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Persist II

Orchardgrass

Higher yields, longer life.

Selected 100% from the original variety Persist, Persist II orchardgrass has even better persistence, disease resistance, and vigor than its well-loved predecessor.

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History

Persist II orchardgrass was selected 100% from the original variety Persist. In 2009, a paddock of Persist was planted at the Blount Unit, Univ. of Tennessee. The paddock was grazed under high pressure until spring 2013, resulting in the desiccation of 90% of the stand. Out of the remaining 10%, individual plant selections were made, having demonstrated good grazing tolerance. The selections were further rated for vigor, maturity, growth habit, and disease resistance for an additional three years, culminating in a final selection of eight parents, which were polycrossed into the new variety Persist II.

Forage Yield

Persist II is a high-yielding, early orchardgrass that makes tons of early-harvest hay.

Tennessee

University of Tennessee

Forage Yield (Tons DM/A)

Springfield, TN

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2021-2024

Variety2022 Total2023 TotalMay 16, 2024July 11, 20242024 Total3-Year Total
Persist II1.644.82*1.961.31*3.26*9.73*
Persist1.394.82*1.911.12*3.04*9.24*
Endurance1.684.40*1.831.08*2.91*8.98*
Inavale1.664.68*1.690.792.498.81*
Albert1.604.53*1.461.08*2.548.67*
INTENSIV1.574.66*1.590.822.418.64
Rushmore II1.664.231.770.842.618.50
HLR1.454.56*1.670.862.538.43
Olathe1.524.61*1.470.802.278.40
Potomac1.514.49*1.680.732.418.40
Devour1.594.59*1.170.842.018.17
Bighorn1.474.39*1.360.862.218.07
Ammo1.494.201.580.772.348.03
Tucker1.663.621.560.772.327.59
Lsdnd10.64nd0.340.581.06
Planted September 14, 2021.
Please note that in 2022 drought affected yield and only one harvest when possible. Extreme drought at the end of Summer 2024 did not allow for a Fall harvest.
*Yielded statistically the same as the top-yielding variety.
nd1 = no significant differences among the varieties.
Fertilization: Soil amended when required for Lime, P, and K. Nitrogen Application: 60 lb/acre at green-up, 30 lb/acre after first cut, and 30 lb/acre in September.

University of Tennessee

Forage Yield (Tons DM/A)

Springfield, TN

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2017-2021

 2018201920202021 
VarietyTotalTotalTotalApr 28Jun 17Total4-Yr Total
Olathe3.743.533.060.871.041.9012.23
Persist II3.463.253.161.320.872.2012.06
Quickdraw3.393.183.041.000.931.9311.54
Inavale3.503.292.760.821.151.9711.51
Persist3.122.913.360.951.001.9511.33
Endurance3.323.113.080.860.911.7711.27
Olympia3.303.092.951.010.881.8911.24
Tucker3.202.992.960.940.981.9211.07
Albert3.243.032.920.821.051.8611.03
Potomac3.293.082.900.870.881.7511.01
Excellate SA3.062.852.590.780.901.6710.17
LSD (P<0.05)nd1ndndndndndnd
Planted September 18, 2017.
nd = no significant differences among the varieties.

Virginia

Virginia Cooperative Extension Variety Evaluation

Forage Yield (Tons DM/A)

Glade Springs, VA

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2020-2024

Variety2021 Total2022 Total2023 Total2024 Total4-yr Total
Persist II7.0*9.6*7.2*7.7*31.4
Benchmark Plus6.8*9.4*7.2*7.9*31.3
Bighorn6.9*9.7*6.8*7.3*30.7
Persist6.5*9.8*7.0*7.3*30.6
SS-0708GDT6.9*9.3*6.8*7.2*30.2
Rushmore II6.5*9.1*7.2*7.5*30.2
Alpine II7.0*9.4*6.2*7.2*29.9
Potomac6.9*9.2*6.6*7.2*29.8
Blizzard6.5*9.3*6.8*6.929.4
Albert6.8*9.2*6.8*6.529.3
Devour6.5*8.7*6.5*7.028.7
Tucker6.3*8.5*5.26.326.3
Swante6.6*8.7*5.65.126.0
Seeded Fall of 2020.
*Varieties are not significantly different from the top scoring variety.
Complete data available upon request.

Kentucky

University of Kentucky

Forage Yield (Tons DM/A)

Lexington, KY

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2020-2023

 MaturityYield
Variety5/7/212021202220233-Yr Total
Bighorn46.36.59*2.68*0.73*11.23*
Harvestar48.05.89*2.54*0.80*10.45*
Prodigy53.0*5.38*2.69*0.83*9.99*
Persist II52.5*5.59*2.64*0.81*9.98*
Prairie53.5*5.50*2.46*0.81*9.82*
Tucker51.0*5.192.46*0.709.27
Olathe46.35.142.29*0.629.08
Persist53.5*4.732.39*0.77*8.83
Alpine II45.05.162.070.498.80
Profit46.84.992.110.628.68
Intensive45.04.831.940.488.22
HLR45.04.591.990.488.04
Devour45.04.311.950.597.94
Swante46.34.031.890.527.40
Captur45.04.701.470.277.27
LSD3.01.230.410.101.73
Planted Aug 28, 2020.
Maturity rating scale: 37=flag leaf emergence, 45=boot swollen, 50=beginning of inflorescence emergence, 58=complete emergence of inflorescence, 62=beginning of pollen shed.
*Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD.

