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Cool-Season Grasses

Tall Fescue

Description
Tall fescue has a strong agronomic constitution that allows
season-long productivity that is unmatched by other cool-season grasses. Tall fescue can grow well in wet conditions but is also very drought tolerant. On dairy farms, tall fescue is a great addition to the hay portfolio, and on beef operations in the Midwest it remains the foundation of pasture systems.

In the past number of years, tall fescue has made many appearances at the World Dairy Expo Forage Analysis Superbowl including as the Grand Champion haylage! While tall fescue has long been thought of as a southern grass, endophyte free tall fescues are thriving in Wisconsin and Minnesota. For our southern farmers, Novel endophytes tall fescue are the way to go.
 

Management
Tall fescue can be planted with alfalfa, with grass hay mixes, or simply in monoculture for hay or pasture systems. Remember that tall fescue, like most cool-season grasses, stores 90% of food for regrowth after harvest in the bottom 2 to 2.5 inches of the stem. This means that for maximum growth and production at least 3 to 4 inches of stubble should remain after harvest.

Also, for top yield, we recommend 1 to 1.5 lbs. of available N
for each day of growth. Another way to look at nitrogen is that it will take a total of 25 lbs. N for each ton of dry matter harvested. Sulphur is also very necessary for proper conversion of the N to crude protein. Tall fescue can tolerate less than ideal fertility but, like most crops, it gives best yield and quality in balanced soils.  Tall fescue is the best grass for stockpile grazing.

Establishment
Tall fescue is easy to establish; but remember, a good seed-
bed is at the heart of excellent stands of hay or pasture. It can be no-tilled into existing alfalfa stands (.25 to .50 inch deep) immediately after harvest. (Talk to your dealer about the proper timing for your area.) When seeding in a prepared seedbed, make sure sufficient packing has been done before and after seed is put down. Also, 20 to 30 units of N at seeding is necessary for a faster establishment.

Rating Scale:  Poor  I  Fair  I  Good  I  Very Good  I  Excellent

  • This World Dairy Expo Superbowl winner is best used in hay/haylage situations where its high forage quality and extreme yields really shine.
  • Kora Tech Sheets
  •  A soft leaf variety that works well in grazing and hay production situations.
  • Impressive digestibility and yield.
  • A medium maturity fescue with a beneficial endophyte for excellent persistence.
  • The soft leaf ensures the highest forage quality available in a fescue.
  • A very winter hardy variety selected for digestibility and very high yield.
  • The best dual purpose fescue from DLF, this highly digestible grass can be used for grazing or hay production.
  • Excellent yield and persistence.
  • All the advantages of Tower with a novel endophyte to ensure better persistence and heat tolerance.
  • This tall fescue variety devel-oped in Missouri ensures good performance in the South.
  • Martin 2 has high forage yield and great grazing palatability.