The forage quality results of the 2025 Kansas Performance Tests for cool-season annual forage varieties are available online at https://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/outreach-and-services/crop-performance-tests/forages/hay-and-silage/. The results are summarized by location (Garden City, Hays, and Belleville). Several forage quality metrics were measured across a range of forage varieties of rye, triticale, and wheat. Forage yield results were made available earlier this year and can be found at the same link.
Annual forage performance tests are conducted each year by the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station (Figure 1). The objectives of these variety trials are to evaluate the performance of released and experimental varieties, determine where these varieties are best adapted, and increase the visibility of cool-season forages in Kansas. Breeders, marketers, and producers use data collected from the trials to make informed variety selections.
This work was funded in part by the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station and seed suppliers. Sincere appreciation is expressed to all participating researchers and seed suppliers who have a vested interest in expanding and promoting annual forage production in the U.S.
Figure 1. Harvesting a cool-season forage variety trial at the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Garden City, KS. Photo from John Holman, K-State Research and Extension.
John Holman, Cropping Systems Agronomist, Southwest Research-Extension Center
jholman@ksu.edu
Augustine Obour, Soil Scientist, Agricultural Research Center – Hays
aobour@ksu.edu
Scott Dooley, Agronomist-in-Charge, North Central Kansas Experiment Field
sjdooley@ksu.edu
Kelsey Stremel, Communications and Marketing, Western Kansas Research and Extension
stremelk@ksu.edu