Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences Variety Trials

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2019 Michigan Forage Variety Test Report

Kim Cassida and Joe Paling

Forage Factsheet #20-01

Forage crops are essential components of diversified agricultural production systems in Michigan. They provide feed for livestock, fix nitrogen for crop rotations, reduce soil erosion, improve soil structure, fertility and water retention, protect water quality, provide habitat for wildlife, generate biomass for fuel conversion, and create eye appeal to landscapes. Competition from row crops for land use continues to squeeze forage production acres while equipment, land, and labor costs increase. Under these market conditions, the importance of improving yield per acre through use of better forage varieties is an important component of profitability. Michigan hay prices were good in 2019, and a one-ton increase of average quality alfalfa hay yield was worth $130 to 160/acre.

2019 Conditions

Annual rainfall total and 30-year averages for April through October in East Lansing in southern Lower Michigan, Lake City in northern Lower Michigan, and Chatham in the Upper Peninsula are in Table 1. Weather conditions in 2019 in Michigan were challenging for almost every crop, and planting and harvesting of forages was no exception. Excessive rainfall started in late May and continued through much of June. Dry conditions prevailed in July and August and again turned wet in September and October. Precipitation totals in June and October were well above normal at all three locations in 2019. July and August totals were well below normal below normal. Wet conditions for much of the state in first cutting delayed harvest past the optimum maturity stage for cutting. Start of first cutting at East Lansing and Lake City was delayed 2 to 3 weeks due to rain. Even when rain was not falling the soil was too wet causing continued delays in harvest. First cutting at Chatham was also scheduled around the frequent rains, but harvest was completed on schedule.

Subsequent harvests during the summer growing season were based on the plant maturity and growth. Fall harvests were again scheduled around weather and soil moisture conditions.

2019 - Alfalfa and Red Clover Alfalfa Variety Trials

Total test yields of alfalfa varieties planted at multiple locations in Michigan variety trials since 2010 are listed in Tables 4 through 7. Yields for individual cuttings and years are in Tables 11 to 19 (pages 19 to 22) and may also be found at the MSU Forage Connection Website http://www.forage.msu.edu.

In 2019, alfalfa variety trials were cut four times at East Lansing, three times at Lake City, and two times Chatham. First cutting at all three locations were scheduled around and between the wet weather. Alfalfa trial cutting dates at East Lansing were June 18-26, July 15-22, August 22-30, and October 25 - November 5. First cutting at Lake City was on July 3, about 3 weeks later than desired, second cutting was on August 14, and third was on October 9.

Cutting dates at Chatham were on June 26 and July 31 and third cut was not removed due to the poor late season growth caused by the dry conditions. Yields from the 24 conventional varieties in the 2016 seeding averaged 5.71 and ranged from 4.99 to 6.10 tons/acre. The six Roundup Ready® varieties averaged 5.08 and ranged from 4.72 to 5.50 tons/acre. In the 2017 conventional trial, total yield averaged 5.20 and ranged from 4.70 to 5.76 tons per acre. Three Roundup Ready® alfalfa varieties in the 2017 seeding averaged 5.03 tons per acre. Fifteen conventional varieties were seeded in 2018 and the average total yield was 5.23 and ranged from 4.47 to 5.86 tons/acre. A new trial of 20 conventional varieties was established at East Lansing in 2019. Average total seeding-year yield in this trial was 1.13, with 0.66 and 0.47 tons/acre, respectively, in first and second cutting and are listed in Table 26 (page 30).

The 2016 seeding was the only alfalfa trial harvested at Lake City in 2019. Varieties in this trial suffered substantial winter injury in one corner of the trial, approximately ¼ of the plots. Yearly yield in this trial has been between 3 and

3.5 tons per acre per year in 2017 and 2018 and the average total yield among the varieties in the remaining plots was similar to those obtained in the previous years. Average total yield of the four conventional varieties was 3.47 and ranged from 3.12 to 3.62 tons/acre. Average total yield of the four Roundup Ready® varieties was 3.24 and ranged from 3.03 to 3.52 tons/acre.

New trials of conventional and Roundup Ready® alfalfa varieties were seeded at Chatham in the Upper Peninsula in 2018. First cutting at Chatham was scheduled between the frequent rains, and was removed close to the desired maturity (late bud to early bloom).