University of Kentucky

Forage Yield (Tons/Acre)

Lexington, KY

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2021-2023

 MaturityYield
Variety05/16/2022202220232-Yr Total
Profit55.04.14*2.49*6.62*
Prodigy57.5*3.88*2.52*6.40*
Persist II58.0*3.75*2.52*6.27*
Alpine II52.53.94*2.31*6.25*
Persist58.0*3.71*2.51*6.22*
Prairie58.0*3.77*2.38*6.15*
Potomac58.0*3.70*2.17*5.87*
Captur52.03.65*2.14*5.79*
Intensiv47.53.57*2.21*5.78*
Bighorn55.5*3.452.17*5.62
Barlegro48.52.932.085.02
LSD,0.052.80.640.400.91
Planted Sept 10, 2021.
Maturity rating scale: 37=flag leaf emergence, 45=boot swollen, 50=beginning of inflorescence emergence, 58=complete emergence of inflorescence, 62=beginning of pollen shed.
*Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD.

University of Kentucky

Forage Yield (Tons/Acre)

Princeton, KY

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2020-2023

 MaturityYield
Variety05/10/2022202220232-Yr Total
Bighorn31.04.98*4.01*8.99*
Persist54.5*4.89*3.86*8.75*
Persist II54.0*4.76*3.86*8.62*
SS0708OGDT55.0*4.76*3.79*8.55*
Prodigy54.0*4.60*3.84*8.44*
Prairie53.5*4.17*3.52*7.69
Potomac47.8*4.28*3.307.58
Captur31.03.933.41*7.34
Barlegro31.04.003.307.30
Alpine II39.34.15*3.117.27
Intensiv31.04.14*2.987.12
Profit39.83.733.317.04
LSD,0.058.80.910.621.18
Planted Sept 3, 2021.
Maturity rating scale: 37=flag leaf emergence, 45=boot swollen, 50=beginning of inflorescence emergence, 58=complete emergence of inflorescence, 62=beginning of pollen shed.
*Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD.

University of Kentucky

Forage Yield (Tons/Acre)

Lexington, KY

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2019-2022

MaturityYield
Variety5/7/20202020202120223-Yr Total
Quickdraw53.53.745.212.7511.71*
Persist II49.53.924.732.8011.46*
Persist52.03.454.612.7710.83*
Blizzard49.83.814.262.7510.81*
Echelon40.53.594.202.7310.52*
Albert46.33.454.262.6710.39*
Prairie53.03.364.242.5810.17*
Profit42.03.044.432.6110.09*
Tekapo47.83.284.352.269.88*
Prodigy53.03.273.952.399.61
LSD0.80.841.100.362.03
Planted Aug 30, 2019.
Maturity rating scale: 37=flag leaf emergence, 45=boot swollen, 50=beginning of inflorescence emergence, 58=complete emergence of inflorescence, 62=beginning of pollen shed.
*Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD.

New York

Cornell University

Forage Yield (Tons DM/A)

Ithaca, NY

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2019-2022

Variety2020202120223-Yr Total
Persist II3.04*4.88*3.65*11.57*
Persist3.19*4.83*3.3411.35*
Pennlate3.12*5.02*3.1711.32*
Potomac2.89*4.86*3.0810.82*
Albert2.89*4.81*2.7010.40
Bighorn2.654.72*2.9710.33
Devour2.764.562.9910.30
Alpine II2.574.532.799.89
Barlegro2.814.382.419.59
LSD(.05)0.390.430.300.85
Planted May 22, 2019.
*Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD.

Grazing Tolerance

Long-term data from the University of Kentucky shows Persist II handles grazing pressure as good, if not better than Persist!

Kentucky

University of Kentucky

Grazing Tolerance (% Stand)

Lexington, KY

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2021-2024

Variety10/5/2110/24/2210/17/2309/30/24
Persist II10010096*97*
Devour10010094*95*
Profit10010088*94*
Persist10010094*94*
Potomac10010094*93*
Prairie10010091*92*
Prodigy10010091*91
Intensiv1001006884
Barlegro1001007282
LSD,0.0500115
Planted Sept 5, 2021.
*Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD.

University of Kentucky

Grazing Tolerance (% Stand)

Lexington, KY

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2020-2024

Variety10/2/2010/7/2110/24/2210/17/2309/30/24
Persist II100100100*98*98*
Devour100100100*98*97*
Persist10010099*98*97*
Prairie100100100*96*96*
Profit10010099*91*95*
HLR10010099*92*90*
Intensiv10010099*8287
Swante100100906966
LSD,0.0501398
Planted Sept 8, 2020.
*Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD.

Forage Quality

New York

Cornell University

Forage Quality at Boot Stage in 2021

Ithaca, NY

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2019-2021

VarietyCut Date%NDF%NDFD
PersistMay 1858.377.4
PotomacMay 1859.175.8
Persist IIMay 2059.175.8
PennlateMay 2061.077.5
Alpine IIMay 2263.276.9
BighornMay 2264.977.2
DevourMay 2366.077.5
BarlegroMay 2865.673.1
Planted May 22, 2019.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State University

Forage Quality at First Cut in 2022

Rock Springs, PA

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2021-2022

VarietyCut DateCPADFaNDFNDFD 30TTNDFD
Excellate SAMay 2413.9137.2159.8952.3750.67
Persist IIMay 1715.3335.4558.2953.8653.28
PersistMay 1714.6935.1457.8754.7053.88
PennlateMay 1715.5935.0856.8954.9153.65
BighornMay 1816.3533.1754.1256.3056.07
CaptureMay 2413.6837.1259.4753.7650.91
PotomacMay 1715.1135.8858.1255.5854.60
HLRMay 2413.4837.4660.0851.9349.92
Alpine IIMay 2413.4237.0759.8653.1451.42
Planted April 23, 2021.