Rapido Diploid Annual Ryegrass

Rapido is an earlier maturing ryegrass which provides high-quality cool-season forage early in the year. It is ideal for hay, grazing, stored feed, and other uses where abundant early forage is desired.

Find A Dealer

Early Season Growth + Fast Regrowth

Trial results indicate Rapido begins growing rapidly in late winter and early spring. This early-season growth plus fast regrowth should be advantageous for grazers and forage producers needing high-quality forage early in the season when other forages are not as active. Silage operators and cover crop farmers can benefit from the production of higher biomass earlier in the season.

University of Tennessee

Forage Quality

Greeneville, TN

|

2018-2019

April 22CPADFNDFTDN
Rapido15.7130.9052.3866.24
Average*14.3231.3552.3365.77
May 29CPADFNDFTDN
Rapido11.4342.4766.8854.12
Average*8.9842.0566.0154.55

*Average included 28 entries.

University of Tennessee

Forage Quality

Springfield, TN

|

2019-2020

April 22CPADFNDFTDN
Rapido8.9627.9842.7869.30
Average*10.5025.7039.8071.70
May 31CPADFNDFTDN
Rapido7.1935.6059.1361.32
Average*7.7037.7061.8059.10

*Average included 25 entries.

Rapido diploid annual ryegrass, showing its tall, upright growth pattern

Photo was taken May 8, 2019.

Tall and Upright

Rapido grows rapidly in a tall and upright fashion, making it easy to harvest for hay, silage and other stored forage options. As a cover crop, works well with other tall companion species.

Rapido's Yield Data

Alabama

Auburn University

Forage Yield (DM/A)

Tallassee, AL

|

2019-2020

Variety3-Feb28-Feb3-Apr3-Month Total
Rapido1072*710*1,0132,796*
Wax Marshall743785*1,0272,554*
Nelson1032*4518232,305
Winterhawk9123359302,197
TAMTBO7643098421,938
Diamond T7943096871,791
Lsd (0.10)357196317461

*Statistically equal to top score.

Georgia

University of Georgia

Forage Yield (DM/A)

Tifton, GA

|

2018-2019

Variety12-Dec23-Jan10-Apr3-Month Total
Rapido676*1,470*4,911*7,057*
Mean694*7384,015*5,448
Wax Marshall763*5344,073*5,369
EarlyPloid784*5563,6925,031
TAMTBO643*3593,5724,574
Nelson795*8602,7774,433
Lsd (0.10)2114441,0151,222

*Statistically equal to top score.

Louisiana

Louisiana State University

Forage Yield (DM/A)

Winnsboro, LA

|

2018-2019

Variety11-Jan25-Feb21-Mar3- Month Total
Rapido4811,603*9573,041
Prine396*1,467*8922,755
Wax Marshall2561,2531,200*2,709
Earlyploid3221,637*7192,678
Gulf368*1,3609202,648

*Statistically equal to top score.

Tennessee

University of Tennessee

Forage Yield (Tons DM/A)

Springfield, TN

|

2019-2020

Variety22-Apr31-MayTotal
Rapido2.10*2.00*4.10*
Wax Marshall1.642.22*3.86*
FrostProof1.632.05*3.68*
Fria1.432.11*3.54*
Jackson1.412.06*3.47*
Nelson1.242.21*3.45*
Winterhawk1.32.12*3.42*
Passerel Plus1.232.03*3.26
TAMTBO0.992.09*3.08
lsd0.550.420.8

*Yielded statistically the same as the top‐yielding variety.

Nitrogen application: 45 lb/acre at planting, 60 lb/acre at green‐up, 30 lb/acre after first harvest.

Planted September 30, 2019.

Ideal For Warm-Season Perennial Pasture

While Rapido will provide season-long forage, it should also mature earlier, thus minimizing competition with perennial warm season crops, such as bermudagrass and bahaigrass.

Comparison of the maturity of Big Boss, Rapido and Attain Annual Ryegrass

Comparison of the maturities of Big Boss, Rapido and Attain Annual Ryegrass in Allendale, SC - April 2023 (Planted first week of November).

Uses

Grazing

Rapido best fits operation needing forage early in the season. Endophyte-free, Rapido is safe for all livestock including equine. Overseeding warm-season pasture with Rapido, especially in regions where warm-season grasses emerge early in the spring, should result in good year-round forage options.

Hay and Silage

Expect high yields and quick regrowth when harvesting for early spring hay.  Single-cut silage harvest should be able to be taken earlier with Rapido.

Cover Crop

Grab that excess nitrogen, break up your hard soil, build the carbon bank. High tonnage means lots and lots of biomass. Use Rapido as either a single species cover crop or in a mixture with legumes, brassicas and other cover crop species.

Erosion Control

Rapido’s quick growth in the spring can assist in soil stabilization and erosion control.

Wildlife

Rapido is an excellent companion species for a variety of wildlife mixes where abundant spring forage is desired.

Rapido In Multiple Locations

Enhance Your Seed

We provide an array of seed enhancements, including bio stimulants, macro and micronutrients, water absorbents, fungicides, and colorants. These are available for all seed types and uses.

Planting Instructions

Prior to Planting

For optimal performance, prior to planting, obtain a soil test. Amend soil according to recommendations and fertilize after planting according to recommendations and use. 

How to Plant

Rapido can be drilled or broadcast into either a prepared seedbed or an existing sod bed. For prepared seedbed, lightly disc and pack well. For existing sod bed, reduce existing sod height as much as possible.

Planting Precautions

While Rapido is an improved variety selected for better performance and increase disease resistance, its early growth activity may make it prone it gray leaf spot, especially during warmer winters with excessive rainfall.  Caution should also be taken in areas susceptible to winter kill, as Rapido may start growing early enough to sustain significant damage. Check out our other varieties that are better suited for winter hardiness and gray leaf spot

Seeding Rate

New Pastures
25-35 lbs/ac
Overseeding
10–15 lbs/ac

Planting Dates

Rapido can be planted throughout the year. However, maximum utilization will be obtained by planting in the fall as soon as adequate moisture is available. If planted at other times of the year, performance will be limited.

Planting Map

Planting Depth

1/8"-1/2"

Optimal pH

6.0-7.0

Germination

5-10 days

Fertilizer

Application of fertilizer (per soil test results) throughout the growing season and/or use of legumes will provide maximum forage tonnage and root growth.