Today’s forage research is very interesting. Some forages, such as alfalfa, are highly researched by many private, public and non-profit groups and are being significantly improved year to year.

Other forages, such as white (ladino) clover and red clover, are also extensively researched. New varieties come out almost every year. Most other forages are also going through several research programs.

Let’s take alfalfa, for example, and we want to create a more drought tolerant variety. Individual plants are planted in a plot. The plants mature. Then during the driest period during that season (before plant pollination), the researcher goes through the plot and kills the plants that are struggling the most with the lack of moisture. The plants that are the most tolerant of the dry conditions are then allow to pollinate. Seed from those plants is harvested and replanted the next year, and the process is repeated. Over time, the most drought tolerant genes become dominant, and after many years of replicating the process, a new variety is created that shows more drought tolerance.

The research/breeding process to create a new, improved variety may take six years or longer. So the process of creating a new forage variety is painstakingly slow.

One thing is certain, some of the latest improved varieties are far superior to the old, cheap stuff. For example, plant Crescendo ladino next to the cheapest ladino clover you can find. The difference is very noticeable, especially after several years. Plant a quality alfalfa next to the cheapest alfalfa, and you will be shocked by the difference in performance.