In 1943, Kentucky released a hardy pasture grass that farmers embraced; today, tall fescue covers an estimated 35 million acres, while its hidden fungus causes costly cattle health problems

In 1931, tall fescue grass was first found in Kentucky and later spread throughout the eastern United States. While it's advantageous for farmers, this grass harbors a harmful fungus contributing to fescue toxicosis, which severely impacts livestock health and leads to substantial financial losses in beef production. Ongoing research aims to develop grass varieties that mitigate these risks while adapting to the evolving agricultural landscape.