Farmers may be interested in winter rye for grain to meet local demands and niche markets. Over the past five years, we have conducted several experiments on hybrid rye, including variety selection, planting date, seeding rate, and spring nitrogen application rate. Available resources include:
- Hybrid Rye Grain Yield Compared to Other Small Grains. In Ohio, soft red winter wheat is the predominantly produced small grain, with around 500,000 acres planted each fall. Over a three-year period, we compared soft red winter wheat grain yield to other small grains, including hybrid rye. Across the three years, soft red winter wheat yielded the greatest, averaging approximately 90 bu/acre while hybrid rye yielded nearly 80 bu/acre and open-pollinated rye yielded an average of 70 bu/acre. For the full set of results, see this FactSheet: https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/anr-0154
- Planting Date and Seeding Rate. During the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 growing seasons, we evaluated hybrid rye planting date and seeding rates in four states (Kentucky, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota). In Ohio, across planting dates and seeding rates, grain yield was generally high, averaging approximately 90 bu/acre. Maximum grain yield occurred when rye was planted within the two-week period following the county Hessian fly-safe date and at a seeding rate of at least 800,000 seeds/acre. For a full description of this experiment, please see this publication in Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management: https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cft70052
- Hybrid Rye and Nitrogen Rate. During the 2024-2025 growing season, an experiment was conducted to identify the optimum spring nitrogen application rate for three rye hybrids. First year results indicated that approximately 80 lb N/acre optimized grain yield at the Western Agricultural Research Station in Clark County while 120 lb N/acre optimized grain yield at the Northwest Agricultural Research Station in Wood County. (However, the nitrogen rate that maximizes grain yield may not maximize profitability.) There was no hybrid by nitrogen rate interaction, which means nitrogen application rate did not need to be different for the three hybrids. Lodging was variable depending on location, with no lodging in Wood County and up to 70% of plants lodged in Clark County. Higher lodging was associated with higher nitrogen application rates. First-year results are preliminary, and the study will be repeated during the 2025-2026 growing season. Year 1 results can be found here:Â https://stepupsoy.osu.edu/sites/hcs-soy/files/Hybrid%20Rye%20Report%20Page%201_0.pdf