Alfalfa Production

Introduction and Evaluation

Introduction

Medicago sativa

Introduced into US 1736

Oldest cultivated forage crop

Rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals

Very high yield

Benefits

Beneficial insectsAttracts wildlifeNitrogen fixationAlfalfa replaces high N-requiring cropsAlfalfa provides N to a subsequent cropImproves Soil TilthProtect groundwater

Basics

Grown for seed,meal, cover, mostly for hayCalifornia, South Dakota, Wisconsin, & Minnesota are leading alfalfa states Alfalfa lives from 5 to 7 years

Consumers

Dairy = 60%

Meat Animals = 25%

Horses = 15%

Plant Biology

Alfalfa is a legumeGrow about 3 ft.high & compound leavesStems grow from buds on crown (base)Racemes. Alfalfa roots 25-30 feet or more under favorable conditions

Types of Alfalfa

Hardy northern part of the US and in Canada. Medium hardy are raised mainly in the central United States. Nonhardy thrive on irrigated land in the Western United States

Growing Alfalfa

Flourish in fertile, well-drained soil that is neutral or slightly alkaline Plant in early spring or late summerCut after the plants begin to produce flower buds, but before the seed pods form.

Variety Selection Factors

Yield Potential -5% improvement in yield

Stand Persistence- <5 plants/square ft.

Hardiness & Dormancy

Disease and Insect Resistance

Visual evaluation

Stage of maturity-maturity at harvest influences quality more than any other factor.

Leafiness-contain highly digestible energy and at least two-thirds of the protein found in hay.

Color-bright green is a good indicator of proper curing, good palatability.

Foreign material-weeds and straw have little or no feeding value

Odor and condition

Designations

Premium-Prebloom stage low fiber, high energy/protein TDN (54% and higher) Good-Early bloom stage, low to medium fiber, high protein and energy TDN (52-54 %)Fair-Mid-late bloom coarse texture TDN (49-52%)Poor- full to late bloom very coarse very little leaf TDN (<49%)

Laboratory analyses

Quality Designations:

Relative Feed Value Acid Detergent Fiber Crude Protein

RFV ADF CP

Supreme Over 180 Under 27 .22 or over

Premium 150-180 27-29 .20-.22

Good 125-150 29-32 .18-.20

Fair 100-125 32-35 .15-.18

Laboratory analyses

Dry matter (DM)

Crude protein (CP)

Acid detergent fiber (ADF)

Total digestible nutrients (TDN)

Relative feed value (RFV)

Alfalfa

Perennial

Deep rooted

Needs good soil & Good Drainage

Dormant, Semi Dormant, Non-Dormant

Alfalfa

Deep loam 8’ – 40’

Ph – 6.5 – 7.5

Level fields –

irrigation slope .2’ - .4’/100’

Seedbed

Laser levelBorders 100’ – 200’ wide (Border Machine)Pre-plant fertilizer = 6-20-20, 9-19-0, 11-46-0Pre-plant Herbicide = incorporated – eptan, balan. Established – Karmex, treflan

Seedbed Preparation

Heavy work Disc 2x’s with stubble disk Sub soil

Finish work Landplane 2x’s Put up borders

Plant

September and sprinkled up

Brillion seeder

25-30 lbs./ac

15 lbs./ac = 64 plants/sq. ft.

25 lbs./ac = 107 plants/sq. ft.

35 lbs./ac = 150 plants/sq. ft.

45 lbs./ac = 193 plants/sq. ft.

Plant

Time Fall or Spring

Method Broadcast Drill

Depth Lightly cover

IrrigationProblems = Too Soon

Too Much Too Little Too Late

Alfalfa will extract:46% of its water from the top 2’26% of its water from the top 2’-4’18% of its water from the top 4’-6’10% of its water from the top 6’-8’

IrrigationTotal for season 4’-5’

Timing 1st. Irrigation critical 1st. Choice is no irrigation before 1st.

Cutting

Number of irrigations Depends on the number of cutting and

weather conditions

Source of water Ditch water or well water

Irrigation

Loss – wind, temperature, radiation, Humidity

ET – Evapotranspiration Rate KMJ

Pests – Egyptian Alfalfa Weevil

1. Alfalfa caterpillar

2. Army worm

3. Aphids

4. Alfalfa Weevil (Hypera postica)

5. Egyptian Alfalfa Weevil( Hypera Brunneipennis)

Different Species but almost identical in most respects.

A. Thrive in cool spring weather

B. Adults lay eggs in the stem

C. When the eggs hatch, the larvae emerge and begin feeding on the leaves.

D. So. Calif. & Arizona - Feb to April

E. No. Calif. – March to May

F. Weevils generally affect 1-2 cuttings

G. Parasitic wasp (Bathyplectes curulionis)

H. Furadan – Permit & gets bees

I. Lorsban – non permit & doesn’t bother bees.

Diseases

A. Phytophthora – moisture related

B. Nematodes – Sandy Soils

C. Leafspot – spotted leaves

D. Anthracnose – Leaf

E. Rhizoctonia - @ crown; moisture related.

F. Fusarium – Wilt

Weed control in established stand

Main weeds Fiddle neck, chickweed, foxtail, groundsel, Malva, curly dock, ect..

Control Depends on the time of year and type of

weed.

Fertilization of established stand

Spring 250lbs./ac ammonium phosphate 11-52-0 Lime

Harvesting

24-35 Days ( depends on the farmer)

Re-growth of shoot and maturity.

Swather – windrows

Rake – 55% - 65% moisture

Bale 17% - 23%

Cured – 10% - 12%

HarvestingSwather cost

Curing time Depends on weather

Raking Types 41/2 to 5 mph Lube every 50 – 75 hours

Baling Big bale Small bale Moisture

Custom Harvest

Swath

Rake

Bale

Roadside

Yields

Tons per acre 6 to 8 tons per acre

Number of cuttings 6 to 8

Cash cost per acre