Jerry Cherney

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

Bill Pardee

Department of Plant Breeding

Now that some snow has fallen, it is time to think about planting for next spring. Most NYS forage producers are faced with three major choices for perennial forages: pure alfalfa, alfalfa-grass, or pure grass. The figure shown here is a framework for perennial forage selection, including what factors should be considered, and the priority in which they should be considered. Other options, such as birdsfoot trefoil or clovers, certainly are appropriate under some conditions, but are not considered here, due to space constraints. This scheme also does not consider grazing, as the selection process is different.

Selection begins with an assessment of the soil/site. Can alfalfa persist and do well on the site or not? Too often these basic questions are skipped in the Northeast. If alfalfa cannot persist by itself, a mixture of alfalfa-grass or pure grass alone should be considered. This is the most important decision in the entire process.

If alfalfa can persist on a site for 3 or more years, alfalfa-grass is a prime consideration. Most alfalfa in NYS is sown with grass, because most land in NYS is not perfectly suited to alfalfa production. We have feeding trial data with grasses and modeling results that suggest that alfalfa-grass may be a better quality forage for dairy cattle than either alfalfa or grass alone. After persistence of both alfalfa and grass is considered, selection of a grass species compatible with alfalfa follows. Reed canarygrass, orchardgrass and timothy are considered compatible, while smooth bromegrass typically cannot persist under an alfalfa harvest management scheme. Tall fescue has potential, but we have very little information on alfalfa-tall fescue mixtures. Grass variety selection for heading date is important, because it allows the quality of the grass to be aligned with the alfalfa. Most new timothy varieties are early and most new orchardgrass varieties are late, to better match up with alfalfa. As with pure alfalfa, only after all of the above has been accomplished, can alfalfa variety selection for quality be considered.

If pure alfalfa is preferred, variety selection for persistence is the next consideration. This involves selection of alfalfa with the proper fall dormancy rating, as well as resistance to any diseases of concern in your area. This is followed by selection for yield, with annual varietal yield trial information available from Cornell to aid in the selection process. When yield trials are conducted over several years, information on persistence as well as yield is generated. Only after all of the above has been accomplished, can variety selection for quality be considered.

Follow the grass selection process for sites where alfalfa cannot persist due to poor drainage, low pH, shallow soils or snout beetle infestations. Where grass will be seeded alone, look first for species with strong persistence. Timothy, orchardgrass, smooth bromegrass and reed canarygrass all have goo persistence potential under a 3-cut grass hay management. Tall fescue also can persist but may be less desirable in a hay system. Ryegrasses and Matua prairie grass can be short on winter-hardiness in NYS, so can be short-lived.

Also consider anti-quality factors when selecting grass varieties. For example, in reed canarygrass, choose only low-alkaloid varieties (Venture, Palaton). If selecting tall fescue, choose only low-endophyte seed. Alkaloids and endophytes in grasses reduce palatability and limit animal performance.

Heading date is important in setting quality potential for grass hay. Cutting of first harvest should be before flowering for top quality. Select varieties and/or species with differing heading dates to allow manipulation of the spring harvest window.

Yield differences between grass varieties within species tend to be small, and should be the last consideration. Yield information on many grass varieties is available from Cornell and company trials, but heading date carries more importance.

Following the sequence shown should maximize the chances of selecting high quality, high yielding perennial forages that will persist on any given site. As more information becomes available on grass species and varieties, the order of the factors to be considered may change in the future.