Forage variety selection
Find guidance on how to choose the right forage legumes, grasses and mixes for your farm, as well as distinguish among various species.
Variety trials
Alfalfa field crop variety trials
Yield potential of alfalfa varieties are continually evaluated in research trials at the University of Minnesota. The trials are conducted using recommended soil fertility and pest control practices to optimize alfalfa yield and persistence.
Several forage crops have been included in the Minnesota Field Crop Trials over the years. While the following crops aren't currently being trialed, the historic reports are available. Examples include legumes such as birdsfoot trefoil and clovers and forage grasses, such as bromegrass, orchardgrass, and timothy.
The Minnesota Hybrid Corn Silage Evaluation Program evaluates the silage potential of corn hybrids in Minnesota. The goal of the program is to provide unbiased forage yield and forage quality information for educational and marketing programs.
Identifying and selecting forages
Guide to forage legumes in Minnesota
- Distinguishing features, uses and varieties of several legumes.
- Plant profiles for clovers, birdsfoot trefoil, crownvetch, cicer milkvetch and alfalfa.
Reduced-lignin alfalfa varieties
New alfalfa varieties with reduced-lignin concentrations have the potential to increase the feeding value of alfalfa and widen the optimum harvest window.
Alternative annual forages: Warm-season grasses
- Why warm-season grasses are an alternative to replanting alfalfa.
- Yield data: From Minnesota research on warm-season grass species.
- Forage management strategies.
Sorghum-sudangrass and teff as summer forages for livestock systems
- Benefits of adding summer annuals to pastures.
- Data on forage quality: From Minnesota research on annual grasses for dairy grazing.
Identifying common cool-season perennial pasture grasses
- Distinguishing characteristics of pasture grasses.
- List of common grasses, their identifying features and photos.
Benefits of legume-grass mixtures
- Agronomic and livestock feeding advantages of legume-grass mixtures
- Simple vs. complex mixtures
- Species selection and mixture composition
- How to establish, maintain, use and terminate cover crops.
- New cover crop opportunities.
Emergency forages: Warm-season grasses
- Benefits of using warm-season grasses as emergency forage after alfalfa winterkill.
- Forage yield and N rate results from warm-season grass trials conducted in Minnesota.
Prevented plant: Cover crop and forage options
- Possible crops for prevented plant acres in Minnesota.
- What you need to know about seeding alfalfa after Aug. 1.
- Guidance on planting dates, haying and grazing.