In dryland pastures where tall fescue is the only grass species to be sown use a seeding rate of 610 kgha. This is unnecessary when netting is used in tall fescue production. The pathogen produces several types of spores, but it is only the urediniospores whose rust. This article examines some of its legal and technical aspects. Thus, annual bluegrass seed contamination in cool season. Most of the fescue harvested for seed in missouri is used for fall and winter grazing. Therefore, turf managers should select clean seed or vegetative sources for establishment, use an adapted turfgrass species and cultivar for their location, and use proper mowing and fertilization techniques to maintain a dense, actively growing, desired turf. It produces seed erratically and several years may pass without appreciable seed set. Pdf seed production of two meadow fescue cultivars differing in. Turf builder thickr lawn tall fescue grass seed, fertilizer, and soil improver. In general, production practices for seed production of orchardgrass, timothy, bromegrass and redtop and reed canarygrass are similar to tall fescue, with the following exceptions. Spring irrigation of tall fescue for seed production. Many of our seed production contracts allow growers to lock in high price levels and do not limit upside. The early harvest of tall fescue seed helps utilize time and equipment better.
Fusarium species associated with tall fescue seed production in oregon cynthia m. Tall fescue is used mainly as a forage for livestock, but is also used as turf and. While creeping red fescue is a longlived perennial, the seed production life of the stand is generally short, lasting only one to. Recent work at lincoln and in the manawatu investigated monthly sowing of roa from october until april table 1. Seed production of tall fescue and other coolseason grasses. Cultivated seed production has resulted in average production of 100 pounds per acre or less msu eb 69.
For irrigated pastures use a seeding rate of 1015 kgha. Grass seed production is an important agricultural enterprise. Selecting, establishing and maintaining the fescues. Fusarium species associated with tall fescue seed production. A perennial ryegrass or tall fescue seed field will need a combination of water stored in the profile over winter and irrigation to meet this water use for best seed yields especially if. Mf924 seed production management for bromegrass and tall fescue. Stand longevity commonly varies from 4 to 7 years, depending on the production contract and stand vigor. Rachilla the point of attachment of a seed to the seed head or to another seed. Seed production specialists can help identify weed control options based on field conditions. A3637 identifying pasture grasses i08964m0 fc identifying pasture grasses dan undersander michael casler dennis cosgrove. Since most of the tall fescue seed fields in missouri are grazed during the fall or winter, cattle management becomes an important factor in seed production. The annual crop acts as a nurse or companion crop to provide a sheltered environment for the developing red fescue seedlings and provides a marketable product for the seed grower the first year. Row spacing of 24 to 36 inches are recommended and it should be cultivated and maintained in rows. Fine fescue for turf booklet pdf oregon fine fescue.
This budget is only a guide and is not intended as an in depth study of the cost of production of this industry. Hay is one of the most versatile stored feeds available because. Most turfgrasses are difficult to control within another turfgrass. Pasture seedtall fescue pasture grass seed non toxic. Seed is surfacesown into containers containing standard potting mix and seeds germinate within 15 days after planting. Tall fescue seed germination should be at least 85 percent.
This is an excellent way to maximize the total fescue crop, but often results in seed yields that are lower than would be expected if fescue is managed. Stem rust severity and damage are generally more severe in firstyear tall fescue seed fields than in older, established stands. Seeding guide for tall fescue, orchardgrass and timothy. Jennings introduction extension livestock specialist forages tall fescue is the major coolseason perennial forage in arkansas charles p. Production for details and restrictions on growing certified grass seed. Tall fescue is one of the most adaptable grasses grown for grazing purposes. How to grow a new lawn from fescue grass seed when to plant and planting methods. The effects of endophytes on seed production and seed predation of tall fescue and meadow fescue. Friendly endophyteinfected tall fescue for livestock production john a. Weed seeds present in the crop are inherently harvested along with the crop seed in this production system. Fescue stubble should be clipped to a height of 3 to 4 inches immediately after harvesting the seed crop. Shoup, crops and soils specialist, southeast gary l. Youngmathews, usdanrcs corvallis plant materials center keywords. Festuca roemeri, roemers fescue, seed production, residue management, field burning, low mow, medium mow, high mow, postharvest created date.
