Driving a tractor can be lonely work, especially when you’re cutting and baling hay. But for Russell County farmer Larry Alexander, hay season provides an opportunity, not to daydream, but rather to figure out new ways to improve the efficiency of his one-man operation.One of Alexander’s most productive experiments began in 1985 when he bought sprigs of what is now called Russell Bermudagrass from a neighbor and planted them on his farm near the Seale community. Alexander got two cuttings of hay off that field the first year, and soon realized the nameless Bermuda variety had the potential to become a major forage crop for Alabama cattlemen.”At that time, very little was known about the grass. It was a well-kept secret among a few farms in Russell County. In fact, in 1985 most people in Russell County had it misidentified and were referring to it as Callie Bermudagrass,” Alexander recalled. “We felt it had more to offer and urged the Extension Service to look at it.”After a little research, scientists decided what Alexander had discovered was actually a new variety of Bermudagrass–most likely the result of a natural cross between Callie and common Bermuda. By 1994, both Alabama and Louisiana had certified the grass as a unique variety, and Russell Bermudagrass was born.Alexander, who now sells Russell sprigs to other producers, said the grass has visual characteristics of both of its Bermudagrass ancestors. As a result, it generally yields 2,000 pounds more hay per acre than Coastal Bermudagrass–the Southern standard for Bermudagrass forages.”This grass grows very thick and very plush–like common Bermuda,” Alexander said. “You don’t have to wait until it gets (waist) high to cut it, you can cut it at 12-15 inches and still produce a good yield.”In addition, Alexander said Russell Bermuda exhibits aggressive growth, like Callie, which allows producers to cut hay more often. He also said Russell tends to break dormancy about two weeks earlier than other Bermudagrass varieties, resulting in an earlier first cutting.”When I harvest sprigs, there’s a very rapid recovery,” Alexander said. “Sometimes I can harvest hay within 30-40 days,” he said. “I can dig (sprigs from) the same land two or three times in a season, and still have to harvest hay.”Alexander documented the productivity of Russell on a 21-acre field he planted on March 8, 1999. Shortly after planting, he applied 60 pounds of nitrogen per acre and sprayed the field to control crabgrass. A second nitrogen application was made in early May and another herbicide was sprayed to control bahiagrass. By July 4, Alexander was able to cut 88 rolls of hay. During the summer, he applied an additional 140 pounds of nitrogen (two applications) and, by Sept. 30, had harvested hay for the third time. In all, he cut more than 130 tons of hay off the field in just under three months, for an average yield of 12,408 pounds per acre.A four-year study conducted at the Hill Farm Research Station in Homer, La., showed similar results with Russell producing an average yield of 17,691 pounds per acre, compared to 15,161 pounds for Coastal.Dr. Don Ball, a professor of agronomy at Auburn University, worked with Alexander, former Alabama Cooperative Extension System Specialist Donald Bice and Dr. Robert Burdett of the Alabama Crop Improvement Association to certify Russell as a variety. Ball said the forage has performed well for farmers in Alabama and other Southern states.”Russell is helping quite a few farmers in Alabama,” Ball said. “Where it really has a place is in central and north Alabama and areas that have a similar climate. It is a farmer-friendly variety that’s very hardy. Most farmers I’ve talked to are pleased with it. Russell tends to spread better than most varieties; it cures quicker than many varieties; and it has a good yield.”Today, Alexander, 60, maintains the foundation field for Russell Bermuda at his 200-acre farm. Producers who want to sell certified Russell must contact the Alabama Crop Improvement Association and buy their sprigs from that field. Farmers who want to plant the grass for forage, however, can save money by purchasing non-certified Russell sprigs from Alexander or from dozens of other producers throughout the South.Last year, Alexander “spawned” 900 acres of Russell Bermuda in Alabama and neighboring states. But his contribution to spreading the word about Alabama’s only certified Bermudagrass variety is not limited to selling sprigs. Over the years, Alexander has donated material for more than 70 plantings in 13 states including a five-acre plot at the Sunbelt Agriculture Exposition in Moultrie, Ga. As for his own operation, Alexander said his Eagle’s Landing Farm is the realization of a lifelong dream.A native of northwest Georgia, Alexander got his first taste of agribusiness at an early age when he started raising purebred hogs as part of an FFA project. After high school, however, he took a detour away from farm life and joined the U.S. Army. Later, when fighting broke out in Vietnam, Alexander quit his job as an Army air traffic controller and volunteered for helicopter flight training. During 1968 and 1969, he logged more than 1,280 hours of combat flight time and received 29 air medals. Back home, he continued to serve his country, eventually retiring as a major after 20 years in the Army.With a modest pension and an abundance of determination, Alexander and wife Carolyn moved from Fort Benning, Ga., to Seale and began farming. “When I first started in 1980, my equipment was little more than scrap iron, and my biggest tractor was a 3000 Ford,” Alexander recalled. “What I’ve done over the years was, as soon as I could make anything off the hay, I put it back into equipment.”Twenty-two years later, the soldier who always dreamed of farming has two walls for his medals–one for those he earned fighting in a foreign land and one for those he earned tilling the land. His civilian honors include being named the Russell County Soil Conservationist of the Year in 1995 and an Alabama Farm of Distinction District Winner in 1997. He also received a Foundation Award from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System for his work on Russell Bermudagrass. In addition, Alexander currently serves as a director of the Russell County Farmers Federation and previously served eight years on the Alabama Farmers Federation’s State Beef Committee. He also was the driving force behind the Federation’s effort to raise more than $100,000 for the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.Ironically, Alexander attributes much of his success at Eagle’s Landing to the long hours he spends alone on the tractor–pondering new ways to make his farm more efficient.Specifically, Alexander purchased a conditioner that allows him to bale hay within 24-28 hours of cutting, which reduces the chance that his hay will be rained on. He also uses a rake that allows him to cover 20 acres in about an hour. In addition, he modified his sprig planter with a drag bar to smooth the ground after planting. And, he equipped it with highway tires to decrease the driving time between his farm and the customer’s. Alexander even extended the hydraulic shaft on his conditioner, so he could cut the Russell Bermuda closer to the ground.”I believe bigger is not always better,” Alexander explained. “I buy new equipment with the goal of improving efficiency. I’ve got to have efficiency of time to make this one-man operation work.”Perhaps that’s why he’s such of fan of Russell Bermudagrass. After all, when it comes to making the most hay per acre–or per hour–Alexander said Russell is hard to beat.”If somebody is going to plant Bermuda they do themselves an injustice by not considering Russell,” Alexander said. “With Russell, the fertilizer requirements are the same; the mowing and raking time is equal; and there’s a bonus of about a ton more hay per acre. When there’s a bonus of $60-$90 per acre to be had, it should be considered.”