Average yield with two cuttings of the varieties in the conventional seeding was 2.77 and ranged from 2.60 to 2.86 tons/acre. Yields of the varieties in the Roundup Ready ® seeding averaged 2.30 and ranged from 2.22 to 2.36 tons/acre. A new trial of conventional alfalfa varieties was established at Chatham in 2019, but was not harvested for yield.

Red Clover Variety Trials

Red clover is a short-lived perennial legume that is well-adapted to Michigan. It is used for hay, haylage, pasture, and cover cropping. It is among the most shade-tolerant legumes and is easy to establish by conventional methods and frost-seeding. These trials are conducted using the same methods as the alfalfa tests, but for a shorter time period. A new red clover variety trial was seeded in May 2017 at East Lansing. The trial was cut two times in 2017, the seeding

year, four times in 2018, and only three times in 2019. 2019 yields of red clover in the 2017 seeding averaged 3.74 and ranged from 3.11 to 4.01 tons per acre. A second red clover trial was seeded in 2018 in late summer. This trial was not cut in the seeding year and was harvested for yield four times in 2019. Yields of the red clover varieties in the 2018 seeding averaged 4.73 and ranged from 3.26 to 5.28 tons/acre. The ‘common’ red clover variety was dead after the third cut in the 2018 seeding and after the second cut of the 2017 seeding. Yields from the two trials in 2019, per cut and total, are listed in Tables 24 and 25 (page 29).

2019 Grass Variety Trials

Perennial Cool-Season Variety Trials

Cool-season grass species seeded in trials at East Lansing and Lake City since 2016 were harvested in 2019. Perennial grass trials seeded at East Lansing were harvested three times. Cutting dates in East Lansing were: cut 1 - June 8-14, cut 2 – July 23-25, and cut 3 was between October 10 and 20, as weather and soil conditions allowed. Yields at East Lansing were highest in the first cutting and lowest in the third and final cut. Three cuttings were removed at Lake City: July 3, August 14, and October 9. Yields at Lake City were highest in first cutting and lowest in the second, mid-summer cutting. Timely rain in late August and September resulted in respectable yields in October.

Five cool-season grass species or hybrid groups (orchardgrass, fescue, perennial

ryegrass, timothy, and festulolium) are currently being evaluated for yield, maturity at first cutting, and persistence. A brief description of grass species with a summary of management recommendations is in Table 2. Long-term yields of grass varieties seeded in Michigan trials are reported in

Tables 8 and 9. Yields for individual cuttings and years are in Tables 20 to 23 (pages 23 to

28) and may also be found on the MSU Forage Connection Website at http://www.forage.msu.edu,

Grass trials at East Lansing were harvested before the alfalfa trials in 2019. The grass root system provided a firmer surface in the wet soil conditions and allowed for the harvest machinery to drive across the field without creating ruts that damage hayfields.

Distribution of yields in these three variety trials was concentrated in first and second cutting. Almost 90% of the yearly total yield was from first and second cutting. First-cut accounted for 55% and second cut 35% on the seasonal yield. Higher than average rainfall between first and second cut and low rainfall/dry between second and third cut caused low yields in October. The rain in September and early October was too little too late.

In 2016, 5 tall fescue, 2 meadow fescue, 2

festulolium (fescue type), 4 orchardgrass, 5 perennial ryegrass, and 3 timothy varieties, respectively, were seeded at East Lansing. Yields of tall fescue averaged 4.04 and ranged from 3.88 to 4.39, meadow fescue yields were

2.79 and 3.23, fescue- type festulolium yields were 3.50 and 4.12, respectively. Orchardgrass average total yield was 4.05 and ranged from

3.88 to 4.29, timothy average yield was 4.25 and ranged from 3.77 to 4.56, and the perennial ryegrass average yield was 3.10 and ranged from 2.60 to 3.66 tons per acre, respectively.