Poor quality seed is low in viability, and contains weed seeds or undesirable grass species. Seed production of tall fescue and other cool season grasses. Viability after seed production and prolonged cold storage article pdf available in seed science and technology 363. Because seedlings are very slow to develop, red fescue for seed production is often seeded with canola or wheat. Thomas turner, turfgrass specialist and david funk, manager of paint branch turfgrass research center. Effects of postharvest residue management on seed production. Highquality hay production gary bates, professor, plant sciences w hen pasture growth is limited, some type of stored feed must be provided to grazing animals. It is valued for easy establishment, drought resistance and improved heat tolerance over many other tall fescue varieties. Time of sowing, undersowing with barley crops, weed control and plant growth regulators are also discussed. Kilgore, emeritus crops and soils specialist, southeast. Natural resources conservation service plant guide. Tall fescue 5 year history contracting seed production compared to other commodity crops, turfgrass seed production has an excellent profitability track record. Pdf effective weed control was a major concern of oregon grass seed growers during their recent transition from openfield burning to mechanical. Alderman, usdaars, national forage seed production research center, corvallis 97331 corresponding author.
Site selection and planting soils suitable for sod production include deep, welldrained to moderately welldrained siltloam or sandyloam soils center for crop diversification crop profile turfgrass sod production. Category i recommended tall fescue varieties 90100% on a weight basis. Idaho fescue characteristically has poor seed production and weak seedling vigor hafenrichter et al. It can handle flooding or periods of standing water and will produce on poorly drained soils where other crops will not. Frequent turning will prevent heating and facilitate drying. In contrast, for forage production alone, the latemarch. Interpretation and utilization of this information is the responsibility of the user. Farmers who anticipate producing a fescue seed crop should first locate fescue seed buyers and check on market demand. Keywords red fescue, seed production, post harvest management, burning, closing date, nitrogen, festuca. Plant chewings, hard or red fescues at a rate of 3 to 5 pounds of seed per 1,000 sq.
Mountain rough fescue festuca campestris plant guide. Many of our seed production contracts allow growers to lock in high price levels and do not limit upside, which can really help add to a farms bottom line. Seed production 7 hay production 7 tall fescue legume pasture mixtures 8 tall fescue utilization by cattle 8 handling infected pastures 11 literature cited 11 authors douglas e. As tall fescue seed is small it should be sown relatively shallow 0. Guidelines for estimating forage seed production costs 2016. Seed yields after springsowingwere significantlygreaterthanthose. Tall fescue is crop insurable in manitoba tall fescue seed production phone. Seeding fescue grass seed for lawns and tall fescue grass pastures.
Highquality hay production university of tennessee. Management practices of improving fescue with clovers white clovers, alfalfa and birds foot trefoil, orchard grass and ryegrasses every 23 years may help reduce some of the problem with fescue foraging in the southern regions. Yield and plant development article pdf available in canadian journal of plant science 794 october 1999. Although primarily grown in the southern third of the state, almost every county has some fescue production. Sheath the part of the leaf that wraps around the main stem. Friendly endophyteinfected tall fescue for livestock. Plant the proper amount of seed at the proper depth. Tall fescue seed production in western canada tall fescue festuca arundinacea schreb. Weed control for tall fescue seed production and stand duration without burning. Seeding treat the alfalfa seed with a quality inoculant just prior to seeding. Seed fields are generally most productive for four to five years. In some years, the price of fescue seed at harvest time may be extremely attractive while seed prices the next year may be extremely depressed. Jan 15, 2009 on pure tall fescue stands the ph should be maintained above a ph of 5.
Red fescue seed production nz grassland association. For maximum seed production, grazing pressures should not be too heavy during august, september and october. Crop water use in tall fescue during the same period was 10. Seed production management for bromegrass and tall fescue kansas produces up to 12 million pounds of high quality tall fescue and 6 million pounds of bromegrass seed per year. This dual use maximizes the total crop, even though seed yields are. Native to central europe, the plant was introduced to the u.
Accumulated forage from periods of excess growth can be cut for hay, which minimizes waste. Seed handled in this way can withstand surprisingly large amounts of rain without damage. With understanding and cooperation between growers, the public, consumers and government agencies, oregon will continue to be the world leader in superior quality grass seed production. Since most of the fescue seed fields in missouri are grazed in the fall or winter, cattle management becomes an important factor in seed production. Therefore, it is critical to prevent the existing stand of tall fescue. Cultivars and species for use in alaska released for commercial seed production. The pathogen produces several types of spores, but it is only the urediniospores whose rust color gives the disease its name that are involved in epidemics. Seed production of tall fescue missouri state university. A technical look at seed production of fescue peace region. Seed production fields in the willamette valley, 2016 5 an 11year history of crop rotation into new perennial ryegrass and tall fescue 9 exploring alternative herbicides for row creation in volunteer annual ryegrass fields to be used for seed production.
