A good alfalfa seedbed is one that makes you want to bring friends to the field and say, “I did that.” If your seedbed is not that good, don’t plant alfalfa. Use a drill to plant. Do not broadcast seed and till it in. If you can’t use a drill, don’t plant alfalfa.

How late can you seed alfalfa?

If you have land available for alfalfa in late summer, optimal seeding dates are July 15 through August in the Upper Midwest; closer to July 15 for northernmost regions. For growers in warmer climates, seeding into early September is acceptable.

What happens if you don't cut alfalfa?

If it stays dry those new shoots could die off. Once your alfalfa does receive enough rain for regrowth it might regrow a little faster if it’s cut, but it also will regrow following sufficient rain without cutting. In most cases, it’s not worth the cost and time involved to shred, clip, or harvest low-yielding hay.

Can you top seed alfalfa?

What forage species can be used to thicken a thin alfalfa stand? Most producers would probably prefer to overseed additional alfalfa into a thin stand. However, overseeding alfalfa stands over one year old with additional alfalfa seed is not recommended due to the likelihood of autotoxicity issues.

Can I no-till alfalfa into grass?

If this were not a permanent pasture and the stand were quite thin, you could spray the existing stand to just to suppress it and no-till drill the alfalfa into it. … Most small seeds like alfalfa and grasses still need to make good contact with the soil, but should go in no deeper than 3/8 inch.

Can you broadcast seed alfalfa?

Alfalfa seed can be broadcast planted on a clean, tilled seedbed instead of planted with a drill seeder. If broadcast seeding is used, the seedbed should be firmed with a roller or cultipacker before seeding.

Can you plant alfalfa without tilling?

Conventionally seeded alfalfa can be seeded in both the spring and fall. With no-till, experience has shown that spring seedings are best. Sclerotinia crown rot can be a major problem with fall-seeded alfalfa, but its greatest potential for damage is with no- till alfalfa.

How many years will alfalfa grow?

Alfalfa can remain productive in stands from four to ten years or more, but as plant population declines renovation eventually becomes necessary.

Does alfalfa grow back every year?

Alfalfa is a cool-season perennial commonly grown for feeding livestock or as a cover crop and soil conditioner. Alfalfa’s extensive root system nourishes both plants and soil. …

Can you overseed a pasture with alfalfa?

Overseeding alfalfa into young stands to correct early problems can succeed. Consider herbicide limitations and optimizing timing, light tillage or no-till, and seeding depth for good establishment in established stands.

Article first time published on

Can you plant alfalfa by hand?

You can seed it with a hand seeder or behind a 4wheeler. Alot of FS place have drills you can rent for a day. I have about 3 acres of alfalfa. You can seed alfalfa with a drill, brillion or just broadcasting and rolling.

Can you plant alfalfa after clover?

Grass or clover can be drilled early in the spring if alfalfa is still small. Once surviving alfalfa has reached 6-8 inches in height, it is extremely competitive with grass seedlings, and it will be more effective to drill the new seeds immediately after first cut is harvested.

Does alfalfa need to be cut?

Traditional studies have shown that the long-range greatest yields and best recovery growth are produced when alfalfa is cut at full bloom, although in the Southwest, greater yields may be obtained if cutting is done at 10% bloom (first bloom), but in the hottest weather stand density and yield will be reduced.

Does alfalfa have to be cut?

Most dairy producers are fairly aggressive with alfalfa cutting schedules. Their goal is to achieve high-quality forage. But cutting too frequently usually shortens the life of alfalfa and often gives lower yields, even when more cuttings are taken per growing season.

Can you cut hay after frost?

The forage can be mowed anytime after a frost if you are making hay. It is very rare for dry hay to contain toxic levels of prussic acid. However, if the hay was not properly cured and dried before baling, it should be tested for prussic acid content before feeding to livestock.

How do you overseed a pasture?

