Forage crops are critically important for the dairy and livestock industry in New York State. The Moore Lab is engaged in forage breeding and trials focused on improving the productivity, sustainability, and resilience of forage cropping systems. The alfalfa breeding program is the cornerstone of our forage breeding efforts, and we select alfalfa varieties for a range of traits including improved establishment and vigor, pest and disease resistance, biomass yield, and performance in mixtures and intercropping systems.
Cornell Forage Yield Trials
The Moore Lab conducts the Cornell Forage Yield Trials for multiple forage species including alfalfa, red clover, birdsfoot trefoil, and several forage grasses. We also conduct coordinated forage breeding and variety trials with a network of forage breeders throughout the US and Canada.
Funding
· USDA NIFA #2021-700005-35692 (Breeding Alfalfa for Intercropping with Intermediate Wheatgrass: Towards perennial grain-forage systems)
· USDA NIFA #2021-68012-35917 (Fostering Resilience and Ecosystem Services in Landscapes by Integrating Diverse Perennial Circular Systems)