Many livestock producers know of the animal production issues associated with toxic Kentucky 31 (KY-31) tall fescue.
The endophyte fungus that grows between infected plant cells produces chemicals harmful to animals, but the fungus is beneficial to the fescue plant.
Researchers developed varieties of tall fescue that did not have the endophyte fungus, but these endophyte-free varieties lacked persistence. Additional research has discovered novel or friendly endophytes.
These novel endophytes do not produce chemicals toxic to livestock, but provide plant protection benefits and thus have the potential to be more persistent than their endophyte-free counterparts.
New tall fescue varieties have been developed that contain these friendly endophytes.
In order to establish novel endophyte tall fescue, in many cases toxic KY-31 tall fescue must be killed before the new fescue variety can be seeded.
Information about this renovation process has been condensed into a one-day school.
During 2021, renovation schools are being held both virtually and in-person in Missouri and Kentucky. These schools are sponsored by the Alliance for Grassland Renewal whose partners include universities, government, industries and non-profit groups.
The virtual school will be held on three consecutive evenings beginning on Feb. 23. Sessions run from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
The Feb. 23 session focuses on toxic fescue and management of novel tall fescue. The Feb. 24 session will highlight establishment techniques. The Feb. 25 session ends with a discussion on the economics of converting toxic tall fescue fields to non-toxic tall fescue.
Speakers include forage and livestock experts from throughout the Fescue Belt.
Missouri’s in-person school will be held March 23 at the MU Southwest Center at Mt. Vernon.
The Mt. Vernon school starts at 8:45 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. The registration fee includes a notebook of presentations, lunch and breaks.
Spaces are limited based on social distancing and masking requirements.
Additional information and registration for either the virtual or in-person school is available on the Alliance for Grassland Renewal website at grasslandrenewal.org.
For additional questions, email schmitze@missouri.edu or call the Pettis County Extension Center at (660) 827-0591.
