The breeding and genetics of forage and turf grasses has not received the amount of research support that many cash crops have in the United States. Vast acreages of forage and turf grasses are grown each year which make significant contributions to the livestock industry, wildlife conservation, soil and water conservation, recreation, and have tremendous aesthetic value, yet the amount of dollars spent and the number of scientists involved is far less than what is needed. With this impetus, the Grass Breeder's Work Planning Conference appointed a committee to organize a symposium to document the contributions made by the forage and turf grass breeders. The symposium was held at the annual meetings of the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) at Atlanta, GA in 1987. This publication is the result of that symposium.