In 2017, 6 perennial ryegrass, 1 festulolium (ryegrass type), 3 tall fescue, 3 meadow fescue, 3 orchardgrass, and 2 timothy varieties, respectively, were seeded at East Lansing. The festulolium and ryegrass were seeded in the same trial. The festulolium variety yield was 4.75, slightly higher than the 6 ryegrass varieties that averaged 3.65, ranging from 3.28 to 4.14 tons/acre. Tall fescue varieties average yield 5.31 and ranged from 5.14 to 5.61, meadow fescue average was 4.27 and ranged from 3.95 to 4.67, orchardgrass average was 4.02 and ranged from 3.62 to 4.45, and the two timothy varieties yielded 4.79 and 5.49 tons per acre, respectively. Yields of the two timothy and the one festulolium variety were higher in 2019 than in 2018. Yields in 2019 of all of the other varieties in this trial were either the same or lower than in in 2018.

In 2018, 6 perennial ryegrass, 3 festulolium (ryegrass type), 6 tall fescue, 3 meadow fescue, and 3 timothy varieties, respectively, were seeded in trials at East Lansing. Dry matter yield of tall fescue averaged 5.91 and ranged from 5.41 to 6.40, meadow fescue yields averaged 5.32 and ranged from 5.20 to 5.50, timothy average yield was 5.01 and ranged from 4.87 to 5.20, the perennial ryegrass average yield was 4.54 and ranged from 3.54 to 5.40, festulolium (ryegrass-type) yield averaged was 6.13 and ranged from 5.89 to 6.31 tons per acre, respectively.

A new perennial grass variety trial was planted in the first week of August in 2019. The perennial ryegrass varieties were cut once in late October and the average yield was 1 ton/acre (Table 27, page 30).

At Lake City, perennial grass yields were

obtained from three cuttings. Average total yield of tall fescue, orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass, festulolium, and timothy were more than 25 percent higher in 2019 than in 2018. The second-year yield of orchardgrass ranged from 4.38 to 4.98, tall fescue ranged from 5.95 to 6.22, perennial ryegrass and festulolium ranged from 4.21 to 5.38, and two varieties of timothy yielded 5.30 and 5.17 tons/acre, respectively. Two varieties of meadow fescue yielded 3.71 and 3.68 tons per acre. On average, more than 60 percent of the total forage yield was obtained in the first cutting and almost 85 percent of the total yield for the year was from the first and last cut. The mid- summer yield was again low due to dry conditions during the summer.

Grass varieties may be marketed as early, medium, or late maturing. Grass maturity should be matched to legume maturity when planting in mixtures. Plant maturity ratings are reported in Table 10 for East Lansing and Lake City as the date when varieties reached 50% heading in the first cutting of the established trials. Variety maturity that does not reach 50% heading before the harvest date are rated as either vegetative, boot, or early heading. In general, earliest to latest maturity within a species at East Lansing and Lake City was about a week. In some instances, the span from earliest to latest date within a species has been as high as 10 days at East Lansing and about 7 days at the northern locations. Using ‘Potomac’ orchardgrass check as a marker in 2019, grasses generally reached 50% heading about 10 days later in Lake City than in East Lansing.

Annual Forage Trials - 2019 Data

A small annual grass trial of Italian and annual ryegrass varieties was planted in late July 2018 and harvested in September and in late October. Total dry matter yields with two cuttings averaged 1.25 tons/acre total in the seeding year. These plots were harvested as demonstration plots in June and July in 2019. Italian ryegrass averaged 2.2 and 1.3 tons/acre in cuts 1 and 2 in 2019, slightly higher than the annual ryegrass varieties average of 1.9 and 1.0 tons/acre for the 2 cuts 2019.

A similar trial with Italian and annual ryegrass varieties was planted in early August 2019.

This trial was harvested once in October 2019. Seven varieties of Italian and annual ryegrass averaged 1.3 tons per acre, ranging from 1.1 to

1.5. (Table 28, page 30). This trial will be evaluated for winter survival and targeted for two cuttings in 2020.

ALFALFA VARIETY TEST

Michigan State University has evaluated more than 100 commercially available alfalfa varieties in its alfalfa variety trials since 2009. Plant breeders, developers, and marketers submit alfalfa varieties for evaluation. Varieties seeded in these trials are evaluated for yield and

persistence for three full years after the seeding year. Testing locations in 2018 for the Michigan alfalfa variety trials were the Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center at Chatham, the Lake City Research Center at Lake City, and the Michigan State University Agronomy Farm at East Lansing. Because glyphosate is used for weed control in Roundup-Ready trials, these are conducted as separate tests from conventional varieties.

