don Miller, a breeder and researcher of forage, has worked on developing teff grass for the last 10 years. It is a summer annual forage developed for livestock and commercial hay growers who often need a fast-growing, high yielding crop with competitive forage quality.

The third edition guide is comprised of the latest teff grass growing information available.

"We've interviewed farmers who've actually grown teff grass and gathered their feedback from across the country to get their hands-on experience and observations. From these interviews, it appears dairymen like the results they are getting," Miller said.

The guide covers all aspects of growing teff grass, including proper cutting heights and seed bed preparation, such as making sure that the soil is really firm. This guide re-emphasizes basic techniques for success in planting and harvesting teff grass.

A companion video featuring Miller describing teff grass applications is also available at the same website. The video describes how the initial emphasis in developing teff grass was to address getting more grass and fiber into the animal diet. It also notes that teff grass has been adapted all across the United States as hay, silage or pasture for dairy, beef or horses.

Cal/West Seeds is the largest forage teff breeder in the United States and has created the teff grass website with grant support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for producers, farm advisors and seed sellers. Cal/West Seeds is the largest U.S. grower-owned company devoted exclusively to development, production and marketing of seed.