KWS Hybrid Rye
KWS Hybrid Rye

We are proud to offer KWS Hybrid Rye to our customers. KWS concentrates on developing high yielding, quality hybrid rye varieties. Simultaneously, they focus on consulting and supporting customers in production and livestock feeding. Hybrid rye is a high energy, nutrient dense feedstuff that provides high quality soluble fibers critical to animal health and performance!
Higher yields, superior disease and pest resistance, suitability for a wide range of end uses, and improved performance in adverse conditions are all key criteria KWS seeks to establish in their Hybrid Rye varieties. Growers can be assured that KWS Hybrid Rye varieties have been developed using the same professional competences applied across all their breeding teams. KWS provides the most reliable, innovative and market-leading selections available, tailored and tested for your local conditions and region.

Why Hybrid Rye?
- Higher yields with a wide range of end uses
- Superior disease and pest resistance with improved performance
- Gut Health - shown to offer non-nutritive health benefits in swine
- Profit Potential – opportunity for implementing new cropping systems
- Risk management – diversifies risk compared to planting only spring crops
- Workload – allows management of more acres with similar labor
- Environmental management – uses less water than other cereals.
- Soil Health - Improves soil health by reducing erosion and nutrient leaching
- Six Reasons Why to Grow Hybrid Rye video

Seeding Guide and Planting Recommendations
- Seeding time: Wait to plant in fall until soil temperature is below 59°F (15°C). This planting window will vary depending on region. For most of regions, late July through October, depending on fall grazing and management opportunities.
- Seeding rate: ~ 0.8 units per acre. 1 unit = 1 million viable seeds. Weight of a unit can vary according to germination rate and grain weight. Weight of a unit is provided on the bag! Seeding rate of 800,000 viable seeds per acre
- Seeding depth: ~ 0.8 in (2 cm)
- Row spacing: 7-8 in (18 – 20 cm) is preferred. This seeding rate and row spacing will maximize emergence and allow for even tillering. This is critical for crop quality and maximum yields!
Harvesting for Silage
- High protein silage: Should be cut on flag leaf/early ear. Harvested in late May (will vary based on region) - Lower tonnage but higher quality silage. To achieve optimal moisture for packing, rye should be windrowed and allowed to dry to desired moisture (~65%) prior to chopping and packing. Earlier harvest date provides the potential for implementing a double cropping system
- Whole plant silage: High yielding; should be cut on milky to light dough stage. Harvest in early June (will vary based on region) – higher tonnage while still maintaining quality. Fields should be monitored daily when approaching milky stage. Plants mature quickly at this time and proper management is essential for optimal yield and quality.
- Harvesting flexibility: For nutrient, production, and management needs!
Harvesting for Grain
- Hybrid rye seed must be fed or marketed and cannot be saved and replanted!
- Direct cut whenever possible, windrowing and then harvesting leads to yield loss and challenges with volunteer hybrid rye
- Hybrid rye is ready for harvest and stable for bin storage at 14.5% moisture.
6 Reasons To Grow Hybrid Rye
Hybrid Rye Grain Buyers
Grain Buyers | Location | Contact | Phone |
Grain Millers Specialty Products
|
St Ansgar, IA
|
Beth |
|
Gavilon
|
Kimball, SD
|
Todd Yeaton |
605-550-4107
|
Scoular Co
|
Omaha, NE
|
Jason McGillivrary |
403-837-9697
|
Revillo Elevator
|
Revillo, SD
|
Byron |
605-623-4411
|
Labolt Elevator
|
South Sore, SD. Taking rye in Waverly, SD
|
Mike |
605-756-4220
|
ADM Grain Millers
|
Hastings, NE and Minneapolis, MN
|
Justin |
612-340-5900
|
Ardent Mills LLC
|
Hastings, MN
|
Jordan Sinclair |
651-332-4934
|
FW Cobbs
|
Stewart, MN Location
|
Ask for Stewart Location |
888-531-4888
|
In the News
Farmward
Hybrid Rye Improves Double Cropping Potential with Corn
American Dairymen
Dryland Hybrid Rye Hits 126 bu. Per Acre
The Western Producer
Small Grains, Large Gains: Feeding Rye to Pigs
Practical Farmers of Iowa
Educational Videos
- Why Hybrid Rye? With Klaus Nymand
- Value of Hybrid Rye for Livestock
With Dr. Becca Stokes & Molly McGhee- Small Grains for Multiple Benefits Ward Labs & KWS
Fridays on the Farm #7 (Hybrid Rye starts at 36:00)- Hybrid Rye for Silage and Forage
Iowa farmer Tom Franzen on why Hybrid Rye works
on their Organic Farm- SDSU Hybrid Rye feeding trial for Beef Cattle
- SDSU Hybrid Rye feeding trial for Swine
- SDSU Rye and Hybrid Rye Grain Yields