Peaceful Valley High Rainfall Dryland Pasture Mix - Nitrocoated Seed (lb)

Cool-season pasture blend for dryland sites receiving about 30 inches or more of annual rainfall.

High-Rainfall Dryland Pasture with Annual Legumes and Perennial Grass

Peaceful Valley High Rainfall Dryland Pasture Mix combines self-regenerating subterranean clovers with a persistent orchardgrass to create productive forage and dependable soil cover in higher-rainfall dryland areas. It is designed for regions where seasonal precipitation can support cool-season establishment without routine summer irrigation. Use it for pasture renovation, rotational grazing systems, and open ground that would benefit from a competitive grass-and-legume stand.

The blend balances two life cycles. Campeda, Antas, and Denmark subclovers are winter-active annual legumes: they germinate with dependable moisture, grow strongly through the cool season, flower and set seed in spring, and naturally finish as summer becomes dry. Paiute orchardgrass is a perennial bunchgrass that supplies a longer-lived forage base and can access moisture below the drying soil surface once established.

How the Mix Works

• Campeda, Antas, and Denmark subclovers: Cool-season annual legumes selected to provide leafy forage, spring growth, groundcover, and nitrogen fixation. Allowing some plants to set seed supports natural regeneration in later seasons.
• Paiute orchardgrass: A persistent perennial grass that adds stand structure, palatable forage, and deeper-rooted dry-season resilience on well-drained or moderately well-drained sites.

Together, the species create a denser canopy than either component would provide alone. The clovers supply nitrogen-rich growth and high-quality cool-season forage, while orchardgrass helps occupy the site over multiple years. The mixed canopy also competes with weeds and protects soil from seasonal erosion.

Establishment and Management

Seed into a clean, firm seedbed in fall as dependable seasonal rains begin, or in early spring where local conditions allow enough establishment time before summer dryness. Place seed shallowly and make sure it has close soil contact. When broadcasting, roll or press the field after seeding; drilling generally gives more consistent placement.

Limit grazing until seedlings are firmly rooted. During the first season, avoid repeated close defoliation so orchardgrass can establish a strong crown and root system. If annual subclover regeneration is important, leave part of the stand ungrazed long enough for the clovers to flower and set seed before summer. Soil testing and correction of major pH or nutrient limitations before planting will improve stand establishment and long-term productivity.

Product Details

• Application Rate: Drill at approximately 25 lb per acre; broadcast at approximately 30 lb per acre
• Planting Depth: About ¼–½ inch in a firm seedbed
• Planting Season: Fall with seasonal rains, or early spring where local conditions support establishment
• Expected Height: Up to about 3½ feet if allowed to mature
• Uses: Pasture renovation, rotational grazing, weed competition, erosion protection, and soil improvement
• Site Fit: Higher-rainfall dryland areas with about 30 inches or more annual precipitation; orchardgrass performs best on well-drained to moderately well-drained soil
• Inoculant: No additional inoculant is needed. The clover seed is Nitrocoated with the appropriate Rhizobium bacteria to support nodulation and nitrogen fixation.

Minimum order quantity: 50 pounds.

Note for certified organic growers: Nitrocoated seed is conventionally grown, non-GMO seed with no fungicide or insecticide seed treatment applied before coating. The coating contains certified organic powdered limestone, an organically approved binder, and an OMRI-approved peat-based inoculant, applied through an OMRI-approved process on a dedicated Nitrocoated-seed treatment line.