How to Choose the Right Farm Seed Mix in Louisiana

The seed you plant today determines the success of your entire growing season. Whether you're planting forage for cattle, establishing a pasture, prepping a wildlife food plot, or rotating crops, the seed mix you choose must match your soil, your goals, and Louisiana's unique climate conditions.

At Highland Growers LLC in DeRidder, LA, we work with farmers and landowners throughout Beauregard Parish and surrounding areas to help them select the right seed mix for maximum yield, nutrient value, and long-term performance. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to choose the best seed blend based on your land, purpose, and seasonal needs.

Not all seed blends are created equal. What works in Mississippi or Texas may not perform well in Louisiana’s humid subtropical climate and acidic soil conditions.

When you choose the right seed mix, you get:

Faster germination and stand establishment
Improved forage quality or crop yield
Better drought, pest, and disease resistance
Reduced input costs from over-seeding or reseeding
Longer stand longevity in perennial mixes

The wrong blend can result in patchy growth, low yield, wasted seed, or even crop failure.

Start by identifying what you’re planting the seed for. This determines the type of species and ratio needed.

Common Purposes for Seed Mixes in Louisiana:

1. Forage Production (Hay or Grazing)

Goal: High-protein, high-tonnage feed

Common Species: Bermuda, Bahia, Ryegrass, Clover, Sorghum-Sudan

2. Pasture Renovation or Overseeding

Goal: Fill gaps or improve an existing stand

Common Species: Fescue, Ryegrass, Clover, Annual Rye

3. Wildlife Food Plots

Goal: Attract and nourish game (deer, turkey)

Common Species: Oats, Wheat, Brassicas, Clover, Chicory

4. Cover Crops or Soil Health

Goal: Suppress weeds, fix nitrogen, reduce erosion

Common Species: Rye, Radish, Vetch, Crimson Clover

5. Lawn or Turf Establishment

Goal: Residential or commercial lawns

Common Species: Centipede, Bermuda, Zoysia, Fescue (shaded areas)

Once your goal is clear, we can move to site-specific considerations.

Louisiana soils vary dramatically, even from field to field. Some are sandy and quick-draining; others are heavy clay with poor aeration.

Soil Types in Beauregard Parish and Nearby Regions:

Sandy Loam – Drains quickly, needs moisture-retaining species
Clay Loam – Holds moisture but compacts easily
Silt / Bottomland Soil – High fertility, prone to erosion
Acidic Soils – Common in piney woods; may limit seed performance

Soil pH affects how well certain species establish. For example:

Clover and alfalfa prefer a pH above 6.0
Bahia and ryegrass tolerate lower pH
Brassicas prefer neutral to slightly basic conditions

We recommend starting with a soil test before selecting any seed. Highland Growers offers fast local testing with custom recommendations.

Species	Best For	Notes
Bermuda Grass	Hay, pasture	High yield, drought tolerant
Bahia Grass	Pasture, low-input systems	Deep-rooted, tolerates acidic soil
Annual Ryegrass	Overseeding, quick forage	Fast-growing, cool season
Sudan Grass	Summer forage	High-tonnage, needs warm temps

Species	Best For	Notes
Crimson Clover	Cover crop, pasture	Fixes nitrogen, prefers mild winters
White Clover	Pasture, wildlife plots	Palatable and long-lasting if managed well
Alfalfa	Hay, intensive forage	Needs high pH, well-drained soil

Species	Attracts	Notes
Oats	Deer, turkey	Early forage, cold-tolerant
Turnips/Radish	Deer	Sweet roots in winter
Wheat	All wildlife	Easy to plant, improves soil
Chicory	Deer	Deep taproot, drought-resistant

Timing your planting is just as important as the seed itself.

Spring Planting (March–May)

Warm-season grasses (Bermuda, Sudan)
Cowpeas, soybeans
Spring wildlife plots
Clover mix for summer grazing

Fall Planting (September–October)

Cool-season forage (ryegrass, wheat, oats)
Wildlife mixes (brassicas, cereal grains, clover)
Pasture overseeding or renovation
Cover crops (radish, rye, vetch)

Each mix is optimized for germination and early growth based on expected soil temperatures and rainfall patterns.

We stock seasonal blends at Highland Growers tailored to Louisiana’s planting windows.

Your equipment setup can influence the type of seed mix you choose.

Broadcast Planting:

Best for small or irregular plots
Works well for light, small seed (clover, brassicas)
Requires good seed-to-soil contact (cultipacking recommended)

Drilled Planting:

More accurate and efficient
Ideal for uniform stands and larger acreage
Works well for grains, legumes, and grasses

No-Till Planting:

Minimizes erosion and soil disturbance
Requires herbicide prep
Ideal for food plots or erosion-sensitive areas

We offer spreader rentals, seeders, and planting tools to support all plot sizes.

Seed is only part of the equation—plants need proper nutrition to thrive. Once you’ve chosen the right mix:

Apply starter fertilizer or a custom blend based on soil needs
Consider adding lime if pH is too low for legumes
Monitor early growth and topdress as needed

Highland Growers offers both generic blends (13-13-13, 10-20-10) and custom-blended fertilizer based on your exact species and soil profile.

[Custom Fertilizer Blending – https://www.highlandgrowers.com/custom-blend-fertilizer]

Can I use the same seed mix every year?

Not always. Crop rotation and changing soil conditions may require adjustments. Wildlife preferences also shift seasonally.

What if I don’t know my soil pH?

Get a soil test. It’s inexpensive, fast, and the best way to avoid poor stand establishment or wasted seed.

Do you carry seed for shaded or wet areas?

Yes. We stock turf and forage mixes for shaded or lowland sites. Ask us for help matching seed to microclimates on your property.

Do I need to inoculate legume seed?

Often yes—especially if legumes haven't been planted in the field before. We carry inoculants and can explain how to apply them.

Choosing the right seed mix for your farm, food plot, or pasture doesn’t have to be overwhelming. At Highland Growers in DeRidder, we help Louisiana growers:

Evaluate their land and goals
Interpret soil test results
Select seasonally appropriate seed mixes
Pair seed with the right fertilizer and planting method

Stop by or contact us at https://www.highlandgrowers.com to speak with a local expert and get the best seed for your soil. Serving Beauregard Parish and surrounding Louisiana communities.

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