Replacing Toxic Tall Fescue With a Nontoxic Forage

Abstract

Tall fescue is among the most popular cool‐season pasture grasses in the United States and is widely grown in other countries with temperate climates. In the United States, nearly all tall fescue pastures planted before 1980 are infected with Epichloë coenophialum, a microscopic fungus. The common strain of this fungus produces toxins called “ergot alkaloids,” such as ergovaline. These ergot alkaloids cause fescue toxicosis, a severe livestock disorder that costs U.S. livestock producers at least $1 billion each year. At present, there is no medical cure for fescue toxicosis. There are, however, proven management strategies that lessen the effect of toxicosis. One is the replacement of toxic tall fescue with varieties that are endophyte‐free or contain novel endophytes. Earn 1 CEU in Integrated Pest Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses.