Ability continental tall fescue has a breeding background of winter and summer active tall fescue and Italian ryegrass. This breeding, gives Ability good year-round production with increased digestibility from Italian genetics.
An early heading date means less aftermath heading and allows the plant to return to vegetative growth as quickly as possible. The leaves are finer and the plant produces a shorter seed head for increased palatability.
Ability has a high level of rust resistance, making it suitable for a wide range of environments, especially in areas with summer dominant rainfall with high humidity.
Ability has been selected for increased seeding vigour, allowing the plants to get established before soil temperatures drop and weed competition becomes an issue.
Suitable for sheep, beef, dairy, horses and alpacas.
Agronomy Guidelines
| Paddock preparations | Best sown into a cultivated seedbed but can be direct drilled. Cultivate seed bed if ground is uneven. |
| Sowing depth | Shallow (5-15mm), using a roller will ensure good seed-soil contact and improve germination rates. |
| Weed control | A weed free seedbed allows for better establishment results. The use of herbicides prior to sowing can alleviate competition from weeds. Tall fescue is slow to establish and should be monitored throughout its early establishment phase for both weeds and insect pests. |
| Fertilizer | The use of fertiliser at sowing may improve the establishment. The use of phosphorus fertiliser annually may improve the longevity of the stand. |
| Grazing management | Tall fescue is a slow to establish species and therefore should be allowed plenty of time to establish. Only very light grazing in the first year is recommended to encourage tillering. Once established grazing should be managed to maintain clovers in the pasture. Does not require a rest period to induce dormancy. |
