2008 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of this cooperative research project is to evaluate new cultivars of perennial cool-season grasses to extend the grazing season of winter wheat pasture. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Replicate farm-scale pastures of new tall fescue cultivars will be established at the Grazinglands Research Laboratory. Each pasture will be grazed by stocker calves to determine rate of body weight gain, carrying capacity, efficiency of forage utilization, and feasibility of using fescue to extend the grazing season of winter wheat pasture. Standard procedures will be used to determine change in animal body weight, forage biomass and forage quality. 3.Progress Report Fescue has potential as gap-filling forage for both spring and fall grazing seasons. Previous work at the Grazinglands Research Laboratory has shown that fescue infected with non-toxic endophyte can be grazed at a high stocking rate for 35 days in the fall and in the spring, prior to and after grazing wheat pasture for 150 days, to extend the grazing season. Plots of new experimental fescues were established for use in grazing experiments to determine if they were more productive than presently available varieties. Early results indicate forage produced by the experimental fescues had nitrogen contents and productivity similar to the standard non-toxic endophyte infected fescue, and generated similar levels of animal performance when grazed in 35-day periods before and after wheat. The ADODR uses meetings and conference calls to monitor the activity in this agreement.