Show I 0 Sty rl r d' d i t A o k Orchard rass Proves of Value in Utah From Prom time lime t to time Ume the Sum mil County Dee Bee has run tun articles ot of general interest about farming and ranching This Is another on the series about gras grass Although the tho picture and came from Aberdeen Idaho this la Is a new plant with great groat potential for Summit Coun ty Grass Grall Species Uy Dy SOS Plant Plant Materials Center Aberdeen a native Dative of eastern east east- ern rn and western Europe is a pasture and hay plant with a along along long Jong history in the United States It U was brought to thIs country by our pilgrim forefathers ers era rs early in the century It got its common name of orchard orchard- grass because it was first noticed growing Browing vigorously under tinder dense c orchard cover in Kentucky In Inether other ether English speaking countries is Js It known known as cocksfoot a name that aptly describes its flowering lead head Ue U e Before DeTore Blooming Although is a highly desirable pasture and hay plant lant it has come into Us its own very slowly because of a Hyde llyde complex If used prior to blooming it is Js a leafy top quality teed iced that it relished by livestock When used after bloom it becomes a poor quality food tood that livestock does not like Orchard Orchard- grass has an ex excellent ellent ability to recover quickly and grow rapidly It matures ten to fourteen days ahead head of at most associated grasses And acid legumes Smooth and altal altaI li i. its two most common associates ates in the Intermountain area arta are U usually just blooming when the or has matured seed At seed maturity orchard- orchard grass grasa quality is poorest and though the he farmer knows this be he will not cut earlier as aa yields are ere reduced This condition is most prevalent in hay but also exists in pasture s ed- ed ings when tends to outgrow its associates and livestock live live- stock to remain as t S' clumpy un- un grazed razed plants Scientists have recognized this problem for many years and are still searching for an orchard orchard- grass that is with alfalfa and retains the ability to recover rapidly in tn spring follow ing cutting or grazing Here In the west they have llave found just such a plant plant LATAR according to Moroni Mor Ator- oni on Marchant Soil SoU Conservation Service this variety of orchard orchard- grass was developed eloped by the Soil So Conservation Service Plant Materials Ma Ma- tennis Center at Pullman Wash in n cooperation with Agricultural Research Service and Experiment Station staff members at tho the same location Wide Scale Testing Latar has been carefully selected select select- ed cd from a seed source introduced I from Leningrad Russia in 1934 It was subjected to ecale wide testing under many soil eoll climatic and use conditions from 1951 to 1957 when it was officially released released released re re- re- re leased b by Crop Improvement Association in Idaho and Washington Wash Wash- ington I believe that La Latar tar orchard orchard- grass for hay plantings under Irrigation Irrigation Ir is far better than any anT grass gras yet developed It can be identified by its steady and is ie the perfect partner for alfalfa It If f alfalfa is cut at the proper time the tho grass is also at its peak I have hav this from the best authority the authority the cow at tho the feed ped rack r rack ck Latar has baa pr proven proven ven itself as a quality companion for alfalfa in hay It has almost proven po itself as a pasture pastur plant tut not completely Like other I it is quite frost frost- I tolerant very tolerant shade-tolerant and I grows well through summer It Itis Itis Itla I is la the first to green I in tip spring ring at Aberdeen and Te- Te tonia tonta a characteristic for which are ale noted Latar retains the typical or or- ability to recover recover r q quickly and rapidly following cutting cutting cutting cut cut- ting or grazing It It differs from oth other r commercially available ori or ori i in its long abundant lax pale pal green leaves It blo blooms bloomsten ms ten to fourteen fourt ei days later Quality Plant Latar Is a high quality plant Chemical analysis analysts show that Iti it t i has hs as less lignIn than any of ot seven leading of orchard rass In other words It has significant significant- significantly ly Iy higher which explains ex ox- plains many farmers' farmers statements that their livestock relish Latar even in preference to smooth Latar is la not a top pound pound wise Yet in many tests it has yielded along with the best beat ot of the commercially available f x u-x 1 s. s wUa it tb them nt all ail It ft wt will t not with smooth ehi inthe In tho the first hay cutting but buL will wll out dut- ut- ut lel 1 this Uila gross in All aU later tater cut wt- tings This means a more balanc balana balanced ed teed feed and summer ummer long grazing Latar Laar Is adapted to Wen welt drained irrigated soils throughout the West It is not noL adapted to poorly drained alkaline or real shallow oils ails Although Latar will survive under low tow fertility and mismanagement a ement it really shines when moisture and fertility conditions are ample and when managed to toI I meet its growth requirements For best beat stands and yields it be planted on a good clean moist seedbed in alternate rows with the legume Planted shallow less les than one ODO inch the alternate row seeding will wilt Insure 1 establishment by eliminating competition competition com com- petition with the legume Once established livestock do not know the difference Needs Moisture Following establishment the seeding should receive ample moisture and fertilizer for full growth Forage should be harvested har bar vested at hay readiness of ot the companion legume on a rotation system Although Latar Lalar was released Sot tor seed production in 1957 seed stocks are still low This quality plant with its Us many manT leaves and relatively few stems atoms does not Dot make heavy seed yields Ields averages in is south Idaho would approximate 50 pounds or less per acre Annual Annual An nual production Is la ste steadily dUT Increasing increasing increasing in In- creasing due to Pressure of ot de de- mand wand Production in n 1959 would approach pounds but this supply ii is rapidly raph ly finding its way to other states If It you wish more specific c information in 1 formation on Latar your local Soil Conservation Service technician or County Agent can help you jou They c can n also tell you where seed can be tie purchased I |