I have the strong opinion that nearly all progressive livestock growers with Kentucky-31 tall fescue pastures should convert at least some of their ground to novel endophyte fescue. While I am still a big fan of KY-31 for winter grazing, hay production, etc., having novel endophyte tall fescue for young and growing animals, and other high-value livestock, will prove to be a major production advantage. The novel endophyte tall fescues are easy to establish, but it is important to use a system that completely removes the toxic plants in the pastures being converted. It is also critical to provide careful management during  establishment years to ensure a good initial stand.

To help farmers seriously interested in renovating some of their pastures with novel endophyte tall fescue, we have recently been working with a group formed in Missouri called the Alliance for Grassland Renewal and now comprised of representatives from multiple universities and seed companies. The goal of the group is to develop a self-imposed system of regulating seed quality, to develop educational programs to support producers in conversion projects, and to promote the concept of novel endophyte tall fescue. The alliance has been doing educational workshops across the southeast for five years and the next one in KY is in Princeton, March 20. For more information and to sign up, see the UK Forage Website.   ~ Matt Poore, excerpt from article in Progressive Forage Grower, Dec. 2018, found here.