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Identify this pasture grass please #150780

Asked September 03, 2013, 12:43 PM EDT

We've seeded our dryland pasture with a basic dryland mix from the Co-op.  Although I have a list of the grasses included in the mix, I can't identify by sight which is which.  The accompanying picture shows what we seem to have the most of and, naturally, it's the kind of grass the horses are not at all interested in.  Can someone tell me what kind of grass this is so that we can look for a mix that has a lower content of it next time we seed?

Larimer County Colorado

Expert Response

This looks like it may be crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum).  Crested wheatgrass is an introduced, cool season, perennial, bunchgrass that is drought tolerant.  In early season, the forage quality is excellent for all livestock classes, however, once it heads out and cures, the forage value and palatability greatly decreases.  Please see the USDA NRCS plant fact sheet to make a positive ID and to learn more about crested wheatgrass -- http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_agcr.pdf.

Karen Crumbaker Replied September 03, 2013, 1:39 PM EDT

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