AGRONOMIC DESCRIPTIONS

For more information contact: Plant Materials Center, 3308 University Drive, Bismarck, ND 58504; Phone (701) 250-4330

BADLANDS  ecotype little bluestem (not a variety)	Release Date: 1997 Release Agencies: USDA ARS & NRCS; ND, SD, and MN AES Origin: 68 sites in southwestern ND and west and central SD Attributes: Genetic diversity, improved plant vigor, seed production, disease resistance, northern source
BAD RIVER ecotype blue grama (not a variety)	Release Date: 1997 Release Agencies: USDA ARS & NRCS; ND & SD AES; and NDASCD Origin: west central SD Attributes: Ease of establishment, consistent plant performance, root development, forage production, winter hardiness
BISMARCK ecotype buffalograss (not a variety)	Release Date: 1997 Release Agencies: USDA, NRCS; ND AES Origin: central ND Attributes: winter hardiness, vigorous vegetative spread; since it is a male population, no seed is produced and propagation is strictly by vegetative material
BISON big bluestem (PI 537589)	Release Date: 1989 Release Agencies: USDA ARS & SCS; ND & MN AES Origin: south central ND Attributes: winter hardiness, uniform plant type, leafiness, plant vigor and seed yields. It is a vigorous, early cultivar that is shorter in height and matures earlier than Bonilla and produces good seed and forage yields in ND.
BONILLA big bluestem	Release Date: 1987 Release Agencies: USDA, SCS & ARS; ND, MN, and SD AES Origin: east central SD Attributes: winter hardiness, seed production, forage production. It flowers 2-3 weeks later and is taller and leafier than Bison.  Bonilla is 25 days later than NDG-4 and 23 days earlier than SD-43.
SUNNYVIEW big bluestem	Release Date: 1997 Release Agencies: SDSU; SD AES; USDA, NRCS Origin: southeastern SD Attributes: vigor, leafiness, pedicellate spikelet fertility, and seed yield. It is later in maturity than other northern sources such as Bison and Bonilla.
DACOTAH switchgrass	Release Date: 1989 (PI537588) Release Agencies: USDA, ARS & SCS; ND and MN AES Origin: south central ND Attributes: uniform plant type, leafiness, plant vigor, seed yields, adaptation to northern climates, uniform green color. It is a typical northern ecotype having shorter stature and finer leaves and stems. It matures earlier than Forestburg. It is an early maturing, hardy variety which consistently produces seed in ND. Dacotah has short height with a high density vegetative cover compared to other varieties.
FORESTBURG switchgrass	Release Date: 1987 (PI478001) Release Agencies: USDA, SCS & ARS; ND, SD, and MN AES Origin: east central SD Attributes: winter hardiness and seed production. Forestburg was released because of its early maturity, winter hardiness and persistence. It is later maturing and taller than Dacotah; 24 to 27 days later than NDG-965-98; 0 to 3 days earlier than Nebraska-28 and Sunburst.
GARRISON creeping foxtail	Release Date: 1963 Release Agencies: USDA, SCS; WY AES Origin: Collection from plants in north central ND. These plants probably came from eastern Germany or western Russia. Attributes: high forage quality and excellent forage yield especially on wet or imperfectly drained soils; forms a strong sod that tolerates flooding. Garrison creeping foxtail originated from an SCS field collection near Max, ND.  It does best on wet lowland and poorly drained soils.  It is about equal to reed canarygrass in forage production but has better quality and palatability.  Like reed canarygrass it can withstand spring flooding after it has become established.
GREEN STIPA green needlegrass	Green Stipa was selected by USDA at Mandan, ND and released in 1946.  It was from a single plant selection and was described as superior to common green needlegrass in forage, seed yields, improved seedling and regrowth characteristics.
LODORM green needlegrass	Release Date: 1970 Release Agencies: USDA, ARS; ND, SD, and MT AES Origin: south central ND Attributes: early drought tolerant native bunchgrass adapted to a wide range of soils; good forage quality. Lodorm is characterized by lower post-harvest seed dormancy and quicker germination than 'Green stipagrass'. The 2 cultivars are equal in forage and seed yields.  Lodorm is adapted to any areas where green needlegrass is grown in the No. Plains region.
