Western Wheatgrass (20%)
Western Wheatgrass is a native, cool season, perennial, sod forming grass, which reproduces from underground rhizomes. Western Wheatgrass spreads rapidly and forms a dense sod, making it valuable for erosion control. Under good conditions, it produces an abundance of forage early in the season that is nutritious and readily eaten by livestock until late summer when it becomes harsh and fibrous. It makes a good quality hay if cut during the late bloom, and can stand close grazing. Western Wheatgrass will do well on a wide range of soils, from sands to clays and is very tolerant to alkali.
Big Bluestem (20%)
Big blue is a warm season, perennial bunch grass that grows to a height of 3 to 8 feet. It has roots that permeate the top two feet of soil. Big Bluestem is adapted to moist, deep, well-drained soils. Big Bluestem is very palatable and nutritious although, if continuously grazed closer than 6 to 8 inches, will be replaced by less desirable grasses. It also works well in pure stands and is used extensively for nesting habitat, and reclamation projects.
Green Needlegrass (15%)
Green needle is a cool season, perennial bunch type grass that grows from 1 1/2 to 3 feet tall. It is a native grass that grows on medium to fine textured soils. Green Needlegrass starts growth early in the spring, and is nutritious, palatable, and remains green throughout the year. Stand establishment may be slow because of high dormant seed percentage.
Indiangrass (15%)
Indian is a warm season grass that spreads by seed and short rhizomes. It grows to a height of 3 to 6 feet and will grow on sandy soil, it is better adapted to moist well-drained bottomlands. Indiangrass exhibits moderate salt tolerance and will withstand occasional flooding. It makes good quality hay, and is found primarily in the tall grass prairie, and mixed-grass prairie. Primary use is in wildlife habitat and native range and pasture mixtures.
Sideoats Grama (10%)
Side Oats Grama is a warm season, erect native perennial grass that grows in tufts and open bunches to a height of 1 to 2 feet tall. It is more tolerant to drought than Indiangrass or Big Bluestem. It grows fast in late spring and early summer and stays green late into the summer. Side Oats Grama has good forage value and is grazed mostly in late summer and fall. It is found primarily on poorly developed shallow soiled, steep slopes, and ridgetops. Primary use is in grass mixtures for rangeland seeding and its excellent seedling vigor allows rapid establishment.
Little Bluestem (10%)
A warm season, leafy perennial grass that grows to a height of 1 to 4 feet. It can be grazed and has good forage value when the leaves are tender. It does not cure well and has moderate palatability for fall or winter grazing. Recommended in a mixture of warm season grasses for erosion control or summer pasture.
Blue Grama (5%)
A warm season short tufted perennial of the mixed grass prairie that is widely distributed on medium to heavy soils throughout the Dakotas and Minnesota. It has high drought tolerance on all soil types. Primarily used in rangeland seed mixes, low maintenance turf areas and roadsides.
Slender Wheatgrass (5%)
A short-lived, cool-season, perennial bunchgrass. It is primarily used in seed mixtures of introduced and native grasses due to its excellent seed vigor, ease of establishment and fast growth. Plants lose vigor, and decline in abundance within three to four years. Presence in mixtures improves stand productivity, especially during the first production year, until other grasses become better established. It possesses a high tolerance to salinealkali soils
Recommended usage: Designed for people who want a native pasture, ‘Old time native prairie’, ‘natural’ looking field. A relatively expensive mixture that takes 2-3 years to get well established, due to the high percentage of warm season grasses which are slower to establish.