Vernal, a highly fall-dormant (FD 2) public variety released in 1953 has poor disease resistance compared to modern varieties, is used as the historical check variety to maintain long-term comparisons across time. An index value for variety yield as a percent of Vernal is presented for each conventional alfalfa entry. Because there is no industry standard check variety with the RR trait, index values in RR alfalfa tests are presented as a percentage of the test average.

Alfalfa Trait Ratings

Ratings for plant traits are shown in Table 3. Roundup Ready (RR) varieties are resistant to the herbicide glyphosate (Roundup and many other trade names) which can simplify weed control during the critical alfalfa establishment phase.

Fall Dormancy and Winterhardiness Ratings.

Fall dormancy (FD) ratings are determined by the amount of regrowth after a mid- September cutting. They depend on alfalfa response to daylength and temperature and are useful as an indicator of growth rate potential after cutting or winter dormancy. Moderately dormant (FD = 5) varieties grow earlier in the spring and later in the fall, grow back faster at every cutting, mature a few days earlier, and often yield more than dormant (FD =3-4) or very dormant (FD = 1-2) varieties in the East Lansing test. The yield advantage of FD5 is much less at the Lake City and UP test locations, but tested FD5 varieties with adequate WSI have been persistent in our northern tests. Non-dormant alfalfa varieties (FD = 6-11) are not recommended for use in Michigan except as an annual or cover crop where survival for more than one growing season is not expected.

Winter survival index (WSI) is the preferred rating system for evaluating winterhardiness of alfalfa varieties. A lower WSI value indicates better winterhardiness, and WSI of 1-2 is recommended for Michigan. Within a FD rating, varieties can differ considerably for winter survival index (WSI). The FD and WSI ratings for varieties in the Michigan tests are given in Table 3.

Alfalfa Disease and Pest Ratings.

An alfalfa variety consists of a population of plants which are genetically different from each other. Varieties are described

according to the mean response of all plants, such as average yield, and as a frequency of certain types of plants, such as the percentage of plants resistant to some pest or disease. Thus, even in a "resistant" variety, only a portion of the plants will be resistant. Moderate resistance, for example, means that 15 to 30% of the established plants are resistant, leaving 70 to 85% susceptible. Therefore, a variety classified as resistant may still suffer damage from a disease, especially in the seedling stage.

Moderate resistance is generally considered adequate for good alfalfa production. A list of disease resistance ratings for varieties evaluated at MSU is provided in Table 3. Additional information and photos of alfalfa diseases can be found at www.alfalfa.org/pdf/AlfalfaAnalyst.pdf.

Bacterial Wilt (BW). BW is present in all of Michigan. All of the named varieties sold in Michigan are adequately resistant to BW.

Phytophthora Root Rot (PRR). This fungal disease, first found in Michigan in 1972, is now one of the state's most important alfalfa diseases. PRR occurs primarily on heavy or poorly drained soils, but any soil may result in severe injury if saturated for seven to ten days, especially to one- to two-month old seedlings. Planting seed treated with Apron or Stamina may further reduce disease when planting resistant varieties. Treating a susceptible variety, such as Vernal, with a seed fungicide is unlikely to compensate for susceptibility. Most of the highest yielding varieties entered in our tests are resistant to PRR.

Anthracnose (AN). This disease was first found in Michigan in 1976. It occurs during hot, moist summers and is most common in the southern third of Lower Michigan. The fungus infects stems and crowns and may kill some plants. We recommend that only anthracnose resistant varieties be planted in Michigan.

Verticillium Wilt (VW). First detected in Michigan in 1982, VW has not increased in severity as expected. It is generally introduced with infected seed and is usually not a problem until the third year, and then primarily in the first cutting. Growing alfalfa in rotation with corn will help break the disease cycle.

