The limited use of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) in feed production is determined by a large shortage of its seeds. Currently, the supply of certified seeds on the commercial market is about ten times less than the scientifically based volume of the need for the seed material of this crop. The biological feature of the birdsfoot trefoil is the continuous shoot formation and growth during the entire growing season, the extended flowering period. This makes it difficult to determine the optimal timing and methods of harvesting seed stands. Harvesting is associated with large crop losses due to uneven ripening of beans and their strong cracking in hot weather with low relative humidity. The abundance of a large number of green shoots increases the humidity of the grass stand. This is very difficult to thresh and require desiccation. The choice of optimal time and method of threshing is the most difficult stage technology seed production of birdsfoot trefoil. Studies have shown that when 69–93% of the beans were browned, the biological yield reached its maximum values of 308–320 kg/ha. This period in typical weather conditions occurred 35–50 days after the beginning of flowering. During this period, the filling of seeds stopped. Crop performance has reached the standard values. The optimal period of direct threshing with pre-desiccation of the herbage, which provided the highest actual seed collection of 191–206 kg/ha, is the period of browning about 70% of the beans.

In recent decades, the tendency of climate aridization has been increasing in the main agricultural regions. This has a negative impact on the productivity of agricultural crops. In this regard, an important task is to identify the most tolerant to changing conditions species and varieties of forage grasses with the most adaptive potential, the cultivation of which will make it possible to compensate for extreme manifestations of climatic changes. Awless rump (Bromus inermis Leyss) is one of the most widespread and long-term forage perennial grasses that grow in almost all areas where grasses are possible. This crop can be used in fodder production for hay and pasture use, as well as hay and bulky canned fodder. However, the forage productivity of awnless rump has increased insignificantly over the past 50 years, which is explained by insufficient selection. Traditionally, the breeding and evaluation of new varieties of rump was previously carried out in its single-species crops. To increase the efficiency of the economic use of herbs, it is necessary to reorient breeding programs to develop new highly productive varieties with increased resistance to a complex of factors of biotic, abiotic and operational stress. Phytocenotic breeding is an important aspect of the biogeocenotic approach to the breeding of awnless rump. Creation of a new starting material of rump, with increased phytocenotic plasticity, will significantly increase the productivity of grass mixtures based on this culture. As a result of selection work, samples with high complementarity were obtained in grass mixtures with alfalfa varia (Martyn) Arcang.)

In the context of the progressive trend of climate aridization of the main agricultural regions in the forest-steppe and steppe zones, the problem of increasing and stabilizing the high productivity of forage crops is becoming more acute. Perennial grasses are the most affordable and stable source of cheap plant feed, and a means of preserving soil fertility during intensive farming, which has an anthropogenic negative impact on agricultural ecosystems. Perennial grasses play a special role as a biological means of counteracting the degradation of biological, water and physical and agrochemical properties of soils, the processes of their dehumidification and erosion. In arid climatic conditions, the most effective species of perennial bluegrass grasses is the comb-wheatgrass or broad-spiked wheatgrass (Agropyron pectiniforme Roem. et Schult.). This crop is resistant to extremely stressful conditions for cultivation in arid conditions, high production potential for the production of various types of voluminous feed. The limiting factor for the effective economic use of the comb-wheatgrass is the insufficient number of zoned varieties. At the Voronezh Experimental Station for perennial grasses, active breeding work is underway to develop new varieties of comb-wheatgrass. The results of the assessment of the source material in the collection nursery are presented. The best specimens for the creation of complex hybrid populations for the formation of the polycross nursery have been identified.

Perennial grasses play the most important role in solving the problem of production of energy-saturated high-protein bulky feed and biologization of agriculture. Perennial grasses are the most affordable and stable source of cheap plant food and a means of preserving soil fertility with intensive farming, which has an anthropogenic negative impact on agroecosystems. Perennial grasses play a special role as a biological means of countering the degradation of biological, water-physical and agrochemical properties of soils, their dehumidification and erosion processes. In arid climates, the most effective species of perennial bluegrass is the comb-shaped Wheatgrass (Agropyron peintforme Roem et Schult.). Compared to two other species used in agricultural practice – Siberian (sand) granary (Agropyron fragile (Roth) P. Candargy) and desert (narrow-leaved) (Agropyron desertorum (Ksch. ex Link.) Schult), the comb-shaped wheat grass is characterized by a wider range of growth, high productivity and environmental plasticity. In the State register of breeding achievements approved for use in Russia as of 2020, only 10 varieties of comb-shaped wheat grass are registered, which limits the effective use of this crop and makes it necessary to intensify breeding work in order to create new varieties with improved economic and useful characteristics. At the Voronezh experimental station, active breeding work is being carried out on perennial grasses to develop new varieties of comb-shaped wheat grass. Currently set up and ready to transfer to a new variety of Pridonskoy, characterized by drought tolerance, high forage and seed productivity and longevity. Thus, when the washed-out slopes were grazed, the abundant participation of the granary in the grass mixture was noted in the third year. From the fifth year, the granary dominated the herbage, and in the 10th-12th year of use, the cenoses were represented only by the granary.

One of the conditions for increasing the efficiency of feed production is the expansion of crops of perennial grasses and the permanent creation of their varieties. Festulolium ( Festulolium F. Aschers. et Graebn.) is a new crop with a complex of economically useful traits, the varieties of which are created by the method of hybridization of species in the system of genera Lolium and Festuca. Due to the use of combinations of different initial combinations of parents to create new varieties of festulolium, varieties of this culture have a number of distinctive features. The Fest variety was obtained as a result of intergenerational hybridization of ryegrass and fescue (Lolium multiflorum Lam.  Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Tetraploid of the ryegrass morphotype. It was created by the method of experimental polyploidy with the selection of compatible fertile plants and subsequent multiple familial selection of elite plants in the population according to productive longevity, disease resistance, the level of yield of green mass and seeds, the intensity of regrowth and tolerance to repeated mowing. The variety is characterized by high seed productivity, the biological yield of its seeds can reach 1.7 t/ha. Under production conditions, the actual seed collections are usually 0.7–0.9 t/ha, and under favorable conditions and compliance with cultivation technology — up to 1.2 t/ha or more. The variety has high feed advantages, has an improved protein-carbohydrate complex. The content of carbohydrates in the tube exit phase is 22.2%, crude protein — 10.4–11.2%, crude fiber — 26%. The green mass, removed during the exit phase into the tube, is perfectly eaten by animals, since it contains a large amount of sugar in the dry matter. To increase the efficiency of the production use of the variety in different regions, it is necessary to develop zonal technologies for its cultivation for fodder purposes and seeds.