Broadcast perennial forages. It deserves this name because it supplies millions of animals with high quality feed throughout the world. Therefore higher grass seeding rates resulted in higher grass percentages in the final mixtures. Alfalfa is native to Asia and is one of the most important and commonly planted hay crops in the world. AlfaBar is part of our Pinpoint™ family of products. It prefers deep, well-drained soils and is found throughout the entire United States. It is also apparent that orchardgrass had less effect on alfalfa stand reduction than the other two species. It has been replaced by VNS alfalfa. Manure is a great fertility source when you apply it prior to seeding or right after cutting. All seed lots had over 90% germination. Keep alfalfa stands for three to four years for the most profit. First cutting may be reduced in the case of a dry March. Broadcast seed perennial forages and drill small grains and Italian/annual ryegrass. Some grasses help to quickly cover soil during the seeding year. Appropriate selection of grass varieties is crucial to success in alfalfa/grass mixtures. Shallow soils reduce the root zone and water holding capacity. These grasses include: Seed enough grass to have a good mix but avoid overseeding competitive grasses. As a cash crop, alfalfa has provided a more consistent return on investment than any of our major grain crops. Some grasses produce stems with every growth cycle and create fluffy swaths that dry faster. Without question, alfalfa is one of the most reliable sources of forage for producers. Alfalfa can also be partnered with grasses for pasture grazing, although it should be a small percentage of the overall forage content to avoid bloating. Its taproot makes it heat and drought-tolerant. Feedback, questions or accessibility issues: https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/forage/category/trial-results/, Effect of Drought on Alfalfa and Managing for Next Growing Season, © 2020 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. From seeding irrigated acres as an intensively managed forage crop to improving the grazing production of a dryland pasture, there is a variety of alfalfa that will fit your needs. Sow 20 to 25 pounds of alfalfa seed per acre in early spring or late summer. Today, there is no such "common" strain. This has opened some new opportunities for dairymen and many have begun to incorporate some grass into their rations. AgVantage Product Blend - an economical blend of several different alfalfas ideally suited for the Kansas farmer. Grass/alfalfa mixtures have higher total fiber than alfalfa alone which may be needed in some high corn silage rations. One of major contributors to increased lameness in dairy cattle (which has increased in the Midwest in recent years to 20 to 25% of all dairy cattle) has been formulation of high starch, low fiber diets (Cook, 2003). Only keep stands three to four years. Alfalfa is less suited for grazing because the livestock traffic will kill the crowns. We have also increased understanding of the genetics of alfalfa to allow improved variety selection methods and enhanced performance for the farmer. Avoid seeding alfalfa in the same row as competitive grasses. Alfalfa has the highest feeding value of all common hay crops and it is excellent as a grazing crop in pastures due to it's high nutritional value for all types of livestock, including horses, cattle, dairy cattle, and sheep. The choice of grass species has little effect on the total season yield of mixed stand. Seedling emergence was based on plant counts taken 30 to 40 days after seeding As the graph at right the mean grass emergence varied greatly among sites and years. The root system requires good soil moisture in the early spring to regrow. Alfalfa seed of modern varieties can cost over $4.00 per pound, while older varieties can be purchased for $2.00 per pound or less. Faster drying – 30 to 40% grass with alfalfa dries faster than either pure alfalfa or pure grass. The new relative forage quality (RFQ) index: Grass-alfalfa mixes are less likely to cause bloat than pure alfalfa when grazed. Competitive if seeded heavily or harvested after boot stage, Competitive if seeded heavily or in the same row as alfalfa, First cutting during stem growth reduces persistence. In the more northern regions, alfalfa varieties generally have a fall dormancy rating of 2 or lower, while in Kansas generally the varieties planted are rated a 4 dormancy. AlfaBar is an exciting combination of our top three alfalfa varieties. The features of AlfaBar are: For this site to function optimally, we use cookies. Alfalfa and forages are an essential part of nutritional plans for livestock operations. 1UW Extension Agent, Department of Agronomy It is perfect for planting into existing stands for grazing and can also be harvested for excellent hay! Grasses catch snow and insulate better than alfalfa alone. Therefore, whenever alfalfa seed is harvested in Kansas, it is brought in to a conditioning plant without any variety designation. Alfalfa is the legume also known as the "Queen of forages." For, Very dense, persistant stand = better weed control, Allows for persistance and better production in poorly drained soils, Protects the plant from both high animal hoof traffic and insulates the crown in severe winter weather, These stems branch out and develop new crowns creating a more productive stand. NDF digestibility reflects the feed’s energy value. It provides extremely drought hardy and long-lasting production for pasture or haying in the challenging conditions of western states. They also speed drying times, which reduces possible weather-related losses. These soils possess the necessary characteristics for top production, that is, good water holding capacity and adequate infiltration rates. This is due to the fall dormancy of the northern cultivars. Alfalfa root systems die back to some extent over winter. It produces good yields, even on