Don Higgins blend or CIR Switch

Breaking NEWS today!

Big recall on some varieties of RC Switchgrass. Do not plant this stuff without checking your lot / variety. Mine is "recalled".....

Two RC Switchgrass Seed Lots are being Recalled
We have been informed that two RC Switchgrass seedlots maybe of less than normal standard. These two seedlots represent less than 2% of the annual RC Switchgrass seed supply available for sale and are exclusive to RC Chippewa seedlot RC-CHP-UR1-24 and an RC Tecumseh RC-TEC-NF1-24.
REAP-Canada develops its superior genetics at McGill University in Montreal. We then license the genetics to licensed seed growers for further distribution. REAP-Canada is a non-profit organization that breeds and licenses switchgrass varieties. The seed suppliers and retailers oversee seed quality and market the RC Switchgrass varieties. Seed sold in small clear plastic bags for habitat use are easily inspected by everyone for plumpness of the seed and weed seed content. Everyone takes a look at their bags. In effect there are 1000's of seed inspectors on the job to maintain the integrity of the seed supply along with regular commercial inspection.
The RC Chippewa lot RC-CHP-UR1-24 is being recalled due to a moisture issue. Only a very limited amount of this seed was sold. It will be replaced as the Canadian dealer has additional lots that are not affected.
The RC Tecumseh lot RC-TEC-NF1-24 is being recalled due to some reports that it is off specification. The dealers will offer either RC Sundance or RC Big Rock as a replacement.
The Canadian seed supplier and the local seed dealers are working together to replace the lots that are off specification. The affected seed dealers will reach out shortly.
 
I'd be less worried about the foxtail than the seed that wasn't dried correctly, but got on them for offering replacements/alternatives.
 
I'd be less worried about the foxtail than the seed that wasn't dried correctly, but got on them for offering replacements/alternatives.
Not sure how easy this was to get done......as as far as replacing the seed. Glad I have not frost seeded any. Did you buy some seed Brian? Which variety??

John Komp of NWW Seed is a Stand-up guy for sure. Will buy more product from him in the future.
 
Not sure how easy this was to get done......as as far as replacing the seed. Glad I have not frost seeded any. Did you buy some seed Brian? Which variety??

John Komp of NWW Seed is a Stand-up guy for sure. Will buy more product from him in the future.
I haven't ever used either of the varieties under recall. Only ever planted RC Bigrock and Cave in Rock switchgrass.

Agreed on Jon, he's a guy who has always been a pleasure to deal with. I have complete trust in him and his products.
 
Yeah. Creating a new seed line is difficult. Lots of lines revert back to the old lines after a generation.
 
Does this impact all RC Bigrock from this year, or just one supplier (not sure how many there are). Had great success last two years with RC and hoping to get some more in ground this year.
 
Does this impact all RC Bigrock from this year, or just one supplier (not sure how many there are). Had great success last two years with RC and hoping to get some more in ground this year.
I dont see RC Bigrock mentioned at all. I think that has been their "flagship" line of switch.
 
After launching my "in-depth investigation"......it seems to me that part of the problem with the RC Techumseh switchgrass seed is that it is considerably smaller in size than the other Big Rock seeds. I did not originally understand this to be the case. Now, I understand the size of the Techumseh seeds is about the same size as foxtail seed and it's hard to distinguish or separate those seeds via cleaning methods. Therefore the Techumseh was full (maybe 30%) of foxtail. Some say the switchgrass willl outcompete the foxtail in the years that follow.....but never-the-less the seed shipped does not match the label on weed content. Bad ju ju. I feel a little like I got seed grown by Mr. Haney.....but I got my seed replaced (thank you John K ! ....you did your part.).

The New RC Sundance and RC Big Rock have more "plump" seed sizes and are of similar size and therefore easier to clean the foxtail from the switch seed. Also...the smaller Techumseh seeds will provide about 30% more seeds in a pound than the bigger Bigrock and Sundance.....but no changes have been suggested in the seeding rates between such seeds. They don't offer a good reason or suggestion to that...they merely acknowledge the significant difference in seed numbers / pound. I suppose 30% smaller and 30% foxtail and it all evens out??? Grin.

Now......I wonder how many guys that planted RC Techumseh in prior years suddenly had problems with foxtail in following year(s) ? At this point RC Techumseh does not seem to be available any longer and Sundance may be the replacement if it can succeed as far north as I am planting mine. It's been grown in Zone 4....but I am in Zone 3. RC "thinks" it may survive in zone 3.....key word "thinks". I do not like being a guinea.....but here I am. Grin.

I'm still in OZ basking in the warm weather and playing golf. I Still have not seen these actual seeds as I had them shipped to my family in MN. Gotta hit the ground running when I get back.....lots to do if I am drilling seed in June.
 
After launching my "in-depth investigation"......it seems to me that part of the problem with the RC Techumseh switchgrass seed is that it is considerably smaller in size than the other Big Rock seeds. I did not originally understand this to be the case. Now, I understand the size of the Techumseh seeds is about the same size as foxtail seed and it's hard to distinguish or separate those seeds via cleaning methods. Therefore the Techumseh was full (maybe 30%) of foxtail. Some say the switchgrass willl outcompete the foxtail in the years that follow.....but never-the-less the seed shipped does not match the label on weed content. Bad ju ju. I feel a little like I got seed grown by Mr. Haney.....but I got my seed replaced (thank you John K ! ....you did your part.).

The New RC Sundance and RC Big Rock have more "plump" seed sizes and are of similar size and therefore easier to clean the foxtail from the switch seed. Also...the smaller Techumseh seeds will provide about 30% more seeds in a pound than the bigger Bigrock and Sundance.....but no changes have been suggested in the seeding rates between such seeds. They don't offer a good reason or suggestion to that...they merely acknowledge the significant difference in seed numbers / pound. I suppose 30% smaller and 30% foxtail and it all evens out??? Grin.

