Frequently Asked Questions
What is Remont Sainfoin?
Remont Sainfoin is a perennial, no-bloat legume, with a hollow stem and high sugar content preferred by all classes of livestock (Webster's Dictionary). Remont Sainfoin is a variety developed by Montana State University.
What is Rocky Mountain Remont?
Rocky Mountain Remont (RMR)is a natural selection regrowth variety of Remont Sainfoin. RMR's primary advantages are based on longevity and frost tolerance.
How did you develop RMR
Over 20 years ago we broke out a 500-acre area of very poor producing sod near Browning, Montana. The area has a short growing season and poor rocky soil. Over time, only the hardiest and most frost-resistant plants have reproduced and gone to seed. We, at Montana Seeds, have been producing Sainfoin for over 45 years and the field testing has shown remarkable gains over alfalfa in every field condition.
What advantage does RMR have over alfalfa?
RMR is non-bloating, thrives at higher elevations, is more palatable to livestock and wildlife, has high RFV's (near 200) bud through bloom. It never needs fertilizer, and pests such as weevils, aphids, cheatgrass and other weeds are easily and cheaply managed. During harvest there is no crimping or conditioning, allowing swathing like grain. Also, cattle will eat the hollow stems of sainfoin while rejecting alfalfa stems.
What are the long-term forage yield comparisons?
In a worst-case harsh non-irrigated environment such as the Browning field:
native sod = .25 ton/acre
alfalfa = 1.5 ton/acre
RMR = 3 ton/acre
In the lush irrigated (over a 4-year average) fields by Bozeman, Montana:
Alfalfa = 4.75 ton/acre
Sainfoin = 5.22 ton/acre
Other non-bloating legumes = 2.5 tons/acre
What is the total cost of developing a field?
At the Browning site over a 20 year period, $50 per acre,
depreciated at 7% interest is $3/acre,
spray and spraying $5/acre / 3 ton,
is total cost of $2.66/ton of no-bloat high-quality forage.
What about fertilizer and what is inoculant?
Some species of forbs and shrubs, called legumes, can grow without having to add much if any, nitrogen fertilizer. The reason is that legumes can produce their own nitrogen in the soil with the help of specialized bacteria (rhizobia) that live in nodules on legume roots. The rhizobia bacteria convert nitrogen gas from the air into nitrogen that the legume plant can use to grow. In return, the legume plant uses solar energy to convert carbon dioxide from the air to produce sugars (i.e., the process of photosynthesis) that the plant uses to feed itself and the rhizobia bacteria. In this way, the legume plant and the rhizobia bacteria work together to benefit each other" by Jeff Mosley Extension Range Management Specialist, Montana State University
(We include inoculant, specially developed for Sainfoin, at no extra charge)
How do you keep the fields clean of cheatgrass and other weeds?
We simply spray an annual application of 5-6 ounces of glysophate costing $1/acre of chemical.
What are you developing now?
Because of Sainfoin’s high protein and sugar content, we have been contacted by research companies to pelletize pure Sainfoin hay for high-performance horse pellets. Also, another research group wants to use Sainfoin seed as a protein source for food.
Will Sainfoin grow anywhere?
The soil pH needs to be between 7.0 to 8.0. Also, Sainfoin does not do well in sites with high water tables or wet soils. (USDA 2008)