fields without ideal growing conditions. Since alfalfa-grass mixtures have few herbicide options, August may be the best time to seed if soil moisture is ideal. In the past, there was a distinct strain of Kansas Common Alfalfa. We have found, for example, with pure alfalfa, not matter how many pounds of seed are used per acre, the stand will thin to 30 to 35 plants per square foot by summer’s end. AgVantage provides excellent hay yields and will tolerate frequent cutting to maximize hay quality. For example, cutting shorter and (888) 498-7333. AgVantage Brand Alfalfa This greater dormancy generally results in lower total production. Scientific Name: … by Dr. Dan Undersander Below the surface, soil needs to be loose enough to allow seedling roots easy penetration. This may seem like a lot of alfalfa plants, but keep in mind that 60 percent or more of the seeds will not grow to maturity. Vernal is mostly used in A small grain or Italian/annual ryegrass companion crop with a spring seeding provides greater seeding-year yield than alfalfa seeded directly. It’s generally grown for hay where it can be harvested several times a season. Orchardgrass and tall fescue have good fall growth that allows a useful fall harvest or grazing. 2020 Some less winter kill or injury to the alfalfa stand, losses from flooding – some grasses will survive standing water and/or ice in low spots of field better than alfalfa. Seeding grass with alfalfa can boost yield and drying rate while keeping animals healthy. Some lots may be superior in performance while another lot may be average or below average. Residue catches snow and insulates alfalfa crowns. Grasses with stems present speed-up swath drying rate. The relative feed value (RFV) index is good for alfalfa quality but tends to undervalue grass feeding values. Increased seeding year yields – some grasses, such as Italian ryegrass, will establish faster than the alfalfa and produce more total forage yield in seeding year than alfalfa alone. For every pound of alfalfa seed you plant per acre, you will be planting about five seeds per square foot. Description: Forage First Alfalfa Hay & Pasture mix was created to meet the needs of producers who want to optimize animal performance and maximize per acre return. Grasses better protect alfalfa from winter injury. Alfalfa is less suited for grazing because the livestock traffic will kill the crowns. Regents of the University of Minnesota. Alfalfa may be produced on less than ideal soils, but forage yield will suffer. Under favorable moisture, leaves remain green and continue to grow after the seed crop is mature. Ability to apply manure to stands with less traffic damage and stand loss – grasses suffer less traffic damage than alfalfa. Alamo Alfalfa Blend - … 51. Except for the latter, these problems can be controlled with selecting the right variety. Heavy clay soils are slowly permeable and tend to waterlog. Grass takes-up soil potassium better than alfalfa. The agronomic reasons for adding grass to alfalfa are: Dairy nutritionists are becoming interested in including some grass because: Initial feeding trials we have run have indicated that that we could maintain high levels of milk production when replacing a portion of the corn silage and alfalfa with grass silage, even though dietary NDF increased slightly. Seeding at the rate of 20 pounds per acre will result in 100 seeds per square foot. But, with knowledge of digestible fiber, we have learned that the fiber of grass is more digestible than that of alfalfa. All rights reserved. Alfalfa was seeded at the rate of 645 seeds/m 2 with varying grass seeding rates of 15 to 75%. Preparation of the seedbed is one of the most important factors in the successful establishment of alfalfa. AlfaBar is an exciting combination of our top three alfalfa varieties. 1University of Wisconsin-Madison Its taproot makes it heat and drought-tolerant. However the fescues did not thin as rapidly as the alfalfa and the percentage of grass plants tended to increase as the season progresses. Agronomy, University of Wisconsin It is helpful when there is good moisture one to three inches below the surface. © Alfalfa is less suited for grazing because the livestock traffic will kill the crowns. If spring planting is contemplated, usually mid-March thru mid-April planting dates are best. There’s less weed competition during late summer than spring. Meadow bromegrass is winter hardy but provides less forage than smooth bromegrass under drought stress. It is perfect for planting into existing stands for grazing and can also be harvested for excellent hay! This paper will consider both topics. We would also recommend seeding about 2 lb/a Italian ryegrass (but no more!) In fact the biology is that many plants germinate and begin growing; then the stand thins to what can be maintained by the soil and environment. Short-term price savings can be realized by purchasing inexpensive seed, but long-term profitability may be compromised. AlfaBar is part of our Pinpoint™ family of products. Its ability to withstand challenging growing conditions and come back for more the following year is surpassed only by native rangelands. In fact, successful alfalfa plantings are often made when the surface of the soil is dry. Spring plantings of alfalfa are often successful, however, they entail a greater risk of being killed by cold weather before seedlings become firmly established. by Ken Albrecht1 and Derek Woodfield2 A fall dormancy of 2 means that the alfalfa will green up later in the spring and quit sooner in the fall. Vernal exhibits excellent winter hardiness in the North and moderate regrowth after cutting. Except for the latter, these problems can be controlled with selecting the right variety. The reason for this is that the grasses studied begin to germinate at slightly above freezing (about 2 to 4°C) while alfalfa requires slightly warmer conditions (5 to 7°C).
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