Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea)

Description

Tall fescue is known as the most heat tolerant cool-season forage species. Due to its deep-roots, it can tolerate dry and hot conditions better than most forages. Tall fescues wide adaptation to different soil types and fertility allows it to be used in many management practices including hay, silage, managed grazing, and continuous grazing.

Strengths

High yields; persistent; leafy regrowth; good seedling vigor; summer flood tolerance; excellent for fall/winter stockpiling; tolerates heavy traffic; widely adapted and persists on acidic, wet soils of shale origin; drought resistant; survives under low fertility.

Limitations

Poor palatability and quality in summer; low summer production; can become coarse; dominates non-vigorous legumes. Use of entophytic varieties can cause animal health problems.