Forage & Cover Crop Variety Testing
The mission of the MSU Variety Test program is to provide unbiased comparisons of varieties for use by producers and industry.
2025 MSU Forage Variety Test – Call for Entries
- 2025 MSU Alfalfa Variety Trials Application – Offered at Chatham
- 2025 MSU Red Clover Variety Trial Application – Offered at East Lansing
- 2025 MSU Perennial Grass Variety Trial Application – Offered at Chatham
- 2025 MSU Annual Forage Variety Trial Application – Three planting dates (May-spring annuals, June-warm-season annuals, and August (winter annuals) are offered at East Lansing and Chatham
- Contact Kim Cassida or Joe Paling for more information.
MSU Forage Variety Test Reports by harvest year
- 2024 – Forage (Alfalfa, perennial/annual grass, clovers)
- 2023 – Forage (Alfalfa, perennial/annual grass, clovers)
- 2022 – Forage (Alfalfa, perennial/annual grass, clovers)
- 2021 – Forage (Alfalfa, perennial/annual grass, clovers)
- 2020 – Forage (Alfalfa, perennial/annual grass, clovers)
- 2019 – Forage (Alfalfa, perennial/annual grass, clovers)
- 2019 – Cover Crops
- 2018 – Forage (alfalfa, grass, red clover)
- 2017 – Forage (alfalfa, grass, red clover)
- 2016 – Forage (alfalfa, grass, red clover)
- 2015 – Forage (alfalfa, grass, red clover)
- 2014 – Forage (alfalfa, grass, red clover)
- 2013 – Forage (alfalfa, grass, red clover)
- 2012 – Forage (alfalfa, grass, red clover)
- 2011 – Forage (alfalfa, grass, red clover)
- 2010 – Alfalfa – Grass
- 2009 – Alfalfa – Grass – Red Clover – Wildlife Food Plot
- 2008 – Alfalfa – Grass – Wildlife Food Plot
- 2007 – Alfalfa – Grass – Wildlife Food Plot
- 2006 – Alfalfa – Wildlife Food Plot
- 2005 – Alfalfa – Grass – Red Clover – Wildlife Food Plot
- 2004 – Combined (Alfalfa, grass, clovers, birdsfoot trefoil)
- 2002 – Combined (Alfalfa, grass, clovers, birdsfoot trefoil)
- 2001 – Combined (Alfalfa, grass, clovers, birdsfoot trefoil)
- 1999 – Alfalfa
Other Variety Test Resources
- Michigan Row Crop Variety Test Page
- Michigan Corn Hybrid Test (grain and silage) discontinued in 2023
- Minnesota Forage Variety Test
- New York Forage Variety Test
- Pennsylvania Forage Variety Test
- Wisconsin Forage Variety Test