Creeping red fescue (festuca rubra L. subsp. rubra s.l.) is a hardy, cool season turf grass that grows vigorously. It is found worldwide and can tolerate many habitats and climates. It is persistant, has good drought and heat tolerance, stands up well under low fertility conditions and has good winter hardiness. In southern climates it is well suited as a shade grass. There are many subspecies and many cultivars have been bred.

The Peace River Region of Alberta and British Columbia provides, long summer days, cool weather, and fertile soil. All these factors combined make the area idea for producing high quality creeping red fescue seed. The most common creeping red fescue variety grown in this area is Boreal.

Creeping red fescue is the ideal cash crop for Peace River Country farmers. Harvest generally takes place in late July, or early August, well before other crops have matured. This crop works well in rotation with oilseeds, and cereal crops as the sod provides fiber to the soil and gives the producer an opportunity to easily spray out weeds such as wild oats and dandelions as well as volunteer cereals and oilseeds. Cattle producers frequently graze their previously harvested fescue crops in late fall as an alternative to mowing. Boreal creeping red fescue was selected at the Canada Department of Agriculture Research Station at Beaverlodge, Alberta by C. R. Elliot. The source of the seed was from commercial seed fields in the Peace River region. Open-pollinated seed of 300 lines were used to establish progeny test. Ratings were taken on seedling vigor, winter injury, uniformity, disease resistance (primarily leaf rusts), and yield. The polycross nursery included 36 top-yielding clones with similar maturity.

For more information on fescues visit Wikipedia:Fescue or Creeping Red Fescue Seed Production in the Peace River Region