Weather can have a big impact on the success of forage and turf seed crops from year to year, which can be challenging – but where growers have had inconsistent establishments and winterkill with other species, tall fescue could be the answer.
Tall fescue is a proven, consistent performer in the field. Once established, tall fescue is hardier than other turf species (like perennial ryegrass), making it less susceptible to winterkill and giving it a longer stand life.
“When you have a field that’s difficult to seed every year because of excess spring moisture, it may be better suited to a long-term perennial like tall fescue,” said Allan Wilson, Seed Production Specialist with BrettYoung.
While perennial ryegrass is typically only harvested once before being taken out of production, one planting of tall fescue will give you two to four years of harvest, when managed properly.
Tall fescue is also one of the earliest harvested grass crops, with swathing typically happening in mid-July, depending on the year. Five to seven days later, you can harvest your tall fescue crop with ease. Because the plant structure of tall fescue is upright, it’s easy to swath and less prone to lodging.
“This can help spread out the workload at that fall harvest time,” said Wilson.
Tall fescue is more tolerant to winter damage than most other grass seed crops, and it thrives in a wide range of soil types and climates, making it extremely versatile and a fit for almost any grower. And in dryer years when other crops may suffer, tall fescue’s deep root system helps it perform.
“Tall fescue also has a higher seed yield potential than a lot of other crops,” said Wilson. “It typically yields higher than perennial ryegrass, resulting in greater profitability potential for the grower.”
Demand for the turfgrass seed from Western Canada continues to grow, with both perennial ryegrass and tall fescue providing growers with solid returns, Wilson recommends growing the crop that best suits your local growing conditions, soil types, and current seed markets.
If you are interested in learning more about tall fescue or other forage and turf species reach out to your local BrettYoung Seed Production Specialist.
