1. NE Area Agronomy Specialist
Understanding Fescue
Brian C. Pugh
NE Area Agronomy Specialist

2. Tall Fescue Introduced from Europe in the late 1800’s
Identified in E. KY in 1931
Public release in 1943
Dominant cool season perennial in SE and Midwest

3. Fescue Adaptation!
Prefers tight wet soils where summer rainfall is limited!
Droughty summer soils will be the limiting factor on its western range.
Persistence increases in shaded areas – Pecan orchards.
Shattuck, OK???

4. So, You Have KY-31 Fescue (Common version)
Horrible! You have to kill it out or all your cows feet will fall off.
Your calves won’t gain weight if fescue is present.
Cows typically won’t rebreed on fescue.
Fescue is poor quality grass.
Cows won’t really graze it because it’s always big and rank

5. So, You Have KY-31 Fescue (Brian’s positive version)
Congratulations! You have the best adapted cool season perennial grass for Oklahoma.
Tolerates very acidic soils!
Tolerates extreme grazing pressure
High quality during winter
Is responsive to N inputs
Can make 2 tons/acre in fall
Additional 3 tons/A in spring
Helped make MO #2 C/C state in US!

6. There’s a Fungus Among Us
Fungus forms a symbiotic relationship with the plant
Adds extreme tolerance to drought, overgrazing, soil acidity
Fungus produces alkaloids that are toxic to grazing animals
Ergovaline is the most common
Endophyte friendly fescue varieties do not have this problem!
Seed heads have the highest concentration, then stems, leaves lowest.

7. Let’s review some of the “new” options

8. So, Why Even Have KY-31? Smart management can minimize issues
Cool Season Perennial!
Capitalize on Fall & Spring rainfall.
Instantly convert rain into usable forage
Better quality than most hay tests.
Bottomline:
If you are a producer with a WS grazing system, I can save you $1 per cow for every day you graze fescue in the winter.

9. Fall Fertilized Fescue 2001
Cherokee
Craig
Delaware
Mayes
Muskogee
Nowata
Okfuskee
Ottawa
Wagoner
Washington
Unfert.
Lbs/A
865
1108
778
885
1117
659
1329
1382
723
Fertilized
Lbs/A
3803
2174
2111
2281
3201
2419
3733
4520
5480
1574
Increase
Lbs/A
2938
1067
1333
1396
2084
1760
2404
3138
4596
851
Average increase – 2157 lbs/A

10. January 29, 2014 – Strip Grazing Fescue
Let’s review some of the “new” options

11. “Feeding” Stockpiled Fescue –
Time to Feed Hay
“Feeding” Stockpiled Fescue –
74 days of strip grazing
(Mar 16 , 2015)

12. Let’s review some of the “new” options

13. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Jan 29, 2014
Feb 17, 2018

14. Let’s review the “new” fescue option

15. Let’s review some of the “new” options

16. Endophyte Friendly Fescue (example: Max Q)
Fungus that infects the plant has few or no toxic effects on grazing animals
Still retains its drought tolerance, insect resistance and persistence under grazing!
$ /ac Establishment cost!
Check soil type before planting.
Will require some grazing management!
4” minimum stubble height!
Currently, about 7-8 varieties of “novel”

17. Annual small grains or a cool season perennial – Fecue?
Is farming small grains annually, more cost effective than growing a perennial?
What effect does stand life have on a fescue verses wheat production system?

18. Lets Compare Management!
Wheat
Disk twice, cultivate once- every year.
Plant 90 to 120 # seed, yearly!
P&K, 60# N Sept. and February.
1 ton forage by Dec., 2 ton by April max yield!
Grazing Mid October – Mid April?
Summer annual crop?
Do it all again next fall?
Fescue
After establishment year, no tillage!
No planting cost.
P&K, 60 to 80# N Sept. and 60 to 120# N in February.
1 to 1.5 ton forage by Dec., 2 to 3 ton(??) into Mid May!
Grazing Sept. thru May (?June)
No tillage or seeding summer.
No grazing, Mid June – August unless mixed grass stand.

19. per acre
$811.24
$649.78

20. University of Arkansas Research vs. Annuals

21. Effects of Forage on Steer Performance for Fall 2003 and
Spring 2004 at Batesville AR*
Forage Type
Jesup MaxQ
KY-31
Wheat/
Wintergrazer 70
Grazing Period
Fall
Grazing Dates
Sept. 16 to
Dec. 23
Nov. 11 to
Jan 23
Grazing Days 98 72
Initial Steer Wt. lbs
436
435
450
Final Wt. lbs
605
554
621
ADG lbs
1.72
1.21
2.37
Total Gain/steer lbs
168.1
118.6
170.8
* University of Arkansas Livestock and Forestry Branch Station

22. Effects of Forage on Steer Performance for Fall 2003 and
Spring 2004 at Batesville AR*
Forage Type
Jesup MaxQ
KY-31
Wheat/
Wintergrazer 70
Grazing Period
Spring
Grazing Dates
Mar. 17 to
July 8
May 12
Grazing Days
113 56
Initial Steer Wt. lbs
454
451
Final Wt. lbs
684
564
555
ADG lbs
2.03
1.00
1.86
Total Gain/steer lbs
229.9
113.2
104.4
* University of Arkansas Livestock and Forestry Branch Station

23. Effects of Forage on Steer Performance for Fall 2003 and
Spring 2004 at Batesville AR*
Forage Type
Jesup MaxQ
KY-31
Wheat/
Wintergrazer 70
Grazing Period
Fall 2003 to Spring 2004
Grazing Dates
Sept 16 to Dec 23
Mar. 17 to July 8
Nov 11 to Jan 23
Mar. 17 to May 12
Total Grazing Days
211
128
Gain/acre
827
461
493
* University of Arkansas Livestock and Forestry Branch Station

24. Read and Follow All Label Directions Before Attempting Any Chemical Applications!

25. Glyphosate + Surfactant .
Apply during March & April when Bermuda or native is dormant and fescue is actively growing.(temp. above 60 degree F.)
Apply at 2 quarts/acre, 20 gallons/acre carrier volume.
No residual control on seedlings.
Fire increases effectiveness.
Addition of Amm. Sulfate will increase effectiveness(17 pnds/100 gallons).
Cost = $15 + $2.42 = $17.42 Glyphosate + Surfactant.

26. Eradication and Establishment
Old
Stand
Summer
Annual
New
spray
&
plant
Spring
Fall
Spray, Smother, Spray!
C.A.Roberts, Univ. Missouri

27. Fescue
Love it or hate it, its still the best adapted perennial cool season forage for our area.
Can produce ton of fall forage/ac and another 2 tons in the spring on average soils.
2 fall/3 spring on deep soils
Adapted to low pH and low Fertility soils.
Toxicity problems have always been an issue
Dilution
Replacement?
Works well in a year round grazing system.

28. Questions?