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.
Find a dealerHistory
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
|2021-2024
Variety | 2022 Total | 2023 Total | May 16, 2024 | July 11, 2024 | 2024 Total | 3-Year Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Persist II | 1.64 | 4.82* | 1.96 | 1.31* | 3.26* | 9.73* |
Persist | 1.39 | 4.82* | 1.91 | 1.12* | 3.04* | 9.24* |
Endurance | 1.68 | 4.40* | 1.83 | 1.08* | 2.91* | 8.98* |
Inavale | 1.66 | 4.68* | 1.69 | 0.79 | 2.49 | 8.81* |
Albert | 1.60 | 4.53* | 1.46 | 1.08* | 2.54 | 8.67* |
INTENSIV | 1.57 | 4.66* | 1.59 | 0.82 | 2.41 | 8.64 |
Rushmore II | 1.66 | 4.23 | 1.77 | 0.84 | 2.61 | 8.50 |
HLR | 1.45 | 4.56* | 1.67 | 0.86 | 2.53 | 8.43 |
Olathe | 1.52 | 4.61* | 1.47 | 0.80 | 2.27 | 8.40 |
Potomac | 1.51 | 4.49* | 1.68 | 0.73 | 2.41 | 8.40 |
Devour | 1.59 | 4.59* | 1.17 | 0.84 | 2.01 | 8.17 |
Bighorn | 1.47 | 4.39* | 1.36 | 0.86 | 2.21 | 8.07 |
Ammo | 1.49 | 4.20 | 1.58 | 0.77 | 2.34 | 8.03 |
Tucker | 1.66 | 3.62 | 1.56 | 0.77 | 2.32 | 7.59 |
Lsd | nd1 | 0.64 | nd | 0.34 | 0.58 | 1.06 |
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
|2017-2021
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Variety | Total | Total | Total | Apr 28 | Jun 17 | Total | 4-Yr Total |
Olathe | 3.74 | 3.53 | 3.06 | 0.87 | 1.04 | 1.90 | 12.23 |
Persist II | 3.46 | 3.25 | 3.16 | 1.32 | 0.87 | 2.20 | 12.06 |
Quickdraw | 3.39 | 3.18 | 3.04 | 1.00 | 0.93 | 1.93 | 11.54 |
Inavale | 3.50 | 3.29 | 2.76 | 0.82 | 1.15 | 1.97 | 11.51 |
Persist | 3.12 | 2.91 | 3.36 | 0.95 | 1.00 | 1.95 | 11.33 |
Endurance | 3.32 | 3.11 | 3.08 | 0.86 | 0.91 | 1.77 | 11.27 |
Olympia | 3.30 | 3.09 | 2.95 | 1.01 | 0.88 | 1.89 | 11.24 |
Tucker | 3.20 | 2.99 | 2.96 | 0.94 | 0.98 | 1.92 | 11.07 |
Albert | 3.24 | 3.03 | 2.92 | 0.82 | 1.05 | 1.86 | 11.03 |
Potomac | 3.29 | 3.08 | 2.90 | 0.87 | 0.88 | 1.75 | 11.01 |
Excellate SA | 3.06 | 2.85 | 2.59 | 0.78 | 0.90 | 1.67 | 10.17 |
LSD (P<0.05) | nd1 | nd | nd | nd | nd | nd | nd |
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
|2020-2024
Variety | 2021 Total | 2022 Total | 2023 Total | 2024 Total | 4-yr Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Persist II | 7.0* | 9.6* | 7.2* | 7.7* | 31.4 | ||
Benchmark Plus | 6.8* | 9.4* | 7.2* | 7.9* | 31.3 | ||
Bighorn | 6.9* | 9.7* | 6.8* | 7.3* | 30.7 | ||
Persist | 6.5* | 9.8* | 7.0* | 7.3* | 30.6 | ||
SS-0708GDT | 6.9* | 9.3* | 6.8* | 7.2* | 30.2 | ||
Rushmore II | 6.5* | 9.1* | 7.2* | 7.5* | 30.2 | ||
Alpine II | 7.0* | 9.4* | 6.2* | 7.2* | 29.9 | ||
Potomac | 6.9* | 9.2* | 6.6* | 7.2* | 29.8 | ||
Blizzard | 6.5* | 9.3* | 6.8* | 6.9 | 29.4 | ||
Albert | 6.8* | 9.2* | 6.8* | 6.5 | 29.3 | ||
Devour | 6.5* | 8.7* | 6.5* | 7.0 | 28.7 | ||
Tucker | 6.3* | 8.5* | 5.2 | 6.3 | 26.3 | ||
Swante | 6.6* | 8.7* | 5.6 | 5.1 | 26.0 | ||
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
|2020-2023
