dbltree
Super Moderator
Most of you have already read the QDMA article on alfalfa: QDMA Alfalfa article
Canada QDM aticle
Description and Adaptation of Alfalfa
Alfalfa University
It's not for everyone but it's one of my favorites. I spent the first 1/2 of my life milking 130 cows (and the second 1/2 doing something I could actually make a living at so alfalfa is something that I'm very familiar with. As a dairyman you learn gow to squeeze every bit of protein out of a crop as is possible, and you learn what the most efficient and effective way to plant it and maintain it. Clover has many of the same attributes and works better on heavier poorly drained soils.
I find that deer are drawn to alfalfa well into December here in SE Iowa and alfalfa tends to be longer lived then clover. As the article states it's best if you can mow it (you cant just plant it and forget it it) and it's not best in very small plots that would get hammered to hard.
August seedings are the very best for seeding both alfalfa and clover. One can prepare a good seedbed, wait for a an upcoming rain and seed just ahead of it. Roll the seedbed so it's firm, broadcast the seed, and just re-roll it (don't drag it in).
Many spring seeding become over run with weeds and may require spraying or clipping to control, while fall seedings...frost will do the "weeding" for you
If you absolutley must spring seed...an age old method is to use oats for a cover crop as my renter did on our place this year. He will bale the oats green, which will also remove weed cover and leave the alfalfa seedlings free to take off on thier own in late summer.
If you cannot remove the oats...your better off to plan on herbicides such as Select 2-EC (clethodim) and 2-4DB on a spring seeding.
Germination takes roughly 10-15 days as explained in this link. Alfalfa germination
Welter Seed is a great source for alfalfa seed.
Sow alfalfa at 15-20#'s per acre generally like clover seed, till, cultipack, broadcast seed and re-cultipack to cover just pressing the seed into the soil.
PH is important so be sure to soil test and add lime, P&K per the test and work it into the soil before planting.
Alfalfa can grow on a wide range of soils but it will grow on lighter sandy loam soils that clover will not. Alfalfa has long tap roots that can extend 12-15 feet deep making it very drought resistant.
Alfalfa is one of the highest in protien and digestable protien making it very attractive to deer and a valuable income source where it can be sold as a hay crop.
Here's few shots of our new alfalfa seeding
This is a hidden field (A.K.A. Honey Hole)
In both pics you may be able to see the "edge feathering" I did in March. Some trees died but others that I 1/2 cut have leafed out. I formed a "fence" along the edge of the field to force deer to use only two runways to the field
Baby alfalfa about a month old coming up with the oats...this fall this field will be sweeeetttt /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
Canada QDM aticle
Description and Adaptation of Alfalfa
Alfalfa University
It's not for everyone but it's one of my favorites. I spent the first 1/2 of my life milking 130 cows (and the second 1/2 doing something I could actually make a living at so alfalfa is something that I'm very familiar with. As a dairyman you learn gow to squeeze every bit of protein out of a crop as is possible, and you learn what the most efficient and effective way to plant it and maintain it. Clover has many of the same attributes and works better on heavier poorly drained soils.
I find that deer are drawn to alfalfa well into December here in SE Iowa and alfalfa tends to be longer lived then clover. As the article states it's best if you can mow it (you cant just plant it and forget it it) and it's not best in very small plots that would get hammered to hard.
August seedings are the very best for seeding both alfalfa and clover. One can prepare a good seedbed, wait for a an upcoming rain and seed just ahead of it. Roll the seedbed so it's firm, broadcast the seed, and just re-roll it (don't drag it in).
Many spring seeding become over run with weeds and may require spraying or clipping to control, while fall seedings...frost will do the "weeding" for you
If you absolutley must spring seed...an age old method is to use oats for a cover crop as my renter did on our place this year. He will bale the oats green, which will also remove weed cover and leave the alfalfa seedlings free to take off on thier own in late summer.
If you cannot remove the oats...your better off to plan on herbicides such as Select 2-EC (clethodim) and 2-4DB on a spring seeding.
Germination takes roughly 10-15 days as explained in this link. Alfalfa germination
Welter Seed is a great source for alfalfa seed.
Sow alfalfa at 15-20#'s per acre generally like clover seed, till, cultipack, broadcast seed and re-cultipack to cover just pressing the seed into the soil.
PH is important so be sure to soil test and add lime, P&K per the test and work it into the soil before planting.
Alfalfa can grow on a wide range of soils but it will grow on lighter sandy loam soils that clover will not. Alfalfa has long tap roots that can extend 12-15 feet deep making it very drought resistant.
Alfalfa is one of the highest in protien and digestable protien making it very attractive to deer and a valuable income source where it can be sold as a hay crop.
Here's few shots of our new alfalfa seeding
This is a hidden field (A.K.A. Honey Hole)
In both pics you may be able to see the "edge feathering" I did in March. Some trees died but others that I 1/2 cut have leafed out. I formed a "fence" along the edge of the field to force deer to use only two runways to the field
Baby alfalfa about a month old coming up with the oats...this fall this field will be sweeeetttt /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
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