There are few avenues for crop diversification in the absence of irrigation. There multiplication of fodder seeds is one. Luzerne, English ryegrass, and bornpurple clover, common vetch… seed companies who market these species are often looking for new contracts to develop production. This is the case of the Dutch family business Barenbrug, whose main factory is based in Connantre, in Marne. The demand for multiplication contracts is based on an increase in demand from breeders for fodder seeds. « Our surfaces are passedées of 389 hectares in 2020 à 1 020Âhectares in 2025says Amandine Bigorgne, culture technician at Barenbrug.
Testimony | Deux-Sévres: “In my dry lands, I planted seed-bearing alfalfa to manage a problem of resistant ryegrass”
1 500 euros de marge à l’hectare pour du ray-grass et de la fétuque rouge
The production of forage seeds has many advantages. Florian Royer, farmer in Soudé in Marne (1)is convinced of this. “Following the closure of the Haussimont starch potato processing plant (51), we were looking for a new crop to integrate into our rotationhe explains. We moved towards the red fescue, because the seed company Barenbrug offered contracts. » On the family farm where he is based, his father already produces English ryegrass in seed contract for over 20 years.
« Les forage seeds are not more complicated crops to grow than a cereal, with a slightly higher remuneration »assures Amandine Bigorgne. In addition, they do not require specific equipment or irrigation. “The gross margin of our production ray-grass and of red fescue équivaut à un bon blé. Elle s’élève à environ 1 500 euros par hectare (€/ha). Ramené au temps passé, ce sont des cultures intéressantes »present Florian Royer.
Â
Â
One of the advantages of the seed multiplication is the security offered by contractualization. “For both crops, we sign annual contracts with prices fixed in advance. We benefit from very regular monitoring and advice for interventions from our technician »appreciates the farmer. « Le ray-grass is sown each year between August and September and the harvest is done at the end of July, after the cereal harvest. Thered fescue was planted in March 2024, under cover of spring barley, for a period of two years, with a first harvest at the beginning of July 2025 »details Florian Royer.
Nitrogen-efficient forage seeds
The seed company Barenbrug chose the Champagne cereal plain to multiply its seeds due to the favorable nature of the land for this production (easy to work soils) which allow high grain productivity. Amandine Bigorgne also highlights the excellent technical skills of farmers. “They have a good level of equipment and a good mastery of désherbage »she adds. This aspect of weeding is in fact one of the main difficulties in the production of forage seeds faced with the reduction of chemical solutions. “At the start, you have to select very clean plots. If there are too many weeds during the harvest, the seed company may refuse the batch.précise Florian Royer.
The farmer appreciates these crops which fit well into the rotation. THE ray-grass is a very good crop head, it leaves a lumpy soil texture, perfect for the next crop. “This is a good precedent for demanding crops like potatoes or beets.says Amandine Bigorgne. But they also prepare the soil well for soft winter wheat or spring barley.” THE forage seedsfrom which only the seeds are harvested, allow a good supply of organic matter after their destruction. They can act as cover in winter. In addition to seed production, cutting in the fall or spring allows you to benefit from fodder if you have livestock or additional income. For the next crop, managing regrowth is quite easy with a classic weeding program.
THE forage seeds also score points on the expense side, all the more so in the context of increasing price of nitrogen fertilizers. “These are crops that require little nitrogen”confirms Amandine Bigorgne. “The average nitrogen dose on ray-grass is 150 units per hectare (U/ha), while for and bornit is 100 U/ha the first year and 120 U/ha the secondprécise Florian Royer. Their requirements are, however, slightly higher in terms of background fertilizer. »
Aim for warm, dry weather for harvest
The harvest stage, which is done with the farm’s combine harvester, is quite delicate, especially if the weather is humid. “We support producers to trigger the harvest at the right time and take care of the equipment settings”explains the Barenbrug technician. THE ray-grass is harvested live with the harvester. For the red fescue (or cocksfoot), the harvest is generally done in windrows to even out drying and limit grain losses. You must therefore aim for a shooting window where it will be warm and dry for several days. At Florian Royer, in 2025, yields will amount to 20 quintals per hectare (q/ha) in ryegrass (5-year average at 18 q/ha) and 16 q/ha for his first harvest of fescue.
(1) 200 ha of UAA in chalky Champagne including forage seeds: 10 ha of English ryegrass and 6 ha of red fescue. For the rest: soft wheat, spring and winter barley, rapeseed, beetroot, alfalfa.
Fodder seeds eligible for coupled aid
The producers of prairie grass seeds (ryegrass, fescues, orchardgrass, timothy, etc.) can benefit from a coupled aid from the CAP intended to support the production of certified seeds. For the 2025 campaign, the amount is set at 43.83 euros per hectare. This aid is allocated only to areas engaged in seed production under contract with an approved seed establishment and correctly declared in the CAP.
The multipliers of fodder legume seeds can benefit from the help coupled with plant proteins. Its indicative amount is of the order of 120 euros per hectare, varying according to the campaigns and national envelopes. As for grasses, eligibility is conditional on the establishment of a seed multiplication contract with a seed establishment (certified seeds).
