UWRF University of Wisconsin-River Falls Upper Midwest Forages

Meadow Fescue

Scientific name: Festuca pratensis
Cultivars:
  • Azov, and Hidden Valley (developed in WI for high forage under grazing).
  • Late maturing: LiHerold, Tetrax, KF galaxy
    • Origin:Northern Europe; Mountains of southern Europe.
    Growth Habit:Bunch type with short rhizomes, spreading by tillers
    Life Cycle:Perennial
     
    Use
     
    Production:
  • ~1 to 1.5 ton DM/acre, which can be double with the application of manure
  • Grows well early spring, and into late fall. Superior to to KY bluegrass during the summer months, but not as good as native bluestem pastures during summer
    • Nutritive Value:
  • Superior; Highly palatable, high protein and digestibility
  • Contains a non-toxic endophyte that does not produce alkaloids that are toxic to livestock
  • Highly preferred by horses
    •  
    Identification
     
    Seed Head:Panicle, not as drooping or open as bromegrass; it takes 28-30 days from heading to maturing
    Seed:
  • 24 lb/bushel
    • Shoot:15 to 24 inches tall on upland soil and 3+ feet on fertile soils
    Leaf:
  • Intense green color, glossy on the abaxial side (underside), also serrated margins
  • Pronounced leaf venation (ridge) but less than Tall Fescue.
  • Many basal leaves
  • Part of broadleaf fescue type (together with ryegrasses)
    • Auricles:Present, small, narrow
    Ligule:Membranous and small
     
    Adaptation
     
    Soil:Heavy clay soils; not adapted to light sandy soils
    pH:~5.5 to 7.0
    Moisture:
  • Medium to high drought tolerance as well as flooding
  • Adapted to wet places better than other forages like red clover, timothy or KY bluegrass
    • Temperature:
  • Superior cold tolerance. Long-term persistence under severe winter conditions with low temperatures, dry winds, and little snow cover
    • Other:
  • Grows well in mixes with other forages among them bromegrass, KY bluegrass, orchardgrass, timothy, ryegrass, alfalfa, alsike, red and white clover;
    •  
    Establishment - Management
     
    Seeding rate:
  • 25-35 lb/acre (alone); 10-15 lb/acre (mixes), or if planting with a drill
  • Cross-drilling is recommended with 10-15 lb/acre each way
    • Seed cost:$3/lb; $75-100/acre (alone); $30-45/acre (in mixes)
    Planting date:
  • Mid August to Mid September is recommended; it provides a good start in the fall and insures a seed crop the following season
  • Spring seeding can be done but in getting the grass started there is a loss of a crop year
    • Planting depth:
  • 1/4 to 1/2 inch, on well prepared seedbed
    • Frost seeding:Yes
    Fertilization:
  • Follow soil test recommendations.
  • 40-60 lb N/acre/harvest
    • Grazing:
  • Well adapted to frequent grazing,
  • Graze for a short time in spring and again in the fall as not to affect the seed harvest.
  • Minimum problem with bloating when alfalfa is less than 50%
    • Hay:
  • Yields less than Tall Fescue or Orchardgrass
  • Easy to dry for hay
  • Can be cut high for seed, which leaves a good hay crop of leaves to be cut later.
  • Harvest for seed is at the stage when the seedhead begins to droop due to ripening weight, usually around July
    •  
    Notes
  • Introduced to the US since 1800's.
  • Can be affected by rust
  • Great for improving soil texture
  • Seed can be contaminated with cheatgrass (Bromus spp.) because seeds are very similar (need to be careful when outsourcing the seed)
    •  
    Photos


    Meadow fescue. Photo credit: M. Casler