Tall fescue

Abstract

Tall fescue, a bunchgrass, may be planted in mixtures with other grasses and legumes. It establishes rapidly, withstands trampling, tolerates summer drought and produces fall-season pasture when other grasses become dormant. While subject to winter injury, tall fescue may remain productive in areas with reliable snow cover. Animal performance is better when the variety grown is endophyte-free. Endophytes are fungi that invade plant tissues, reducing forage palatability and animal performance. The wheatgrasses are valuable, native forage species especially suitable for growing in the Western Great Plains area of the United States. Wheatgrasses can produce excellent forage yields and sustained productivity under hay and pasture management systems either in monoculture or yield and quality. Dry matter yield, in tons per acre, of tall fescue, wheatgrass and festuca-lolium hybrids seeded at three locations.