On-farm impacts of endophyte technology in the United States

Abstract

The on-farm impacts of non-toxic tall fescue endophyte technology have only been partially realised in the United States. Based on current tall fescue acreage, the potential for non-toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue products is immense. However, 6 years after the introduction of the first non-toxic endophyte tall fescue technology to the U.S. market, less than 1% of the total tall fescue acres in the U.S. have been renovated using this technology. Success with leading producers that influence other producers, educational partnerships, and strong product advertising are factors favouring adoption of this technology. Factors slowing this technology adoption include key markets lacking adequate marketing and technical support, lack of producer awareness and inaccurate perceptions about the technology, and acreage moving out of pasture and into alternative enterprises including urban development. Rapidly changing social, political, and economic conditions have the potential to drive profit-minded producers to give more consideration to forage technology adoption. Keywords: farm level, technology application, technology adoption