A firm seed bed is important. Purdue variety tests are available from your local extension educator to aid in determining which varieties to plant this year. The Top Hand Forage Pick for this issue is tall fescue . Tall fescue covers an estimated 1 million acres in Indiana, primarily in the southern part of the state. A bunch-type grass, however, spreads to form a dense sod.
Leaves have a dull upper surface, shiny underside and distinct veins.
Leaf cross-section is flat. Tolerates excessive moisture, drought, acidic soils and low fertility soils. Some varieties of tall fescue such as Kentucky-31 are known to be infected with an endophytic fungus. This fungus is known to cause nervousness, elevated body temperature, reduced weight gain and low conception rates in livestock grazing infected fescue. Low endophyte varieties of tall fescue are now available and renovation using these varieties is recommended to reduce fescue toxicosis.