Forage and Seed Production Economics of Tall Fescue.

Irrigated grass pastures are essential components of western US agriculture, especially on cattle ranches of the intermountain region. Unfortunately the yield and quality of these grasslands are low and declining over time because of current management practices. The objective of this study was to identify novel tall fescue cultivars/lines that would specifically be suitable for growing in the Big Horn Basin in Wyoming and generate information on establishment, management, and production systems. The study was conducted at the Powell Research and Extension Center and at the Stroh farm, Powell under irrigated conditions from 2009 to 2012. The experimental design was a factorial randomized complete block with four replications. The study included a forage yield experiment with three doses of nitrogen and a seed yield experiment with three doses of nitrogen and three times of clipping. Forage yield, seed yield, and forage quality were measured and finally an economic comparison was made. Tall fescue cultivars/lines used in this study responded well to nitrogen treatments. The highest forage and seed yields were associated with the highest nitrogen treatment. The highest seed yields were associated with the highest nitrogen and no clipping treatments. Nitrogen treatments did not affect the forage quality and all cultivars/lines produced acceptable forage quality. Economic comparisons indicated that at least 56 kg nitrogen per hectare was needed to make the forage production profitable under irrigation. Seed productions from tall fescue cultivars/lines were more profitable than forage production and the highest expected net returns were obtained from the no clipping treatments. Based on three years data and economic comparison, late clipping is not recommended. The study indicated that tall fescue has potential to use both as forage and seed crop in the region. Further studies warrant determining the maximum nitrogen rates for the maximum profits.