Prepare pasture for planting: mow short or till/disc/cultipack. Prepare the pasture to be seeded. If overseeding: Overgraze or mow the pasture very close before seeding. The existing vegetation will shade out new seedlings, so it is important to minimize that competition for your best chance of success.

How do you broadcast pasture seeds?

Broadcast Seeding For best results, use a cultipacker to press the seed into the soil after seeding, or lightly rake the area to work the seeds into the soil. Broadcasting can also be used in no-till situations; however the success rate decreases as proper seed-to-soil contact is often lost.

What do you plant with alfalfa?

Alfalfa often may be seeded with a companion crop like oats to control weeds and erosion and provide a crop of grain or hay. Clear seeding alfalfa alone, without a companion crop, also works well.

How deep can you plant alfalfa?

One quarter to 3/8 inch seeding depth is ideal for most soil types; emergence drops off significantly when alfalfa is seeded over an inch deep. Too-fine seedbeds may result in sealing or crusting on some soils. The entire genetic capability of the crop is contained in a tiny seed.

How much does it cost to seed an acre of alfalfa?

Alfalfa has to be planted at around 25 pounds per acre if I remember correctly. A 50 pound bag of seed is around $200 last I heard a few years back, so $100 an acre just for seed. Probably $120-150 per acre including tillage costs.

How many acre is a ton of alfalfa?

The average total yield is 20-35 tons per hectare (or 8-14 tons per acre) per year (distributed in 5-6 cuts). Top yields (intensive farming) can exceed 40 tons per hectare or 16 tons per acre per year. You can enrich this article by leaving a comment or photo of your alfalfa harvesting methods and yields.

How long does it take alfalfa to sprout?

Alfalfa seed germinates best at soil temperatures between 65-85°F. If soil temperature is 40°F, it takes alfalfa six days to germinate, but only two days at 65°F.

Is alfalfa invasive?

Alfalfa has been cultivated for forage worldwide. Alfalfa may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. This species generally occurs as a weed in wildland areas of the Southwestern Region rather than as an invasive plant.

Will alfalfa grow back after cutting?

You can harvest seeding-year alfalfa as early as 40 days after seedlings emerge. It takes plants about 40 days to become able to regrow from the crown after cutting. If plants are cut before this development occurs — maybe to control weeds — at least one set of leaves must remain on the plant for it to regrow.

How many times can you cut alfalfa in a year?

Similarly, research conducted in the Central Valley of California by Dan Putnam, University of California forage specialist, compared cutting alfalfa every 24 to 26 days (8 cuts per year), a 28-day schedule (7 cuts per year), and a 32-day cutting interval (6 cuts per year).

Is Roundup Ready alfalfa worth it?

Roundup Ready alfalfa can provide high-quality, weed-free forage with excellent crop safety and minimal harvest restrictions.

How tall should alfalfa be when you cut it?

2-inch height for all cuts during the season, 2-inch height for the 1st cut, 3-inch height for the 2nd and 3rd cuts, 3-inch height for all cuts during the season, 6-inch height for all cuts during the season.

Does alfalfa require a lot of water?

Alfalfa is a high water use crop because it has a long growing season, a deep root system, and a dense mass of vegetation. … Commonly cited ranges in water requirements for alfalfa are 18 to 36 inches of water per season. Alfalfa is quite tolerant of drought or extended periods without highly available water.

Can you plant alfalfa in grass?

For pure alfalfa stands, 18 to 20 pounds per acre should be planted. For mixed stands with grass, 15 to 16 pounds per acre is recommended. For broadcast seeding, seeding rates need to be increased by 10 to 20 percent.

Does frost seeding alfalfa work?

Alfalfa does not frost seed well because its germination is variable at cool temperatures. There are several benefits to adding legumes to pastures including higher quality forage as well as nitrogen to support grass growth.

Can you plant alfalfa after alfalfa?

1. For least risk, wait at least one year before reseeding alfalfa into a field previously in alfalfa. 2. At a minimum, do not reseed alfalfa into a previous alfalfa field until at least two weeks after destroying the previous alfalfa stand using tillage.