Tall fescue in Northern New York will yield as much or more than other cool-season grass species. There continue to be new varieties, most endophyte-free, but a number of the new varieties also have a “Novel endophyte” version.
An endophytic fungus in the fescue gives the plant added vigor without the toxic side effects of typical endophyte-infected fescue.
The question for the NNYADP-funded research is are the “friendly-endophyte” varieties worth the extra seed cost.
Click here for the 2011-12 results of the NNY tall fescue variety trials evaluated by Cornell University Crop and Soil Sciences Professor Dr. Jerry Cherney and Cornell Willsboro Research Farm Manager Michael Davis.