Legume

Alfalfa is the forage base for many farms today. It is a legume that can fix most of its own nitrogen. We carry two alfalfa varieties, a tap root or deep rooted plant that has good drought tolerance and it grows pretty well during the hotter part of the summer. The second variety is a branchroot alfalfa for wetter and heavier clay soils. Due to the pressures of the rotation schedule on many farms, alfalfa stands are only in production for three or four years before decreases in productivity are noticed. It is important to get all the yield possible in this short time and these high performing varieties are what we focus on.

Establishment

Alfalfa can be planted in the spring or late summer, but we recommend late summer whenever possible. Planting depth should be 0.25 to 0.50 inches with good soil contact. If spring sown, a nurse crop of grass or small grain is recommended to maximize the tonnage in the seeding year. We usually recommend seeding grass with alfalfa to give a higher tonnage and better quality feed for the life of the stand. Alfalfa exhibits autotoxicity, which means established plants (older than 6 months) give off compounds that prevent new alfalfa seedlings from establishing.

Management

Once established, alfalfa stand can last for many years. Many modern varieties can handle 28 day cutting schedules and in fact, some elite varieties need that type of management to perform their best. One very critical aspect of alfalfa management is knowing when to take the last cutting in the fall. By using Growing Degree Days (GDD) you can determine the best time to take the last fall cutting. An early fall cut can be taken as long as the plants can accumulate more than 500 GDD to replenish root reserves. A late fall cutting can be taken as long as no more than 200 GDD will accumulate before killing frost (25°F).

Hay Solutions are mixtures of cool season grasses and sometimes alfalfa too for the production of hay or haylage. Be sure to note while every combination can be used for haylage, mixtures with ryegrasses or festulolium need more attention as these grasses are combined to fit a certain purpose or to thrive under certain conditions. Often times these mixes include cool season grasses that can be planted as early as oats. These grasses can be sed in conjunction with other grasses and or legumes in both pasture  applications or in conventional harvesting applications. Typically, these grasses have a higher digestibility or energy value than legumes by themselves. Also, if planted with a legume, greater tonnage can be realized than a legume planted by itself.

Establishment

Start with a soil test to determine the fertilizer and lime requirements. Planting at a depth of 1/4” to 3/8” (or a depth that is not more than 5 times the diameter of the seed). A smooth, firm seed bed is required to have optimal seed-tosoil contact for maximum germination. Broadcast seeding requires extensive field preparation along with an additional 25% more seed. For best coverage, use a split application at right angles to each other or crisscross the field. Most grasses will tolerate a soil pH range between 5.5 to 7.5.

Management

Avoiding over-grazing or clipping lower than 3 inches helps stand vigor and regrowth; 6 to 8 inches are needed for overwintering. It also encourages more root development. Proper fertility is needed to insure stand establishment, expected forage tonnage and quality. Approximate nitrogen needs are 40 lbs for establishment and an additional 50 to 80 lbs for the total annual requirement. Cool season annuals and perennials work well together since the annuals come on faster and the perennials, once established, have longevity and tonnage. If grass is to be used in a crop rotation where conventional chemicals are used, be aware of the potential chemical residue as the grass could be killed or suppressed.

...Forage uses may vary...