Warm-Season Annual Grass • Hay • Forage
Teff Grass
Coated Seed
Eragrostis tef
A fine-stemmed, warm-season annual forage grass valued for high-quality hay, rapid summer growth, multiple-cut potential, and flexibility as a short-season forage crop.
About Teff Grass
Teff is a warm-season annual grass used primarily for hay and forage production. Its fine stems and leaves make it particularly useful where soft, fine-textured hay is desired.
Under warm growing conditions, teff establishes rapidly and can provide multiple forage harvests within a single growing season. This makes it useful as a summer annual forage and as a short-season crop between longer-term forage rotations.
Teff is frost sensitive and should be planted only after soils have warmed and the risk of freezing temperatures has passed.
Coated Teff Seed
Easier Handling for an Extremely Small Seed
Teff seed is exceptionally small. Seed coating increases the physical size and weight of the seed, which can make calibration, metering, and distribution easier with many common planting systems.
Because coating contributes part of the total product weight, coated teff is seeded at a higher pounds-per-acre rate than raw, uncoated teff.
Forage Characteristics
Why Plant Teff?
Teff provides a fine-stemmed summer forage option with rapid growth and flexible harvest potential.
Fine-Stemmed Forage
Teff produces fine stems and leaves that can make soft, palatable hay when harvested at the proper stage.
Rapid Summer Growth
Once established in warm conditions, teff grows quickly and can produce harvestable forage in a relatively short period.
Multiple-Cut Potential
Properly managed stands can regrow after cutting and may provide multiple harvests during a long warm growing season.
Short-Season Flexibility
Teff can fit into summer windows between other forage or crop rotations where a fast annual crop is needed.
Dense Fibrous Roots
Teff develops a fine fibrous root system that contributes root biomass and vegetative soil cover.
Warm-Season Diversity
Provides a warm-season annual grass alternative to traditional cool-season forage grasses and small grains.
Establishment
Shallow Placement Is Critical
Seed coated teff at approximately 10–15 lb/acre. Teff seed must be placed extremely shallowly — approximately ¼ inch deep or less.
A firm seedbed is critical. Seed planted too deeply may fail to emerge. After planting, maintain adequate moisture near the soil surface until seedlings are established.
Plant after frost danger has passed when soils are warm. Teff germination and early growth improve substantially as soil temperatures move above approximately 60–65°F.
Where Teff Fits
Forage & Agricultural Applications
Horse Hay
Fine stems and leaves make teff a popular option for producing fine-textured horse hay.
Livestock Hay
Teff can provide quality summer annual hay for a range of livestock forage systems.
Double Cropping
Rapid summer development makes teff useful where a short-season forage crop is needed between other crops.
Emergency Forage
Can provide a relatively quick summer forage option when additional hay production is needed.
Harvest Management
Protect the Crown for Regrowth
Teff's regrowth points are located above the soil surface, so cutting height is important. Cutting too short can substantially reduce regrowth and later yields.
For good forage quality and regrowth potential, harvest before or near early seedhead emergence and leave approximately 3–4 inches of stubble.
Teff Establishment Is Highly Sensitive to Planting Depth
Teff is one of the smallest forage seeds commonly planted. Do not bury it like a cereal grain or larger forage seed. Use a very firm seedbed, place seed no deeper than ¼ inch, and maintain surface moisture during establishment. Planting too deeply is a common cause of teff stand failure.
Coated Teff Grass Seed
Need Teff for Summer Forage or Hay?
Contact Weaver Seed for current coated teff availability, wholesale quantities, pricing, and help with summer forage and hay seed programs.