Forage Brassica
Forage Kale
A productive cool-season brassica for grazing and diversified forage mixtures
Forage Kale is a cool-season brassica valued for substantial leafy growth, good forage quality and strong cold tolerance. It can be planted alone or incorporated into diversified grazing mixtures where additional cool-season forage and brassica diversity are desired.
Forage Characteristics
Why Plant Forage Kale?
Forage kale is valued for leafy biomass, cool-season productivity and the ability to maintain useful forage later into cold weather than many other annual forage crops.
Productive Forage
Produces substantial above-ground biomass that can provide additional seasonal feed in livestock grazing systems.
Cold Tolerance
Kale generally has greater cold tolerance than many other forage brassicas, helping extend its usefulness later into the cool season.
High-Quality Forage
Forage brassicas can provide highly digestible, nutrient-dense supplemental forage when properly incorporated into the livestock diet.
Mix Compatibility
Can be combined with small grains, grasses, legumes and other brassicas to build diversified cool-season grazing mixtures.
Where It Fits
Best Uses for Forage Kale
Generic forage kale is best marketed around its broad livestock value rather than cultivar-specific traits. Its strongest role is providing leafy cool-season forage and adding brassica diversity to grazing mixtures.
Establishment & Management
Managing Forage Kale
Forage kale performs best when established with good seed-to-soil contact, adequate soil moisture and fertility, followed by grazing management appropriate for a productive brassica crop.
Planting
Kale is a small-seeded brassica and should generally be planted shallow. A firm seedbed and consistent seed placement help support uniform emergence.
Moisture & Fertility
Adequate moisture and fertility are important for developing the leafy biomass expected from forage kale. Stress during establishment can substantially reduce production.
Grazing Timing
Allow the crop to develop adequate forage before introducing livestock. Grazing readiness varies with planting date, temperature, moisture, fertility and the specific kale genetics being supplied.
Grazing Management
Rotational or strip grazing can improve utilization and help control livestock access to highly palatable brassica forage.
Variety Availability
Forage Kale Without a Fixed Cultivar
This product represents forage kale supplied without assigning the agronomic characteristics of a specific named cultivar. Available genetics may vary, so contact Weaver Seed for current variety, lot and availability information when a specific kale type or characteristic is required.
Looking for Forage Kale Seed?
Contact Weaver Seed for current varieties, availability, quantities, packaging or help incorporating forage kale into a grazing or custom forage mixture.
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