Clovers

Dutch White

Dutch White Clover is a slow-growing, nitrogen-fixing perennial clover used for lawns, ground cover, erosion control, cover crop, and in food plot and pasture mixtures. . It is often used to minimize soil compaction and improve soil health. Dutch White Clover usually matures between 4 to 8 inches in height. It is winter hardy, tolerates wet conditions, withstands moderate drought conditions, tolerates shade and may be used in high traffic areas, including permanent walkways and turf grass mixes. Dutch White may be frost seeded, or can be seeded in early spring and fall. Once established, it provides long-term cover and the roots fix nitrogen for companion crops.

Fixation Clover

Cover Crop
Fixation performs best when fall seeded. The rosette growth habit that hugs the ground assists Fixation in its ability to withstand cold temperatures. In laboratory studies Fixation survived an experiment in which clover plants were taken from 65 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and placed in a cold growth chamber overnight that was set at 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Fixation has survived winter temperatures as low as 5 degrees with no snow cover. In the early spring as temperatures begin to warm up, stems begin to elongate and quickly outgrow the weed population. In Oregon field trials, Fixation was able to outgrow and smother rogue daikon radish plants that had not winter-killed.

Forage
Fixation will aggressively produce forage in the spring – early summer months. Well established fields are capable of withstanding multiple cuttings/grazings. Fixation plants retain actively growing leaves from the tip of the stem to the rosette at the soil surface. This growth habit allows for better recovery than seen in Crimson, Arrowleaf, and other annual clovers. Fixation is capable of re-seeding if properly managed. Fields allowed to re-seed will need to have new seed applied after the third year as the populations will begin to thin. Fixation is capable of surviving water-logged soils and even short-term flooding. Fixation can be frost seeded by broadcasting on established pastures. The small seed size and hardiness of Fixation allow it to successfully be broadcast, and establish under proper management in existing forage. Recent studies in New Zealand show that Balansa clover is a better component in pasture mixes than white clover. This is because the life cycle of the Balansa clover is ending when the grass component of the pasture is becoming stressed, leaving the available moisture and nutrients for the grass. Fixation also excels in pastures because the nitrogen collected in the plant material is released annually back into the soil for the use of the grasses. Perennial clovers, such as white clover, will utilize the majority of the nitrogen that they create for their own preservation giving up little to the grasses. Fixation has a tap root structure that will delve deep into the soil, pulling up nutrients that can later be used for grasses. The deep root structure will pull moisture from below the root profile of the grasses and will not compete for limited moisture as will white clover. The root systems of the grasses make use of the rooting pathways created by Fixation and as a result can go deeper into the soil profile increasing the summer performance of the grasses. The high forage quality of Balansa clover also makes it an excellent choice for over-seeding/ frost-seeding into alfalfa hay fields. The clover will thrive were the alfalfa is likely to succumb, filling in wet areas and other bare spots and thereby improving yields and quality.

Fixation Varietal Background
Grassland Oregon has been investigating the potential of annual clovers for both a forage and nitrogen source. Escalating fertilizer prices as well as an increased interest in the utilization of cover crops in the Midwestern United States led us to believe that there would be a demand for a forage/nitrogen fixing legume that could fill that particular need. Fixation is the result of our efforts. Fixation matures approximately 14 days later than Dixie Crimson Clover and as much as 28 days later than other commercially available Balansa varieties. Despite being later in maturity, overall growth is greater than that of the earlier maturing Balansa clover varieties throughout the growing cycle. The later maturity allows for multiple cuttings/grazing and reduces the likelihood of unwanted re-seeding. Fully developed plants exhibit excellent re-growth, and recover more rapidly than other clovers. Forage yield is quite impressive, yielding as much as 5,250 lbs of extremely digestible dry matter in a single cutting. Plants are able to support growth up to 3 feet high with stems as long as 8 feet long. Crude protein levels range from 22% to 28.4% with relative feed values measured as high as 277.

Frosty Berseem

Frosty Berseem Clover features a high leaf-to-stem ratio, has excellent disease resistance and grows rapidly when temperatures exceed 60 degrees Fahrenheit. An excellent choice for wildlife food plots, either by itself or in a mixture with clover or cool-season grasses.. As an annual clover, Frosty Berseem will eventually die and the nitrogen that it has created will be released to the benefit of remaining components. Maturity is later then when other annual clovers and bloom period is similar to that of red clover. Frosty produces an abundance of flowers and is favored by pollinators. Frosty Berseem is tolerant of moderate periods of waterlogged soils and can be dormant or frost seeded.

Gallant Red Clover

A perennial clover adapted to all areas of the Northeast and Midwestern. Gallant is extremely persistent because of its high resistance to the major diseases that affect red clovers. Gallant was developed to have excellent winter hardiness, better quality forage, and is a very high yielding clover with outstanding disease resistance. Excellent persistence combined with strong spring green-up and fast recovery after cutting and heavy grazing. It may be seeded alone or used in mixes, an excellent clover for frost and dormant seeding. Outstanding choice for wet and lower fertility soil types that alfalfa can’t tolerate.

Jumbo Ladino Clover

Jumbo Ladino is a fast growing, more vigorous perennial-type white clover with larger than average leaf size. Jumbo can be used in new seeding or to over seed existing pastures. Jumbo is an excellent component in a grazing-type situation. Jumbo has superior disease resistance, high yield, and persistence.

Mammoth Red

Mammoth Clover is a biennial legume, an excellent fast-growing cover crop that may be planted almost any time of the year. Mammoth Red can grow up to 3 feet in height at maturity, breaks up clay soils and adds as much as 200 pounds of nitrogen per acre. Mammoth will grow on inferior soils and requires less moisture than medium red clover, is more vigorous and tolerant of acid soils than other clovers. A clover that is most productive on heavier soils with adequate moisture, usually planted to enrich the soil with nitrogen. An excellent choice for frost seeding into established plots to improve soil conditions.

Medium Red

Medium Red Clover is a short-lived perennial, 2-3 years with the most aggressive growth in the spring. However, newer varieties with better disease resistance along with proper management may persist for a third year. Medium Red Clover is an aggressive establisher and may be seeded alone or used in mixtures with grasses for frost or dormant seeding into an existing stand. Medium Red Clover quality does not decline as rapidly with maturity as alfalfa. Good winter hardiness with fair drought tolerance. It requires moisture throughout the growing season for optimum performance. Soil pH levels should be between 5.5 to 7.0 for best performance..

Merit Platinum Ladino White Clover

A rapidly-growing perennial generally lasting 3 - 5 years and spreads with prostrate stolon’s that are 12-15 inches long. Ladino Clover is only moderately hardy and has a shallow root system, an aggressive establisher. A high yielding legume that produces palatable forage. Performs best in heavy soils. Can be frost seeded into existing fields.

Victory – Red Clover

A proprietary multi-year red clover with consistent performance! Consistent yield potential - Early spring green up with semi-erect plant growth - Fast recovery after harvest - Strong disease and pest package with resistance to anthracnose, powdery mildew and common crown rots - Long stand life - Ideal for pure stand or in a forage mix for hay or pasture.