Coarse Orchard Grass is usually harvested from the first cutting of the grass. Like Timothy Hay, the first cut of Orchard Grass can grow very Coarse, with lots of seed heads and thick stocks.

Generally we are looking for stalk and seed heads in a Coarse vs. a Soft (which we are looking for no stalks or seed heads).

Coarse Orchard Grass should have these qualities:

Harvest: First cut of pure Orchard Grass.
Color: Light green with a tinge of blue.
Stems/Stalks: Present, sometimes thick and full, yet sometimes thin.
Leaves: Abundant, long and lush.
Seed Heads/Flowers: Short seed heads fully developed.
Leaf Crush: Should be none.
Weeds: Should be none, however we at times will see a little bit of Alfalfa.
Dust: Should be none.

Our goal is to offer the highest quality hay, however, all naturally grown and harvested hay holds minor imperfections such as dust, weeds, leaf crush, and brown leaf. The ideal version of Coarse Orchard Grass would have none of these.

Coarse Orchard Grass: 2024 Harvest Report

The 2024 Ultra Premium Coarse Orchard Grass we have in stock is currently a first cut. This years harvest is back to what we're used to for Coarse Orchard Grass. Although last harvest we saw many stems and seed heads, this harvest contains an abundance of long thick leaves, with minimal stems and seed heads. This is on par with the Coarse Orchard Grass our customers love.

Here is the report on what we have in stock:

Overall Rating: 9/10
Harvest: First cut of pure Orchard Grass, it was harvested in July of 2024.
Location: Northern California.
Color: Deep Blue Green.
Stems/Stalks:  Minimal stem content.
Leaves: An abundance of long fibrous leaves averaging 8-10 inches.
Seed Heads/Flowers: Minimal seed heads that are average in size when present.
Leaf Crush: Light
Weeds: None.
Brown Leaf: Minimal.
Dust: None.

Initial Analysis Summary: This year's Coarse Orchard Grass is a great example of what Coarse Orchard Grass should be with thick, fibrous leaves.

Coarse Orchard Grass: 2023 Harvest Report

The 2023 Ultra Premium Coarse Orchard Grass we have in stock is currently a first cut. Unlike last year, our 2023 Coarse Orchard Grass has a generous amount of thick leaves, stems, and even some seed heads, which is an improvement from the softer grass we had in 2022. We had a rainy spring, which boosted the beginning of the growth season, and helped us get a great first cut. The harvest occurred on schedule in June.

Here is the report on what we have in stock:

Overall Rating: 9/10
Harvest: First cut of pure Orchard Grass, it was harvested in June of 2023.
Location: Northern California.
Color: Deep Blue Green.
Stems/Stalks: An abundance of long leaves, a generous amount of thick stems, and some seed heads.
Leaves: Great long leaves that are broad and beautiful.
Seed Heads/Flowers: Moderate seed heads that are average in size.
Leaf Crush: Very minimal.
Weeds: None.
Brown Leaf: Minimal.
Dust: None.

Initial Analysis Summary: This year's Coarse Orchard Grass is a great example of what Coarse Orchard Grass should be.  

Coarse Orchard Grass: 2022 Harvest Report

The 2022 Ultra Premium Coarse Orchard Grass we have in stock is currently a first cut. Like last year our 2022 Coarse Orchard is on the soft side. This season was very cool which slowed the growth of the plants, this caused the harvest to be forced to be early in the plants normal growth cycle, which was later in the season. It is absolutely beautiful hay, however, it is a little soft for Coarse Orchard Grass.

Here is the report on what we have in stock:

Overall Rating: 8/10
Harvest: First cut of pure Orchard Grass, it was harvested in June of 2022.
Location: Northern California
Color: Deep Blue Green
Stems/Stalks: Few stalks and those that are present are very moderate in thickness. Some of the stalks are lighter in color. 
Leaves: Abundance of leaves that are broad and beautiful
Seed Heads/Flowers: Moderate seed heads that are fairly small in size.
Leaf Crush: Very minimal
Weeds: None
Brown Leaf: Almost none
Dust: None

Summary: This year's Coarse Orchard Grass is an okay example of what Coarse Orchard Grass should be. The only reason it doesn't receive a 10/10 is because, like last year, it's on the softer side.