MANDAN Canada wildrye	Release Date: 1946 Release Agencies: USDA, ARS; USDA, SCS; and ND AES Origin: south central ND Attributes: leafiness, fineness of leaves, short stature, resistance to stem rust; outstanding seedling vigor and high seed production. An improved variety of Canada wildrye developed by the N. Great Plains Station, Mandan.  It is superior to common Canada wildrye in that the plants are finer, lower in height and leafier.  It is longer lived and better able to withstand grazing over a longer period of time.  Its wide adaptation, ease of establishment, rapid growth, good seed and forage yields make it advantageous in a crop rotation.
MANDAN 759 pubescent wheatgass	Pub. wheatgrass is vigorous, late maturing, sod forming and drought resistant.  It is closely related to Intermediate wheatgrass but has pubescent leaves.  This selection is from the Mandan station and has higher forage, seed yields and greater persistence than other pub. wheatgrass varieties at Mandan.  It spreads rapidly under favorable conditions.
MANKOTA Russian wildrye	Release Date: 1991 Release Agencies: USDA, ARS; USDA, NRCS; ND AES Origin: USSR Attributes: good forage, seed yield, spring vigor, resistance to leaf spot disease. Mankota (PI556988) is better adapted to fine-textured soils. It tolerates moderate salinity, alkalinity and stress caused by grazing or drought. It is higher yielding with higher resistance to leaf spot diseases than other current wildrye cultivars.
MANSKA pub./intermediate wheatgrass	Release Date: 1992 Release Agencies: USDA, ARS; USDA, NRCS; Univ. of NE; ND AES Origin: selected lots of Mandan-759 originating from the USSR Attributes: improved forage quality compared to other cultivars; higher average daily gains on yearling steers; excellent establishment. High nutritive value is the primary advantage of Manska (PI562527) over current intermediate wheatgrass cultivars. Maintenance of high stand density under grazingrequire prudent management to assure fall-season recovery, especially if under drought or winter stress.
NORDAN crested wheatgrass	Release Date: 1953 Release Agencies: USDA, ARS; ND AES Origin: central SD Attributes: outstanding vigor, leafiness, disease tolerance, seedling vigor, persistence in semi-arid environments. Nordan was developed from a selection at an old nursery at the Dickinson Experiment Station.  It was superior to commercial standards in plant type and seedling vigor which allowed greater ease in establishing and handling stands. An important factor was its purity.  Other commercial strains contained Fairway admixtures which were inferior for planting in the No. Plains region.
PIERRE sideoats grama	Release Date: mid 1960s Release Agencies: USDA, SCS; SD AES Origin: central SD Attributes: outstanding vigor, leafiness, disease tolerance, seedling vigor, and persistence in semi-arid environments. Pierre originated from a field collection at a natural grasslands site near Pierre, SD.  It was selected based on comparisons with other field collections and the variety Butte.
RED RIVER prairie cordgrass	Release Date: 1998 Release Agencies: USDA, NRCS; MN, ND, and SD AES Origin: eastern ND, northeastern SD, east central MN Attributes: genetic diversity, vigorous growth, good seed production, leafiness, strong rhizome spread
RELIANT pub./intermediate wheatgrass	Release Date: 1991 Release Agencies: USDA, ARS; USDA, NRCS; ND AES Origin: Europe/Asia Attributes: winter hardiness, forage and seed yield, leaf spot resistance, forage quality, compatibility with alfalfa. Reliant (PI556987) has high hay yields relative to other intermediate wheatgrass cultivars and higher levels of leaf spot disease resistance. Persistence under grazing is as good or better than other cultivars.
RODAN western wheatgrass	Release Date: 1983 Release Agencies: USDA, ARS; USDA, SCS; ND AES Origin: south central ND Attributes: leafiness, stand development, winter hardiness, drought tolerance, disease resistance. Rodan has thinner, finer leaves than other Western wheatgrass and has higher forage yields. It has moderate to good resistance to stem rust.
TOMAHAWK Indiangrass	Release Date: 1988 Release Agencies: USDA, SCS & ARS; ND, SD, and MN AES Origin: southeastern ND, northeastern SD Attributes:  Tomahawk (PI478006) was released because of its early maturity, superior winter hardiness and persistence in harsh environments. Tomahawk consistently produces mature, viable seed at northern latitudes. It is 33 days earlier than Holt, 71 days earlier than Oto and 82 days earlier than Osage and Rumsey.
VINALL Russian wildrye	Vinall was developed by USDA at Mandan, ND and released in 1960.  It was superior to commercial varieties for seed production and it resisted lodging.

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