The Best of Wheat and Triticale in One Blend
Green Chop was designed around a simple idea: combine two proven cool-season forage crops to create a more versatile stand.
The 50% beardless wheat portion contributes palatable, high-quality forage with dependable cool-season growth. Wheat is widely used in winter grazing programs throughout the Southern Great Plains and gives Green Chop a strong foundation for fall, winter, and spring forage production.
The other 50% is beardless triticale, bringing the vigor, forage production, and biomass potential for which triticale is known. Triticale combines characteristics of wheat and rye and is widely utilized for grazing and harvested forage.
Together, the two crops produce a balanced stand capable of fitting a variety of livestock operations across West Texas and the surrounding High Plains.
Built for Grazing, Hay, Silage & Green Chop
Green Chop isn’t limited to one harvest method. The blend can be managed according to the needs of the operation and conditions throughout the growing season.
For cattle operations, Green Chop can provide valuable cool-season grazing when warm-season pastures are dormant. Producers looking for harvested forage can allow the crop to develop additional biomass before cutting it for hay, silage, or green chop.
The beardless nature of both components is especially useful when the crop will be harvested later in maturity. Unlike heavily awned small grains, beardless wheat and triticale do not develop the same prominent awns that can reduce the feeding desirability of mature forage.
This flexibility allows producers to decide how to utilize the crop as the season develops rather than committing every acre to a single end use at planting.
Blend & Agronomic Profile
Blend Name: Green Chop
Crop Type: Cool-Season Small Grain Forage Blend
Composition: 50% Beardless Wheat / 50% Beardless Triticale
Head Type: Beardless / Awnless
Primary Use: Grazing / Hay / Silage / Green Chop
Planting Season: Fall
Growth Habit: Winter Annual
Forage Potential: Excellent
Biomass Potential: Excellent
Grazing Potential: Excellent
Hay Potential: Very Good
Silage Potential: Excellent
Green Chop Potential: Excellent
Cold Tolerance: Very Good
Drought Adaptation: Good
Regional Fit: West Texas, Texas High Plains, Oklahoma Panhandle & Eastern New Mexico
Livestock Fit: Primarily cattle and other appropriate grazing livestock
Individual characteristics can vary depending on the specific beardless wheat and triticale varieties used in the blend. Weather, planting date, fertility, moisture, grazing pressure, and harvest timing will also affect performance.
Recommended Planting
Green Chop should be planted early enough in the fall to establish a healthy stand before prolonged cold weather. Planting date and seeding rate should be adjusted according to whether the primary goal is grazing or harvested forage.
Recommended Seeding Rate:
For a solid stand, approximately 90–120 lb. per acre is a practical starting range for drilled production. Higher populations may be appropriate where maximum forage production or grazing is the primary objective, while moisture-limited dryland fields may require a more conservative rate.
Planting Depth:
Plant approximately 1–2 inches deep, adjusting depth to reach adequate soil moisture. Uniform seed placement is important for achieving consistent emergence across both components of the blend.
Grazing Production:
Plant toward the earlier portion of the locally appropriate small-grain planting window when fall grazing is a major objective. Allow the stand to become adequately established before introducing livestock.
Hay & Silage Production:
For harvested forage, prioritize a uniform stand and adequate fertility. Harvest timing should be selected according to the desired balance between forage quality and total tonnage.
Fertility:
Use a current soil test when possible. Nitrogen requirements should reflect expected forage production, available moisture, residual nitrogen, and whether the crop will be grazed or mechanically harvested.
Green Chop FAQ
What is in the Green Chop blend?
Green Chop contains 50% beardless wheat and 50% beardless triticale.
Is Green Chop completely beardless?
Yes. Both the wheat and triticale components are beardless varieties, making the blend particularly attractive for forage-oriented production.
What is Green Chop used for?
Green Chop is designed primarily for grazing, hay, silage, and green chop production.
Is Green Chop good for cattle grazing?
Yes. Both wheat and triticale are widely used as cool-season cattle forage, and Green Chop combines the two into a single stand.
Can Green Chop be used for hay?
Yes. The blend can be grown and harvested for hay. Its beardless components make it especially useful when producing livestock forage.
Can Green Chop be used for silage?
Yes. The strong biomass potential of wheat and triticale makes Green Chop a good candidate for small-grain silage production.
What does “green chop” mean?
Green chop is forage that is mechanically harvested while green and fed fresh to livestock rather than being dried into hay or fermented into silage.
Why mix wheat and triticale?
Wheat provides dependable, palatable forage, while triticale contributes vigorous growth and strong biomass production. Combining them creates a versatile stand instead of relying on the characteristics of only one crop.
How much Green Chop should I plant per acre?
Approximately 90–120 lb. per acre is a useful starting range for drilled production. Final rates should be adjusted for planting date, seed size, germination, available moisture, grazing plans, and forage goals.
How deep should Green Chop be planted?
Generally, plant Green Chop approximately 1–2 inches deep, with the goal of placing seed into adequate moisture for quick, uniform emergence.
When should Green Chop be planted?
Green Chop is typically fall planted. Earlier planting can be beneficial when fall grazing is a major objective, while planting for spring hay or silage can follow the normal locally recommended small-grain planting window.
Where can I buy Green Chop seed?
Contact Jack Seed & Supply for Green Chop availability and help developing a planting plan for grazing, hay, silage, or green chop production.
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