When it comes to improving pastures, hay fields, and even wildlife food plots, the right seed choices can make all the difference. To help customers make informed decisions, Erica Lantz sat down with Mike Cowan, owner of Missouri Southern Seeds, to discuss pasture management, forage mixes, seed selection, and practical planting advice for every season.
Strengthening Pastures: Interseeding and Soil Contact Matter
Many local producers have long-established pastures and are looking for ways to improve them. According to Mike, most pastures in Missouri have a fescue base, and interseeding can be a great way to add diversity and boost nutrition.
“Orchard grass and intermediate ryegrass are excellent additions,” Mike explained. “They improve palatability and performance, especially coming out of winter.”
Adding clovers such as Ladino, red clover, or lespedeza can further enhance protein levels and improve overall pasture health. However, achieving good seed-to-soil contact is crucial for success.
Seeding Methods: Frost, Broadcast, or Drill?
While frost seeding clovers and small legumes in January or early February can be effective, timing and soil conditions matter. Grasses, being soft seeds, are better drilled or lightly harrowed into the soil to ensure proper establishment. Overly deep planting or wet conditions can reduce emergence and lead to frustration.
“Each year is different,” Mike said. “Don’t go strictly by the calendar—go by the conditions.”
Hay Ground Management: Choosing the Right Mix
For those maintaining hay fields, interseeding is a common strategy to extend the life of an existing stand.
Mike recommends orchard grass for dry hay operations because it adds tonnage and cures well. For wet bales, ryegrass performs well thanks to its higher sugar content—though it also holds more moisture, making it trickier to dry.
To rejuvenate alfalfa stands, Mike suggests adding annual legumes like frosty berseem clover. It complements alfalfa’s cutting schedule, adds protein, and boosts overall yield.
Coated vs. Uncoated Seed: When It Matters
One question Erica often hears at the store is about coated versus uncoated seed. Mike’s answer: it depends on the crop.
“For grasses, coated seed isn’t necessarily worth the extra cost,” he said. “But with legumes, coatings that include inoculants are valuable.”
The inoculant helps legumes form nitrogen-fixing nodules, leading to healthier plants and soils over time. While coatings reduce the number of seeds per bag, they improve long-term stand health.
Starting New Hay Ground: Building a Balanced Mix
When transitioning cropland into hay production, Mike recommends beginning with a balanced mix.
He’s a self-proclaimed fescue advocate, favoring improved, endophyte-free fescue varieties for their adaptability and strong growth during spring and fall. Paired with orchard grass, timothy, or brome, farmers can build a productive, long-lasting stand.
“From a tonnage standpoint, fescue and orchard grass are hard to beat,” Mike said. “Timothy makes fantastic hay, but its survivability in our climate is only two to three years.”
Exploring Brassicas and Chicory: High-Protein Options
Beyond traditional forages, brassicas (like turnips, rape, and kale crosses) and chicory are gaining attention for their high protein and fast growth.
Brassicas can serve as affordable, annual supplements—ideal for grazing systems needing quick feed between main seasons. Mike recommends gradual cattle introduction due to their rich nutrient content.
Chicory, on the other hand, offers a three- to four-year life span, providing perennial protein and working well in pastures or dairy operations.
“The chicory we sell isn’t the wild kind you see on roadsides,” Mike clarified. “It’s bred for forage with more leaf and less stem.”
Wildlife Food Plots: Designing for Variety
When it comes to wildlife management, Mike emphasizes matching the seed to the goal.
“If you’re planting for deer, remember—they browse,” he said. “One day they want oats, the next day it’s clover or turnips.”
Missouri Southern Seeds offers seasonal mixes designed to attract wildlife:
- Fall Wildlife Mix: oats, wheat, rye, winter peas, turnips, and rape
- Deer Magic: a perennial mix with alfalfa, Ladino clover, and chicory
Mike advises keeping annuals and perennials separate or planting them in strips to avoid competition and extend field longevity. For turkeys, species like chufa are excellent, providing a peanut-like underground food source they’ll eagerly scratch up.
Seed Mixing & Application Rates
When blending multiple seed types, use caution. Planting rates on seed charts are based on individual species, so adjustments must be made when combining them.
“Too many seeds per square foot can actually cause a mini drought,” Mike warned. “Each plant ends up competing for limited nutrients and moisture.”
A thoughtful mix ensures root space, healthier growth, and better long-term yields.
Behind the Brand: Missouri Southern Seeds
Founded in 1982 by Mike’s father, Missouri Southern Seeds has grown into a trusted regional supplier. Mike took over in 2014, continuing his father’s legacy with the help of longtime team member Doug Hartman and an experienced sales and warehouse crew.
Every batch of seed is probed and tested—half by Missouri Crop Improvement and half by the Missouri Department of Agriculture—to guarantee quality and accuracy for customers.
Looking Ahead
Seed availability varies year to year, but Missouri Southern Seeds maintains a strong supply network, sourcing from across the U.S. and abroad. Despite challenges from weather and global markets, the company continues to deliver high-quality products for pasture, hay, turf, and wildlife applications.
“We’re proud to support Feeders Grain & Farm Supply and their customers,” Mike concluded. “Our goal is to help farmers make the most of every acre.”
Learn More
Visit Feeders Grain & Farm Supply to explore Missouri Southern Seeds’ full product line and get tailored recommendations for your farm, pasture, or wildlife plot.