Now......I wonder how many guys that planted RC Techumseh in prior years suddenly had problems with foxtail in following year(s) ? At this point RC Techumseh does not seem to be available any longer and Sundance may be the replacement if it can succeed as far north as I am planting mine. It's been grown in Zone 4....but I am in Zone 3. RC "thinks" it may survive in zone 3.....key word "thinks". I do not like being a guinea.....but here I am. Grin.

I'm still in OZ basking in the warm weather and playing golf. I Still have not seen these actual seeds as I had them shipped to my family in MN. Gotta hit the ground running when I get back.....lots to do if I am drilling seed in June.

I would never want to actually plant foxtail. it's prolific at my place. only saving grace is its gets smoked pretty quick with herbicide. Glad you caught that one.
 
I got a pic from afar of my RC Big a few weeks back. Overall for year 1 I think it turned out pretty well. The isolated spots I thought were failures from herbicide damage I'm revising and now thinking there's switch in there that was late or stunted and didn't make seed heads. See 2nd Pic - seedless grass (switch?) in foreground vs mature switch in background.

20250313_123230.jpg20250313_124400.jpg
 
I got a pic from afar of my RC Big a few weeks back. Overall for year 1 I think it turned out pretty well. The isolated spots I thought were failures from herbicide damage I'm revising and now thinking there's switch in there that was late or stunted and didn't make seed heads. See 2nd Pic - seedless grass (switch?) in foreground vs mature switch in background.

View attachment 75982View attachment 75983
Thats interesting, do you have any close ups of the seedless grass? I've never known switch to not try to create a seed head. I've had some spotty seed heads in 1st year but not a whole section like yours.
 
Thats interesting, do you have any close ups of the seedless grass? I've never known switch to not try to create a seed head. I've had some spotty seed heads in 1st year but not a whole section like yours.
I didn't take any closeups, but here are 2 more shots. You can kinda dial in on the bottom close ones. The orangish hue also somewhat matches the definitive switch in background. I actually sprinkled more in there this year just in case. That's when I took these pics. Also lined some plots with the leftovers similar to how Gwm has done. And then just threw little handfuls up into the wind here n there to see if anything pops. Just fun to watch these clumps show in random places.

20250313_124414.jpg20250313_124422.jpg
 
I'm not aware of many grasses outside of the typical NWSG groups that would be standing after winter like that, I'd guess it's a pretty safe bet that it is switch.
 
It is very thick for a 1st year stand, what was your seed rate?
 
I think I put all 10 lb on 3/4 of an acre. Probably turned out being too much to way too much.
 
When that stuff clumps up this year it's going to be THICK!
It scares me when I see some of that thick switchgrass.....and think about mowing it some day. Mowing has got to be a slow process?? That switch has gotta take allot of power to cut. I fear my flail mower would. not go .5 mph thru that stuff. Who has flail mowed some?
 
I'll be mowing some of my CRP with switchgrass in the next couple days and I'll let you know how it goes. I have a Swisher Rough Cut that I pull behind my ATV.
 
I had to slow down a little while running the Swisher Rough Cut through some thick sections of switch grass. That section was right on the edge of a food plot, so it caught some fertilizer and was over 8' tall. I had no issues going through the rest of my CRP areas that were probably 25-50% switchgrass.

It is intersesting to note that the switchgrass density almost perfectly matches my soil map. The germination % and survival was much higher in the better soils and pretty marginal in the sandiest areas. The switchgrass in the sandy sections looks great, so it can do really well there once it gets established, but a much lower % of the seed germinated and survived there.
 
After launching my "in-depth investigation"......it seems to me that part of the problem with the RC Techumseh switchgrass seed is that it is considerably smaller in size than the other Big Rock seeds. I did not originally understand this to be the case. Now, I understand the size of the Techumseh seeds is about the same size as foxtail seed and it's hard to distinguish or separate those seeds via cleaning methods. Therefore the Techumseh was full (maybe 30%) of foxtail. Some say the switchgrass willl outcompete the foxtail in the years that follow.....but never-the-less the seed shipped does not match the label on weed content. Bad ju ju. I feel a little like I got seed grown by Mr. Haney.....but I got my seed replaced (thank you John K ! ....you did your part.).

The New RC Sundance and RC Big Rock have more "plump" seed sizes and are of similar size and therefore easier to clean the foxtail from the switch seed. Also...the smaller Techumseh seeds will provide about 30% more seeds in a pound than the bigger Bigrock and Sundance.....but no changes have been suggested in the seeding rates between such seeds. They don't offer a good reason or suggestion to that...they merely acknowledge the significant difference in seed numbers / pound. I suppose 30% smaller and 30% foxtail and it all evens out??? Grin.

Now......I wonder how many guys that planted RC Techumseh in prior years suddenly had problems with foxtail in following year(s) ? At this point RC Techumseh does not seem to be available any longer and Sundance may be the replacement if it can succeed as far north as I am planting mine. It's been grown in Zone 4....but I am in Zone 3. RC "thinks" it may survive in zone 3.....key word "thinks". I do not like being a guinea.....but here I am. Grin.

I'm still in OZ basking in the warm weather and playing golf. I Still have not seen these actual seeds as I had them shipped to my family in MN. Gotta hit the ground running when I get back.....lots to do if I am drilling seed in June.
^ So after doing this "research" I (FINALLY) got to see the seed tags that came on the new Sundance seeds. I'm still in AZ but I got my SIL to take a few pics. I'm more dazed and confused than ever on this issue. I got all in 5lb bags. What is this tag saying? 22 lbs of foxtail in a 5 lb bag?? What am I missing here???sundance #2.jpeg
 
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