Up here on the northern plains russian wildrye is definetly not considered a weed. I've heard from others that it is very good stuff. I have actually seen quite a bit of it in the northern part of the state. It is supposed to keep it's nutritional value throughout the year. The trouble is I've never seeded it and not sure what to expect as far as emergence and yields.
I am planting 600 hundred acres of farmground back into grass. It will be used for spring and fall grazing. As far as the EQIP contract, it runs out as soon as the grass is deemed established so therefore it can be used however and whenever.