General Resources

• Guidance Document for Pasture and Hay Planting (512) and Range Planting (550), Pacific Islands Area, October 2021 (NRCS) 
• Pasture and Hay Planting (Ac.) (512) Conservation Practice Standard (NRCS)
• Range Planting (Ac.) (550) Conservation Practice Standard (NRCS)

Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum)

• Low-growing, creeping grass used primarily for forage, orchards, and erosion control. Suitable for all livestock.
• Tolerant of shade, salt, low pH, and drought.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare): By special order

• Quick-growing companion crop and nutrient recycler that produces large volumes of biomass. Excellent for erosion control and providing lasting residue. Improves soil structure and has good production, nutritional quality, and palatability for animal grazing.
• Tolerant of heat, moderate drought, low fertility, and shade. The most salt-tolerant cereal crop.

Bermudagrass, Giant (Cynodon dactylon)

• Taller than turf Bermudagrass, this is a quick-growing variety that recovers rapidly after cutting and pasturing, and is therefore a vigorous producer of green weight per acre. Relished by livestock and good for hay production.
• Tolerant of heat, salt, alkalinity, and drought. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil.

Buffelgrass, Unhulled Laredo® (Pennisetum ciliare)

• We stock the Laredo® brand, which is particularly resistant to blight, and has 25-30% increased production compared to common Buffelgrass.

• Quick-growing, palatable forage used especially during periods of drought or in dry land areas. Also used for erosion control and revegetation of arid areas.
• Tolerant of overgrazing, drought, and sandy soil. Prefers dry (or seasonally dry) environments.

Fescue, Tall (Lolium arundinaceum): By special order

• Tolerant of heat, drought, and shade. As a cool season grass, does well at higher elevations.

Kikuyugrass (Pennisetum clandestinum)

• Durable turf with deep root system for erosion control. Grows well from sea level to 6,000 feet of elevation. High protein content for grazing.
• Tolerant of salt and drought.

Orchard (Dactylis glomerata): By special order

• Highly palatable grass suitable for all livestock, and used for forage, hay, silage, erosion control, and orchards.
• Tolerant of shade and drought due to its deep root system. Prefers well-drained soil. As a cool season grass, does well at higher elevations.

Marandu (Brachiaria brizantha) [Learn more]

• Recommended for direct grazing and hay production.
• Tolerant of drought and shade. Very tolerant of spittlebug. Prefers well-drained soil.

Mombasa Guinea (Megathyrsus maximus)

• Very productive, tall, leafy grass suitable for cut-and-carry, rotational grazing, set stocking and all livestock.
• Tolerant of drought and shade. Prefers well-drained soil.

Mulato II (Brachiaria brizantha, decumbens, and ruziziensis)

• High-quality, vigorous forage grass mix adapted to the tropics and subtropics, and proven to increase meat and milk production.
• Tolerant of drought and spittlebug. Prefers acidic, medium-fertility, well-drained soil.

Rhodesgrass (Chloris gayana)

• Tropical and subtropical grass used in pastures for grazing, hay, and sileage, suitable for all livestock. Also good for erosion control and soil quality improvement.
• Highly tolerant of salt, moderately tolerant of flooding, and tolerant of drought. Prefers sun.

Signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens): By special order

• Vigorous, dense tropical grass used for direct grazing, cut-and-carry, hay production, and erosion control.
• Tolerant of low fertility, light shade, and heavy grazing. Prefers sun and acidic, well-drained soil.

Teff Grass (Eragrostis tef) 

• Quick-growing, high-yield grass used primarily for silage and hay production, but also as green manure and for crop rotation. Good for all livestock, and particularly palatable as compared to other grass hay.
• Tolerant of both drought and waterlogged soil. Grows from sea level to high altitudes.