A particular focus is placed on forage/legume mixtures because, as compared to grasses alone, legume/grass mixtures offer many advantages in forage/animal systems including biological nitrogen fixation, high forage quality, increased yields, longer seasonal distribution of growth, improved soil tilth, and offsetting of certain livestock disorders.  Although these benefits have long been recognized, it can be argued that legumes have not been used in forage/animal systems to the extent they should have been.  This paper will provide a discussion of benefits resulting from the use of forage legumes, an assessment of reasons why many producers have not used them, and suggest reasons as to why it is becoming even more important and justifiable to use them in the USA.  Factors that will continue to influence greater use of legumes include an increased emphasis on sustainable agriculture, introduction of improved species and cultivars, higher cost of nitrogen fertilizer, increased feasibility of using alfalfa as a grazing crop, greater environmental awareness, more emphasis on grazing management, technological advances in fencing and no-till planters, and economic considerations regarding forage/livestock production.