Organic Perun Festulolium combines traits from two familiar forage groups in one cool-season grass. This rye-fescue hybrid is approximately 80% Italian ryegrass and 20% meadow fescue, bringing together the quick establishment and productive spring growth of ryegrass with the cold resistance, drought tolerance, and persistence associated with meadow fescue. Perun is intended for forage systems that need early seasonal production without relying entirely on a short-lived annual ryegrass. It grows approximately 2–3 feet tall, establishes rapidly, and can provide palatable pasture or cut forage. Its heat and cold tolerance broaden the usable season, while disease resistance and regrowth help support continued production under appropriate grazing or cutting management. Sow in spring or fall where annual rainfall is at least approximately 25 inches or supplemental moisture is available. Protect seedlings from close grazing until the stand is well rooted. Festulolium can be planted alone or mixed with clover to add nitrogen fixation and forage diversity. The Festulolium seed itself needs no inoculant, but raw clover seed planted with it must be treated with the appropriate Rhizobium inoculant. Crop Type: Certified organic cool-season Festulolium forage grass Variety: Perun—approximately 80% Italian Ryegrass and 20% Meadow Fescue parentage Application Rate: 18–22 lb per acre or 1–2 lb per 1,000 sq ft Inoculant: Not required. This is a nonlegume cover crop and does not rely on Rhizobium bacteria for nitrogen fixation. Germination: Approximately 5–10 days under suitable conditions Plant Height: Approximately 2–3 feet Days to Maturity: Approximately 40–60 days Uses: Pasture, cut forage, cool-season grass coverage, and mixtures with clover Moisture Requirement: Approximately 25 inches minimum annual rainfall or equivalent supplemental moisture Planting Window: Spring or fall
