Table 5-2. Management options for switching from endophyte infected to nontoxic endophyte or endophyte free tall fescue with a spring seeding.

Season of changeover year

 

Spring kill
System 4

Fall kill
System 5

Spring

Kill tall fescue by tillage or herbicide; then plant annual summer crop using approved weed control practices.†

Graze or closely clip tall fescue to prevent seed formation.

Summer

Grow and harvest for silage or green-chop, or graze summer crop.

Graze very closely.

Fall

 

Kill vegetation by tillage or herbicide, then seed winter annual forage to be grazed or used for hay or silage by
early spring.‡§

Kill tall fescue by tillage, or with first herbicide spray applied to actively growing vegetation, then fallow.‡

Late winter to early spring

Clip vegetation to 7 to 8 cm if needed, then kill with herbicide when actively growing back; then no-till seed endophyte free or nontoxic endophyte tall fescue. Do not graze new seedlings for 60 d after last spray or until seedlings are 15 cm tall.¶

Kill actively growing vegetation with herbicide; then no-till seed endophyte free or nontoxic tall fescue. Do not graze new seedlings for 60 d after last spray or until seedlings are 15 cm tall.#

Mid-spring and later

Do not graze new tall fescue stands closely during the first year.

Do not graze new tall fescue stands closely during the first year.

 

† Suitable summer crops are those that can be harvested early enough to permit early fall seeding of nontoxic or endophyte free tall fescue, such as early-maturing corn for grain, corn for silage, grain sorghum, annual summer forage crops, and soybean for hay.

‡ 2.3 L/ha of paraquat plus nonionic surfactant in 75 to 150 L/ha of water, or 4.6 L/ha of glyphosate plus nonionic surfactant in 20 to 40 L/ha of water, broadcast on short, actively growing tall fescue. Consult most recent copy of herbicide label for any changes before application.

§ Cool season annual crops, such as wheat (Triticum spp.) or rye (Secale cereale L.).

¶ 1.2 L/ha of paraquat plus nonionic surfactant in 75 to 150 L/ha of water, broadcast on short, actively growing tall fescue regrowth. Consult most recent copy of herbicide label for any changes before application.

# 1.2 L/ha of paraquat plus nonionic surfactant in 75 to 150 L/ha of water, broadcast on short, actively growing tall fescue regrowth, immediately before seeding fescue. Consult most recent copy of herbicide label for any changes before application.

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Tall Fescue Monograph