Aphanomyces (APH). Aphanomyces euteiches is a soil-borne fungus that is similar to PRR and thrives in cool-moist conditions. It can kill or severely stunt young seedlings and causes a chronic root disease in established plants. Seedlings infected with APH will have yellow leaves (chlorosis) and gray roots and stems. There are three races of APH. Race 1 and 2 are confirmed to be present in Michigan. Alfalfa resistant to race 2 is also resistant to race 1; however, resistance to race 1 does not infer resistance

to race 2. Resistance to APH should be considered when establishing alfalfa in poorly drained areas. Apron does not control APH, but Stamina may be helpful.

Stem nematode (SN). Ditylenchus dipsaci is a microscopic pest that can become a problem in areas where alfalfa is grown for many years. Symptoms of nematode damage include stunted plants and club-like stems. Crop rotation is the best method for controlling stem nematode.

How to Select an Alfalfa Variety for Michigan. Appropriate variety selection depends on location, desired stand life, cutting management, yield goal, and forage quality goal. Location matters because fewer cuttings are possible in shorter growing seasons.

Intensive six-cut systems are possible in southernmost counties, but it is rarely practical to get more than three cuts in the Upper Peninsula. Regardless of location, there is always a tradeoff between number of cuttings and stand persistence. More cuttings per year means shorter harvest intervals that result in greater forage quality and greater cumulative yield for the first three to four years. The tradeoff is reduced stand life because of stress on roots. Varieties chosen for short-term, intensively managed stands in Michigan (three to four years) should be: dormant to moderately dormant (FD= 4-5), winterhardy (WSI rating 1 to 2), high yielding, and resistant to bacterial wilt (BW) and anthracnose (AN). Resistance to phytophthora root rot (PRR) is also recommended when alfalfa is grown on damp, fine-textured soils. For stand life longer than four years or for

Northern Michigan and UP regions, select dormant (FD = 2-4), winterhardy (WSI 1 to 2) varieties with high yields and resistance to BW, AN, PRR, and VW. Keep in mind that the reliability of variety rankings increases with the number of environments (i.e. the number of tests) in which the variety has been tested.

Therefore, varieties that have been entered in only one or two tests may not perform as expected in a farm situation.

EVALUATION OF OTHER LEGUMES

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) varieties were seeded in 2017 and 2018 for evaluation in Michigan at East Lansing. Red clover is a good species for pasture renovation or works well as a short-term hay or haylage crop. Red clover usually produces greater yield in the seeding year than alfalfa, but generally only persists for two years. Improved varieties under proper management may persist beyond three years. These trials are being established and harvested for three years including the seeding year. Plot size is generally 3 ft wide by 20 to 25 ft long with 2 to 3 cuttings per year.

PERENNIAL COOL-SEASON GRASS TEST

A brief description of grass species with a summary of management recommendations is in Table 2. When selecting a grass variety, first consider adaptation of the species to the conditions of the proposed site and intended use as hay/haylage or pasture. Only then should individual varieties and desired yield come under consideration. The reliability of variety rankings increases with the number of environments (i.e. the number of tests) in which the variety has been tested. Therefore, varieties that have been entered in only one or two tests may not perform as expected in a farm situation.

Perennial cool-season grasses are evaluated for yield and persistence. Commercially available and experimental entries of orchardgrass, tall fescue, meadow fescue, timothy, perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and festulolium have been seeded in trials at the three locations. More than 50 varieties have been evaluated at East Lansing and more than 25 varieties have been planted at Lake City or Chatham. Nitrogen fertilizer is applied at green-up in early April and after each cutting.

Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) is a high-yielding, competitive, perennial bunchgrass that grows more rapidly than most other Michigan forages in the early spring. Orchardgrass grows well on a wide range of soil types, but is not well suited for wet sites. Orchardgrass has similar nutritive characteristics to timothy and smooth bromegrass and is often grown together with alfalfa. Because orchardgrass matures earlier than alfalfa, late-maturing varieties of orchardgrass are preferred when the two are grown in mixture.

Bromegrasses (Bromus spp.) are rhizomatous, sod-forming grasses that are high in forage quality and yield. Smooth bromegrass is one of the most winter- hardy grasses in Michigan and can be grown on a wide range of soil types.

Smooth bromegrass has poor regrowth potential, producing most of its yield in the first cutting, and it should not be grazed or cut during stem elongation or early heading to prevent a reduction in tillering. Meadow brome has better regrowth potential and heat tolerance than smooth brome.

