Cut for hay about the time plants begin blooming. Do not graze or cut for hay when planted on badly eroded land. Cut and allow to remain on land as a mulch. It performs well in most locations in Mississippi as a cool-season annual. Flowers are white and arranged in clusters or heads.
Some varieties have excellent wildlife value for white-tailed deer and wild turkey.
It is best suited to fertile, moist bottom or second bottom clay or loam soils. Not adapted to light textured, droughty, upland soils of medium to low fertility or extremely wet soils. If interseeding into an established grass sod, disk lightly or plant with a no-till drill. If interseeding into an established grass sod, delay planting until October. Do not cover more than inch.