TO:

1575 Linden Drive

Madison, WI 53706-1597

Phone: 608-262-1390/1391

Fax: 608-262-5217

TO: Participants in University of Wisconsin / Alfalfa and Red Clover Evaluation Programs

FROM: Dr. Dan Undersander

Extension Forage Agronomist

RE: Alfalfa (Conventional and RoundUp Ready) and Red Clover Variety Trials

Alfalfa Variety Trials-Conventional and RoundUp Ready

Alfalfa trials will be established at two sites this season with RoundUp Ready Alfalfa entries planted separately from Conventional Alfalfa entries. Most sites will be on a four cutting per year schedule. A variety may be entered in any or all of the sites. To enter: fill out the form entitled WISCONSIN ALFALFA and RED CLOVER PERFORMANCE TRIALS ( Adobe format WORD format)All yield data including that from the seeding year will be sent to you. Data is published in Extension publications for both seeding and production years. A variety will appear in the Wisconsin Perennial Forage Update and newspaper supplements if the following conditions are met:

a. At least one production year from at least three sites has been harvested.

b. We have been told the variety is being marketed by the developer.

c. It has been entered in UW variety trials as commercial seed as per recommendation of the Central Alfalfa Improvement Conference.

d. For varieties to remain in the Forage Variety Update for Wisconsin once the initial trials have ended, they must be re-entered in at least two sites. For a listing of those varieties that will be dropped from the Update unless re-entered, please go to this web page

e. Seed of marketed varieties must be from a 50 lb. commercially tagged bag obtained either from dealers according to the protocol developed by the Central Alfalfa Improvement Conference or via UPS shipment. For an explanation of this protocol, please go to this web page.

Red Clover

A Red clover trial will be established if interest warrants. Fees for red clover are the same as for alfalfa and may be combined into one check with alfalfa entries. To enter: fill out the form entitled WISCONSIN ALFALFA and RED CLOVER PERFORMANCE TRIALS ( Adobe format WORD format)

Eligibility of Entrants: Privately developed cultivars and experimental strains will be accepted for fee-testing by the Agronomy Department and UW Extension Service. This excludes blends. Cultivars should be adapted to the environment occurring in Wisconsin. Non-dormant or non-hardy cultivars will not be included in the trial.

Experimental cultivars of interest to Wisconsin and developed by public agencies will be entered by the Agronomy Department.

Locations of Tests: The tests will be conducted on locations in the state specified in the application forms.

Seed: Seed will be provided as follows:

Alfalfa:

Marketed Varieties: Only seed from a 50 lb. commercial bag either shipped or obtained from dealers according to the protocol developed by the Central Alfalfa Improvement Conference will be accepted for inclusion in the trials. (To pick up a bag from a dealer, a voucher, the fee for each 50 lb. bag, and an address of a dealer stocking the variety must be provided to Kevin Silveira, 1575 Linden Dr, University of Wisconsin, Agronomy Department, Madison WI 53706-1597 by February 13).

We will also accept UPS shipments provided that it is a 50 pound commercial bag with tag information indicating Variety name, Lot number, Purity, Germination Test, Date of Test, and seed treatments.

Marketed Varieties that were entered last year: There is an alternative for those who will be entering the same commercial varieties this season as they last season. A sufficient amount of seed was properly stored for re-distribution this coming year. Checks are still made out to "University of Wisconsin / Forage Program" and sent to the Agronomy Department. If you plan on re-entering, we must be notified by January 31in order to run a germination test on the re-entered seed. For a listing of these varieties click here.

Experimental Varieties: Only raw, untreated seed will be accepted for inclusion in the trials. Seed should not be pre-inoculated. All seed will be inoculated with Rhizobia and (for alfalfa only) treated with Apron prior to planting.

Red Clover:

Marketed and Experimental: Only raw, untreated seed will be accepted for inclusion in the trials. Seed should not be pre-inoculated. All seed will be inoculated with Rhizobia prior to planting.

Description of Tests:

RoundUp Ready Alfalfa entries will be planted separately from Conventional Alfalfa entries in order to conduct the appropriate weed management. Entries will be planted in replicated drilled plots, 3 x 20 feet or 4 x 15 feet. The center (depending on harvesting machine) will be harvested for yield and dry matter. Alfalfa will be harvested for three years (red clover for two years) unless stands are depleted sooner. Data on other traits, such as stand establishment and persistence, maturity, reaction to disease and insects, and rate of recovery, will be taken when appropriate.

The Agronomy Department and University of Wisconsin-Extension assume no financial liability for failure to obtain stands due to unfavorable environmental conditions.

Entries: Application for testing will be made by company designation . The company is obligated to notify Kevin Silveira if the designation is changed. The information requested on the application form is required.

Right to Reject: We reserve the right to restrict varieties. The right to restrict or reject any application is reserved if:

1. The information requested in the application is incomplete.

2. There is misrepresentation.

3. The entry fee is not paid.

4. The strain has been entered by another company.

5. The seed or application arrives late.

6. Sufficient seed is not available for trial.

7. Facilities or manpower are not available.

Fees: Commercial distribution fee is $260 per bag for new seed and $160 for last year’s bag. A fee of $600 per entry, per location, is requested for each yield test entry. If sufficient entries are not received to justify trial, the fee and seed will be returned.

Deadline for Entry: The applications, entry fee, experimental alfalfa seed and red clover seed should be in possession of the Agronomy Department by March 1.

Please make check payable to:

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FORAGE EVALUATION PROGRAM

Check must be written in US dollars and drawn on a US bank

Completed applications and check is due by March 1 at:

Payment cannot be made online as of yet…it MUST be mailed to Kevin Silveira at the address below

University of Wisconsin / Forage Program

Dept. of Agronomy

University of Wisconsin

1575 Linden Drive

Madison, WI 53706

Amount of Seed: The company will submit a minimum of 150 grams of properly labeled seed for Red Clover (commercial or experimental) and 150 grams of Alfalfa seed (experimental) per location for yield trials. (Alfalfa seed amounts are for experimental entries only)

Use of Seed: The seed will be used for testing only, and will not be used for increase, selection, or distribution by the testing station.

Publication of Results: The data will be statistically analyzed and summarized by the Department each year. Each entrant will be furnished a report giving specific performances as soon as data from all locations are available. A final report will also be published and made available. The results will be published in accordance with policies established by the Research Division, CALS, and the University of Wisconsin.