followed by a harrow or cultipacker to ensure good up for Do not sow friendly E+tall fescue seed in Contamination Prevention pastures that have recently been in nnual yegrass.Ann ggaapoi d producer scue plants convert to out vou ng tall fescue plants durin endophytes be erre ia Do not seed annual ryegrass with friendly E+tall asture?The answer to both fescue seed.Re r white clover can be planted at of these questions is"No."Tall fescue endophytes e than are transm itted via white clover)with the tall fescue.Clovers will limit d In bro sture to become contami nated with toxic E+tall fescue,viable toxic E+seec the ta n t pasture or Grazing Management to keer seedheads clipped on toxic E+tall fescue plants in adjoining pastures. 遥器 t Th t Recent research serve a stands are less susceptible than e-stands to annual le contamination by toxic E+tall fe scue.However brua in the p ring.fertilize with nitro n around 60 to livestock to a friendly E+tall fescue pasture froma 70 pounds per acre if no legumes have been seeded toxic E+tall fescue pasture,be sure the animals Spray broadleaf weeds according to local Extension rage of an t Once the tall fe ne plants become approximately seed to the friendly E+pasture.Viable toxic E+tall 8 to 10 inches tall,they may be ready for grazing. fescue seed containing live endophytes has been Manage stocking rates a ys in order to s of b 00 on th tall fe cattle and horse helr eed on friendly Eta pastures may be another potential source of conta for years to come.Part of the success that producers mination and should be avoided.In addition,toxin th mai sta levels are very stable in toxic E+tall fescue hay and livestock toxins on forage intake.Research at the University of Georgia shows that forage intake is several years. Seed Storage ment than toxic Et tall fescue stands and should tall fo plants not be overgrazed. Endophyte-free would not be expected to the persist as sam annual grasses such as annual rvegrass and cheat all fos d than in tall fescu fore by before seed friendly E+tall fescue seed must be handled grow properly to mainta viable endophyte presence Stocking rates should be Prop ot,bavo drought conditions as well.Rotational grazing may levels of moisture during storage can in endophyte losses.Refrigerated storage is best.followed by a harrow or cultipacker to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. Seeding rates may need to be increased slightly with broadcast seeding. Do not sow friendly E+ tall fescue seed in pastures that have recently been in annual ryegrass. Annual ryegrass is a prolific seed producer, is very competitive with tall fescue and may shade out young tall fescue plants during establishment. Do not seed annual ryegrass with friendly E+ tall fescue seed. Red or white clover can be planted at low rates (typically no more than 5 pounds per acre of red clover or no more than 1 pound per acre of white clover) with the tall fescue. Clovers will limit broadleaf weed control options during the autumn establishment period and can be planted later after the tall fescue stand is established. Grazing Management Cattle should be kept off of newly seeded friendly E+ tall fescue pastures until the young plants have developed adequate root systems to serve as ground anchors when grazed. Clovers and annual lespedezas can be sod-seeded or broadcast￾seeded in February or March following autumn tall fescue planting. When growth of tall fescue resumes in the spring, fertilize with nitrogen around 60 to 70 pounds per acre if no legumes have been seeded. Spray broadleaf weeds according to local Extension recommendations. Once the tall fescue plants become approximately 8 to 10 inches tall, they may be ready for grazing. Manage stocking rates and grazing days in order to maintain 4 to 6 inches of stubble height on the pasture. This will help limit stand losses and help ensure a productive stand of friendly E+ tall fescue for years to come. Part of the success that producers have with maintaining productive stands of toxic E+ tall fescue is due to the negative effect of the livestock toxins on forage intake. Research at the University of Georgia shows that forage intake is greater on friendly E+ tall fescue than on toxic E+ tall fescue. Therefore, friendly E+ tall fescue stands require a higher level of grazing manage￾ment than toxic E+ tall fescue stands and should not be overgrazed. Instead of grazing, the stand may be harvested for hay or silage in the spring. Control seedheads of annual grasses such as annual ryegrass and cheat by mowing before seeds ripen. Hay or graze off excess tall fescue growth in early summer. Maintain 4 to 6 inches of forage height during the summer. Stocking rates should be carefully managed during drought conditions as well. Rotational grazing may be useful in managing forage height. Do not graze in late summer unless soil moisture conditions allow active growth. Resting tall fescue during late summer allows plant carbohydrate reserves to build up for the autumn growth flush. Contamination Prevention Will friendly E+ tall fescue plants convert to toxic E+ plants? Can endophytes be transferred via pollen from a toxic E+ pasture to a neighboring friendly E+ tall fescue pasture? The answer to both of these questions is “No.” Tall fescue endophytes are transmitted via E+ seed only. Toxic E+ plants must develop from toxic E+ seed. Similarly, friendly E+ plants must develop from friendly E+ seed. In order for a friendly E+ pasture to become contami￾nated with toxic E+ tall fescue, viable toxic E+ seed must already be present in the pasture or be intro￾duced into the pasture. Therefore, it is a good idea to keep seedheads clipped on toxic E+ tall fescue plants in adjoining pastures. Recent research conducted at The Ohio State University suggests that MaxQ™ E+ tall fescue stands are less susceptible than E- stands to contamination by toxic E+ tall fescue. However, management practices to minimize contamination are advisable. When moving cattle or other grazing livestock to a friendly E+ tall fescue pasture from a toxic E+ tall fescue pasture, be sure the animals undergo a minimum three-day “cleanout” period on a forage or feed other than toxic E+ tall fescue. This will minimize the transfer of toxic E+ tall fescue seed to the friendly E+ pasture. Viable toxic E+ tall fescue seed containing live endophytes has been recovered from the feces of both cattle and horses grazing toxic E+ tall fescue. Feeding hay containing toxic E+ tall fescue seed on friendly E+ tall fescue pastures may be another potential source of conta￾mination and should be avoided. In addition, toxin levels are very stable in toxic E+ tall fescue hay and may induce toxicosis problems when consumed by livestock even after hay has been stored for several years. Seed Storage Endophytes can die within tall fescue plants, so E+ plants may become E- under certain conditions. Endophyte-free plants would not be expected to persist as long as E+ plants in the same pasture, however. Endophytes are actually more fragile in tall fescue seed than in tall fescue plants. Therefore, friendly E+ tall fescue seed must be handled properly to maintain viable endophyte presence. Proper storage conditions include avoiding storing seed in direct sunlight or in hot, humid places. High levels of moisture during storage can increase endophyte losses. Refrigerated storage is best