Maturity | Yield | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Variety | 5/7/21 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 3-Yr Total |
Bighorn | 46.3 | 6.59* | 2.68* | 0.73* | 11.23* |
Harvestar | 48.0 | 5.89* | 2.54* | 0.80* | 10.45* |
Prodigy | 53.0* | 5.38* | 2.69* | 0.83* | 9.99* |
Persist II | 52.5* | 5.59* | 2.64* | 0.81* | 9.98* |
Prairie | 53.5* | 5.50* | 2.46* | 0.81* | 9.82* |
Tucker | 51.0* | 5.19 | 2.46* | 0.70 | 9.27 |
Olathe | 46.3 | 5.14 | 2.29* | 0.62 | 9.08 |
Persist | 53.5* | 4.73 | 2.39* | 0.77* | 8.83 |
Alpine II | 45.0 | 5.16 | 2.07 | 0.49 | 8.80 |
Profit | 46.8 | 4.99 | 2.11 | 0.62 | 8.68 |
Intensive | 45.0 | 4.83 | 1.94 | 0.48 | 8.22 |
HLR | 45.0 | 4.59 | 1.99 | 0.48 | 8.04 |
Devour | 45.0 | 4.31 | 1.95 | 0.59 | 7.94 |
Swante | 46.3 | 4.03 | 1.89 | 0.52 | 7.40 |
Captur | 45.0 | 4.70 | 1.47 | 0.27 | 7.27 |
LSD | 3.0 | 1.23 | 0.41 | 0.10 | 1.73 |
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
|2021-2023
Maturity | Yield | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Variety | 05/16/2022 | 2022 | 2023 | 2-Yr Total |
Profit | 55.0 | 4.14* | 2.49* | 6.62* |
Prodigy | 57.5* | 3.88* | 2.52* | 6.40* |
Persist II | 58.0* | 3.75* | 2.52* | 6.27* |
Alpine II | 52.5 | 3.94* | 2.31* | 6.25* |
Persist | 58.0* | 3.71* | 2.51* | 6.22* |
Prairie | 58.0* | 3.77* | 2.38* | 6.15* |
Potomac | 58.0* | 3.70* | 2.17* | 5.87* |
Captur | 52.0 | 3.65* | 2.14* | 5.79* |
Intensiv | 47.5 | 3.57* | 2.21* | 5.78* |
Bighorn | 55.5* | 3.45 | 2.17* | 5.62 |
Barlegro | 48.5 | 2.93 | 2.08 | 5.02 |
LSD,0.05 | 2.8 | 0.64 | 0.40 | 0.91 |
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
|2020-2023
Maturity | Yield | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Variety | 05/10/2022 | 2022 | 2023 | 2-Yr Total |
Bighorn | 31.0 | 4.98* | 4.01* | 8.99* |
Persist | 54.5* | 4.89* | 3.86* | 8.75* |
Persist II | 54.0* | 4.76* | 3.86* | 8.62* |
SS0708OGDT | 55.0* | 4.76* | 3.79* | 8.55* |
Prodigy | 54.0* | 4.60* | 3.84* | 8.44* |
Prairie | 53.5* | 4.17* | 3.52* | 7.69 |
Potomac | 47.8* | 4.28* | 3.30 | 7.58 |
Captur | 31.0 | 3.93 | 3.41* | 7.34 |
Barlegro | 31.0 | 4.00 | 3.30 | 7.30 |
Alpine II | 39.3 | 4.15* | 3.11 | 7.27 |
Intensiv | 31.0 | 4.14* | 2.98 | 7.12 |
Profit | 39.8 | 3.73 | 3.31 | 7.04 |
LSD,0.05 | 8.8 | 0.91 | 0.62 | 1.18 |
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
|2019-2022
Maturity | Yield | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Variety | 5/7/2020 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 3-Yr Total |
Quickdraw | 53.5 | 3.74 | 5.21 | 2.75 | 11.71* |
Persist II | 49.5 | 3.92 | 4.73 | 2.80 | 11.46* |
Persist | 52.0 | 3.45 | 4.61 | 2.77 | 10.83* |
Blizzard | 49.8 | 3.81 | 4.26 | 2.75 | 10.81* |
Echelon | 40.5 | 3.59 | 4.20 | 2.73 | 10.52* |
Albert | 46.3 | 3.45 | 4.26 | 2.67 | 10.39* |
Prairie | 53.0 | 3.36 | 4.24 | 2.58 | 10.17* |
Profit | 42.0 | 3.04 | 4.43 | 2.61 | 10.09* |
Tekapo | 47.8 | 3.28 | 4.35 | 2.26 | 9.88* |
Prodigy | 53.0 | 3.27 | 3.95 | 2.39 | 9.61 |