The germination rate of seeds rough fescueis relatively high,ranging from 86 to 97 percent johnston and macdonald. Over 35 million acres of tall fescue festuca arundinacea schreb. Seed production of tall fescue and other coolseason. Effects of postharvest residue management on seed production of roemers fescue festuca roemeri author. Kentucky 31, known in the seed industry as ky31 or k31, helped tall fescue grasses transition from livestock pasture grasses to lush, durable, manicured lawns. Are usually for 3 seed crop years field selection tall fescue does well on a wide range of soil types, provided there is adequate moisture and good fertility. Pdf the effects of endophytes on seed production and. For certified sod production and seed mixtures in maryland dr. Before the early 1980s, tall fescue varieties were developed. These are alternative crops for most producers because the stands are also used for grazing and hay. Northstar seed tall fescue seed production contracts. Oregon seed certification allows contamination of only 0. Crop density and seed production of tall fescue festuca arundinacea schreber. For maximum seed production, grazing pressures should not be too heavy in august, september and october.
Pumphrey 1965 fescue seed yield was 993, 903, 804, and 620 kg ha 1 for openburn, found that red fescue seed yield was the same when the propaneburn, closeclip, and flailchop treatments. The 1991 agriculture canada census reported 125,000 acres of creeping red fescue grown for seed in canada and, of this, 99 per cent was grown in the peace river region of alberta and bc. Creeping red fescue seed production in the peace river region. Bill young, extension seed production specialist, emily lahmann, research assistant, oregon state university aeb 0009, november 2010 this enterprise budget estimates the typical costs of establishing and producing tall fescue grass seed production in the. A perennial ryegrass or tall fescue seed field will need a combination of water stored in the profile over winter and irrigation to meet this water use for best seed yields especially if rainfall is short of this 10. This guide provides nutrient and lime recommendations for establishment and maintenance of turf and forage tall fescue grown for seed in. Tall fescue both recommended and promising varieties can be used in the vcia sod certification program. Tall fescue is perennial bunch type grass, that has a high tolerance to saline soils. Forage seed production costs 2016 dollars per acre annual ryegrass alfalfa seed note. Pdf weed control for tall fescue seed production and stand. Seed and plant production red fescue plugs are easy to propagate in a greenhouse. Professor, department tall fescue is widely grown throughout.
Ocamb, department of botany and plant pathology, oregon state university, corvallis 973312902. Tall fescue for forage production purdue university. Managing tall fescue for seed production integrated crop. This will ensure the use of quality seed of a variety adapted to local conditions. Therefore, the university of idaho initiated a breeding program in 1950 to produce idaho fescue cultivars with improved seed set, larger seed size seedling vigor, and improved germination percentage. Mf924 seed production management for bromegrass and. For seed production tall fescue has been mainly spring or early summer sown for maximuni seed yields in the first year. It can tolerate flooding and extended periods of standing water. Stockpiling tall fescue pastures improves profitability for beef producers by reducing winter feeding costs by extending the grazing season 1, 2, 5, 38, 57, 71, 75. Germination occurs at 27 c 80f and transplant survival averages 80 percent young, 2001. Seed production 7 hay production 7 tall fescuelegume pasture mixtures 8 tall fescue utilization by cattle 8 handling infected pastures 11 literature cited 11 authors douglas e. Clam lagoon germplasm is a selection of beach fleabane collected on adak island in 1993 and released for commercial seed production in 2006 wright, 2006. Currently, much of the worlds supply of grass seed comes from the pacific northwest. Fields of tall fescue not harvested for seed the previous year but designated for seed production the next year, should be clipped by the time the seed stalks are mature.
Jan 01, 2001 grass seed production is an important agricultural enterprise. Pdf crop density and seed production of tall fescue. Specifications for state highway seeding are developed separately and. Youngmathews, usda nrcs corvallis plant materials center keywords. There are 2 types of tall fescue, turftype bred for the turf industry and foragetype bred for the hay and livestock sector. Turftype tall fescue is the recommended grass species for maryland. All you need to know about kentucky 31 tall fescue tall fescue is an important turf grass in the united states today, but that wasnt always the case. Medium maintenance turf full sun to moderate shade for use in full sun to moderately shady. Seeds and plant production seed production of sheep fescue has been very successful under cultivated conditions. Parts of a grass plant 4 pasture grasses 5 crosssection of a shoot showing unemerged leaves culm collar rachilla ligule seed awn sheath node glume internode auricle node overlapping left and fused. Pdf weed control for tall fescue seed production and. Seed quality plant certified seed of a recommended variety. Ridgeline, volt and wildhorse are only for mixing with tall fescue for mixed species sod production.
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