Start Date
1-9-2009 10:00 AM
Description
Although there are not a lot of new red clover varieties, several companies and Universities have active red clover breeding programs. In some ways, red clover is the easiest species to make variety recommendations for. Simply put, “only plant certified seed of improved varieties, never plant common seed.” University of Kentucky research has shown that the difference between improved varieties and common seed can be 6000 to 10,000 lb/acre in higher yield and 1 to 1 ½ years longer stand life. Sometimes you may “luck up” and find that the bag of cheap common seed you purchased was actually an overstock of an improved variety, but UK variety trials show that 9 times our of 10 certified seed of improved varieties showed higher yield and longer stand life.
Included in
Selecting Clover Varieties Wisely
Although there are not a lot of new red clover varieties, several companies and Universities have active red clover breeding programs. In some ways, red clover is the easiest species to make variety recommendations for. Simply put, “only plant certified seed of improved varieties, never plant common seed.” University of Kentucky research has shown that the difference between improved varieties and common seed can be 6000 to 10,000 lb/acre in higher yield and 1 to 1 ½ years longer stand life. Sometimes you may “luck up” and find that the bag of cheap common seed you purchased was actually an overstock of an improved variety, but UK variety trials show that 9 times our of 10 certified seed of improved varieties showed higher yield and longer stand life.