How can I start using MaxQ now?
IMPORTANT:

To achieve a successful MaxQ stand, farmers should clear their pastures of all existing fescue in the spring. The following steps  will prevent the toxic fescue from blooming and provide a "clean slate" for fall MaxQ establishment:

• Closely graze, clip or harvest existing pasture for hay.
• Spray herbicides to kill all toxic fescue in spring.
• Test soil to determine lime and fertilizer needs.
• After toxic fescue has been sprayed and killed, plant a summer annual forage crop such as Millet or Sudangrass.

Optimal MaxQ Seeding Dates:

• Midwest/Northeast - August/September or March/April
• South - September/October/November

- Soil temperature should be warmer than 55 degrees F at 4" depth

Seeding Rates:

• 20 lbs./acre in tilled seed bed
• 25 lbs./acre in no-till seed bed

Remember life before MaxQ?

Farmers held a love/hate relationship with their pasture grasses before the days of MaxQ. They struggled with the realities of grazing  livestock:

• Traditional pasture grasses are persistent, yet can be toxic to livestock.
• Grasses would cause lower weaning rates, poor cattle performance, and low birth rates. MaxQ is the result of many years of research conducted by the University of Georgia, and AgResearch, a New Zealand based  company, to find a pasture grass that not only prevented the traditional problems in livestock, but also promoted healthier, more productive cattle.

So what are the farmers saying about MaxQ?

MaxQ is a proven success both in the research lab and in the field. Test plantings have occurred all over the southeast with farmers standing in line to give their opinion of this exciting time in the livestock industry.

"MaxQ is the best of all pasture products out there. It combines the best fescue grass with the new toxin-free endophyte to create the most effective product,  yet."

Mr. ``Curly" Cook, president of the Georgia Cattleman's Association

"MaxQ produces a very high return on investment with minimal preparation work. We sprayed the resident fescue and planted millet over what was left to smother it out. We were able to graze the millet over the summer, so we lost no time. I feel certain we will more than regain the cost of switching over to MaxQ. I jumped at the chance to be a part of the test plantings."

-Mr. Rozier Wingate, participating farmer in MaxQ test planting

MAXQ FESCUE TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
Courtesy of www.penningtonseed.com