LSD | 0.8 | 0.84 | 1.10 | 0.36 | 2.03 |
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
|2019-2022
Variety | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 3-Yr Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Persist II | 3.04* | 4.88* | 3.65* | 11.57* |
Persist | 3.19* | 4.83* | 3.34 | 11.35* |
Pennlate | 3.12* | 5.02* | 3.17 | 11.32* |
Potomac | 2.89* | 4.86* | 3.08 | 10.82* |
Albert | 2.89* | 4.81* | 2.70 | 10.40 |
Bighorn | 2.65 | 4.72* | 2.97 | 10.33 |
Devour | 2.76 | 4.56 | 2.99 | 10.30 |
Alpine II | 2.57 | 4.53 | 2.79 | 9.89 |
Barlegro | 2.81 | 4.38 | 2.41 | 9.59 |
LSD(.05) | 0.39 | 0.43 | 0.30 | 0.85 |
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
|2021-2024
Variety | 10/5/21 | 10/24/22 | 10/17/23 | 09/30/24 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Persist II | 100 | 100 | 96* | 97* |
Devour | 100 | 100 | 94* | 95* | Profit | 100 | 100 | 88* | 94* |
Persist | 100 | 100 | 94* | 94* |
Potomac | 100 | 100 | 94* | 93* |
Prairie | 100 | 100 | 91* | 92* |
Prodigy | 100 | 100 | 91* | 91 |
Intensiv | 100 | 100 | 68 | 84 |
Barlegro | 100 | 100 | 72 | 82 |
LSD,0.05 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 5 |
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
|2020-2024
Variety | 10/2/20 | 10/7/21 | 10/24/22 | 10/17/23 | 09/30/24 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Persist II | 100 | 100 | 100* | 98* | 98* |
Devour | 100 | 100 | 100* | 98* | 97* |
Persist | 100 | 100 | 99* | 98* | 97* |
Prairie | 100 | 100 | 100* | 96* | 96* |
Profit | 100 | 100 | 99* | 91* | 95* | HLR | 100 | 100 | 99* | 92* | 90* |
Intensiv | 100 | 100 | 99* | 82 | 87 |
Swante | 100 | 100 | 90 | 69 | 66 |
LSD,0.05 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 8 |
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
|2019-2021
Variety | Cut Date | %NDF | %NDFD |
---|---|---|---|
Persist | May 18 | 58.3 | 77.4 |
Potomac | May 18 | 59.1 | 75.8 |
Persist II | May 20 | 59.1 | 75.8 |
Pennlate | May 20 | 61.0 | 77.5 |
Alpine II | May 22 | 63.2 | 76.9 |
Bighorn | May 22 | 64.9 | 77.2 |
Devour | May 23 | 66.0 | 77.5 |
Barlegro | May 28 | 65.6 | 73.1 |
Planted May 22, 2019. |
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State University
Forage Quality at First Cut in 2022
Rock Springs, PA
|2021-2022
Variety | Cut Date | CP | ADF | aNDF | NDFD 30 | TTNDFD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Excellate SA | May 24 | 13.91 | 37.21 | 59.89 | 52.37 | 50.67 |
Persist II | May 17 | 15.33 | 35.45 | 58.29 | 53.86 | 53.28 |
Persist | May 17 | 14.69 | 35.14 | 57.87 | 54.70 | 53.88 |
Pennlate | May 17 | 15.59 | 35.08 | 56.89 | 54.91 | 53.65 |
Bighorn | May 18 | 16.35 | 33.17 | 54.12 | 56.30 | 56.07 |
Capture | May 24 | 13.68 | 37.12 | 59.47 | 53.76 | 50.91 |
Potomac | May 17 | 15.11 | 35.88 | 58.12 | 55.58 | 54.60 |
HLR | May 24 | 13.48 | 37.46 | 60.08 | 51.93 | 49.92 |
Alpine II | May 24 | 13.42 | 37.07 | 59.86 | 53.14 | 51.42 |
Planted April 23, 2021. |