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Climatic Zones

ZONE CLIMATIC DESCRIPTION ZONE CLIMATIC DESCRIPTION
  0 Subarctic Polar   7 Warm Summer - Humid Continental
  1 Cool - Humid Marine   8 Transitional - Humid
  2 Dry - Summer Subtropical Mediterranean   9 Warm Humid Subtropical
  3 Warm Summer Semi-Arid Transitional   10 Tropical Wet and Dry
  4 Cool Mountain   11 Warm Semi-Arid Steppe
  5 Transitional Semi-Arid Steppe   12 Warm Desert
  6 Cool Summer - Humid Continental Zones 8 - 12: Winter Overseeding/Sodseeding
 

Zone 6: Cool Summer - Humid Continental

HAY AND CONSERVATION
Newly established, worked soil, spring planting, high yield, persistence, neutral pH, good soil drainage
100% Alfalfa (Dormancy Group 3-5)
Seed @ 12-18 pounds per acre
or
60% Smooth brome (southern or intermediate types)
40% Alfalfa (Dormancy Group 3-5)
Seed @ 8-25 pounds per acre
or
40% Smooth brome (southern or intermediate types)
30% Justus, Ambassador, Frode, LateMate® OG
10% Classic T
10% Emprima, Entopper FKB
10% Alfalfa (DG 3-5), Northern adapted RC, Ivory WC
Seed @ 12-18 pounds per acre
 
PASTURE AND ROTATIONAL STOCKING
Newly established, worked soil, spring, high yield, persistence, good soil drainage
40% Justus, Ambassador, Frode, LateMate® OG
10% Emprima, Entopper FKB
30% AU Triumph, Cajun, Martin 2 TF
10% Respect PR
10% Renegade RC
Seed @ 12-18 pounds per acre
 
INTENSIVE SET OR CONTINUOUS STOCKING
Newly established, worked soil in spring, high yield, tolerant of intensive grazing, cold tolerance dependent upon snow cover in winter, may require annual sod or frost seeding ryegrass species to improve stand
30% AU Triumph, Cajun, Martin 2 TF
30% Justus, Ambassador, Frode, LateMate® OG
20% Emprima, Entopper FKB
20% Respect PR
Seed @ 12-18 pounds per acre
 
NATIVE GRASS MIXTURE
Glaciated, course textured and deep well drained soils dominate most of Zone 6. This region of abundant summer and winter precipitation is dominated by native bromegrasses Bromus spp., and the tall-grass prairie types such as big bluestem Andropogon gerardii, switchgrass Panicum virgatum and indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans. For specific recommendations for habitat mitigation, native plantings and seed availability, please call Cebeco International Seeds, Inc. for options. (1-800-445-2251).

NOTES:  Zone 6 represents almost an optimum growing environment for alfalfa “The Queen of Forages.” Summer accumulated heat units, ample soil moisture and well drained fertile soils provide the foundation for this growing environment. Winter hardy alfalfa cultivars have poor early spring and late fall forage production in this region. Alfalfa producers would like alternatives for extended forage production. Forage type perennial, intermediate and annual ryegrasses from Europe, New Zealand and Australia may play a significant role in providing forage alternatives in the years to come.

Key to abbraviations:
AR = Annual Ryegrass
A = Alfalfa
AG = Alkaligrass
BG = Bermudagrass
BT = Birdsfoot Trefoil
CC = Crimson Clover
FKB = Forage Kentucky Bluegrass
HG = Hardinggrass
IR = Intermediate Ryegrass
OG = Orchardgrass
RC = Red Clover
PR = Perennial Ryegrass
T = Timothy
TF = Tall Fescue
SC = Strawberry Clover