Crosses between smooth and meadow brome, sometimes called Intermediate Brome, can have the best traits of both parents.

Timothy (Phleum pratense L.) is a bunchgrass that forms an open sod and persists well under poorly drained conditions. It is best known for its winterhardiness and ability to survive under ice sheeting. Timothy is a late-maturing grass that traditionally produces most of its yield in the first cutting and requires a long rest period after harvest, making it undesirable for harvest systems with more

than two cuttings. Newer timothy varieties are bred for better regrowth potential.

Fescues (Schedonorus spp.) are sod- forming grasses with good seasonal growth distribution, and especially good fall growth. Tall fescue is persistent under frequent short grazing, heavy traffic, heat, drought, and poor drainage on a range of soil types, but has less cold tolerance for Northern Michigan than many other grasses.

Tall fescue naturally contains an

endophytic fungus that aids plant stress tolerance, but produces alkaloids toxic to livestock eating the forage. Many new varieties of tall fescue are endophyte-free or contain “friendly” novel endophytes that are not toxic to animals. Tall fescue varieties containing the toxic wild-type endophyte (E+) are not recommended for Michigan. Meadow fescue has better forage quality, palatability, and cold tolerance than tall fescue and does not contain toxic endophytes, but yields less.

Ryegrasses (Lolium spp.) are sod-forming bunchgrasses that are noted for extremely high forage quality and good regrowth potential. Perennial ryegrass is suitable for rotational grazing and multiple harvests for haylage, but it lacks the winterhardiness of many other grasses in Michigan, will go dormant under hot, dry conditions, and is difficult to dry as hay because of its waxy leaf cuticle. It requires high fertility and performs best under irrigation in Michigan. Annual (Westerwold) and Italian ryegrasses are short-lived species that differ from each other primarily in vernalization requirement for flowering.

Italian ryegrass requires a cold period to initiate heading and annual ryegrass do not. Italian and annual ryegrasses are generally similar to perennial in adaptation and use characteristics, except that many varieties are not winterhardy in Michigan.

Festuloliums (Schedonorus x Lolium spp.) are crosses between a fescue (meadow or tall fescue) and a ryegrass (perennial or Italian ryegrass), thus combining the persistence and productivity of fescue with the palatability and nutritive quality of ryegrass. The large number of possible parent combinations results in a great range of appearance, yield and quality characteristics among festulolium varieties—some resemble fescue while others resemble ryegrass.

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is a relatively short-statured, sod-forming perennial grass that is very palatable when vegetative. It persists under frequent, close grazing and is very winter hardy in Michigan, but is unpalatable when heading and quickly goes dormant under hot, dry summer conditions.

Because of low yield potential, Kentucky bluegrass is more suitable for grazed than harvested forage systems.

ANNUAL GRASS TESTS

Annual grass trials are planted in plots 4 ft wide by at least 20 ft long. Harvest area is from the center 3 ft (6 rows) of each plot. Weed control is usually not needed in this trial, and it is fertilized with 50 lbs/acre N prior to first cutting and after first and second cutting. These trials are planted in the spring and typically harvested three times in the seeding

year. Winter survival is evaluated the following spring and yield is obtained on surviving entries.

STATISTICS

For completed trials, yields are presented as the average annual yield for the three years after establishment. For trials not yet completed, averages are presented as the average annual yield for the years available, excluding the establishment year. Check varieties are included in most tests to provide reference points for estimation of relative differences among tests conducted in different years or sites. The relative difference among varieties is expressed as a percentage of the check variety yield. Choice of varieties used as checks is based on familiarity to most producers across a wide area of the USA. Where check varieties are not available, relative differences are expressed as a percentage of the test average.

Comparison of yields among varieties should only be made within a trial. Under these conditions, statistical tests allow accurate separation of true genetic effects from random variation attributed to field or weather conditions. Space restrictions prevent publication of the entire test results here, but statistics including Least Significant Difference (LSD) and coefficient of variation (CV) for all forage variety trials are listed in the yearly yield data reports posted on the web at Michigan State University Forage Connection http://www.forage.msu.edu.

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