Tall Fescue in Kentucky

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), a long-lived grass with short underground stems, is presently grown on approximately 5.5 million acres in Kentucky and on approximately 35 million acres in the south central United States. It is a versatile plant used for livestock feed, lawns, turf and conservation purposes, and is adapted for a wide range of soil and climatic conditions. Chemical analyses for forage quality indicate that tall fescue compares favorably to other transition zone grasses. Many livestock producers, however, have found animal response from grazing tall fescue to be erratic and often undesirable. Researchers at the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture have made and continue to make significant strides towards solving the forage quality problems of tall fescue.