[Click picture to enlarge] Quality Summer Forage When You Need It The Most! The 3 Best Reasons To Plant Legend lespedeza. . . July-August-September [Click picture to enlarge] [Click picture to enlarge] [Click picture to enlarge]

Research Update

LEGEND LESPEDEZA -THREE FOR THREE IN FORAGE TESTS

Legend - the newest annual-striate lespedeza was “3 out of 3” as the ‘top yielder’ in a three year forage test at Central Missouri State University. In each season of the 3-year replicated university study near Warrensburg, Missouri, Legend lespedeza out-yielded the Marion variety by over 30%.

Forage tests done in Arkadelphia, Arkansas showed that Legend lespedeza out yielded other lespedezas, including Marion, by over 35% in a single cutting.  According to Larry Sandage, forage specialist who supervised the test, “It did so well that I would consider Legend the lespedeza of choice for northern and parts of central Arkansas, it seems to be able to fill a real niche there”.

There are two very good reasons to consider Legend in your pastures: timing and tonnage.  Both mean more milk and more pounds of beef!

Timing

Legend lespedeza is likely to be used most effectively as a companion legume providing high quality (protein, energy, and minerals) feed in cool-season grass pastures during summer months when it’s needed most.  Because these grasses leave a significant gap during the summer months, lespedeza is a perfect choice –especially in low pH soils.

Milk production, calf weights and reproductive efficiency are all closely tied to the animal nutrition during this period.  The effects of endophyte toxicity in fescue pastures during this time are hard to measure, but well documented.  This fungus affects all of animal performance -especially reproduction.  By adding Legend as a companion forage, the effects of this fungus can be significantly reduced.

Annual Lespedeza is also very unique because it is amazingly tolerant to infertile or acid soils.  It is a good reseeder, is very drought tolerant, and is one of the few legumes that do not cause bloat. In order for a lespedeza stand to persist, it must produce seed and resist disease.  Lespedeza has been on the ‘come-back’ in recent years, especially with the development of new types and varieties.

Tonnage

Legend is the newest selection of common or striate lespedeza. It has longer, narrower leaves than other annual types, and in some tests has grown 6-8 inches taller than the popular Marion variety. In addition to being taller, Legend also appears to have a much greater leaf to stem ratio with its leaves much closer to the ground.  Dry matter yield estimates taken in single-cutting side-by-side comparisons have shown the new ‘Legend’ lespedeza has a definite yield advantage over all other types and varieties.  In some cases the advantage has been 2 to 1.  In the single-cutting test conducted in southern Arkansas, Legend was the top yielder –out producing the next closest variety by 35%.  More importantly, in most areas, this new lespedeza exhibits a definite advantage in drought tolerance and the ability to reseed itself when other types do not.

Annual lespedeza can be used for either pasture or hay, and it can be grown with several grasses.  It can be grown effectively in nearly all of the lower Midwest and throughout the South.  A number of producers have also found the Legend lespedeza to work well with warm-season grasses, with adequate management, in both grazing and hay production in areas in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Another reason to consider lespedeza is that it is an excellent wildlife food source.  Deer, Quail, Wild Turkey, and other game prefer lespedeza to many other food sources.

Legend lespedeza is marketed exclusively by Cutting-Edge Agri-Products, Lowry City, Missouri.

Management

Legend lespedeza is an acid tolerant, drought resistant legume that has the ability to grow on very thin, low pH soils.  It does respond to fertilization, particularly phosphorus, but shouldn’t be heavily fertilized with nitrogen in grass pastures.

In order to ensure re-seeding, Legend should not be closely grazed in the fall until it has been allowed to re-seed (September – October). Legend appears to be superior to other types in its re-seeding ability.

Establishment

Legend may be over-seeded (broadcasted) into existing pastures or hay fields during winter months (Jan –March).  It may also be seeded with a no-till drill or mixed with fertilizer.  The use of a pasture harrow may be helpful in some conditions.  When drilling, special care must be taken to avoid getting seed too deep; in fact, most of the seed should still be almost visible behind the drill.

Legend performs best when inoculated and seeded apart from fertilizer products.

Supplies Are Limited.
Contact Cutting-Edge today for Pricing and Availability!

 

800-753-6511

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