Alfalfa
Renk Preimum Alfalfa pays!
In tough economic times it is natural to look for areas to cut cost. Some people think to use cheaper seed or extend an existing stand one more year. Unless you have some extreme circumstance we don’t think this is a good choice. Good alfalfa pays for itself quickly and rapidly. Good alfalfa takes all of 1.5 tons of hay to pay for one bag of seed. That same bag of seed can plant well over 3 acres and produce over 20 tons in 3 years. An alfalfa like our SpringGold should show a minimum of 5% more yield over discount brands of alfalfa which should net an extra 2.5 tons or $350 in three years. This will far outpace the extra $100 in seed cost.
SpringGold is currently the premiere product on the market. It outperforms all varieties it has been placed against in state yield trials where there was 4 or more trials/years of data (see chart).
SpringGold is the alfalfa for those serious about getting the best return out of their acres. At Renk we do not heavily coat our seed so when you buy a bag of alfalfa seed you get 98%+ pure seed not bags that contain less then 70% like some other companies do.
We don’t rest on our laurels when it comes to our genetics. ForageGold will be our next generation of high yielding alfalfa which will be available this year in limited quantities.
WHEN YOU CONSIDER ALFALFA, LOOK FOR THE TOTAL PACKAGE
Winterhardiness
If your fields are subject to poor snow cover, ice sheeting and poor drainage, you should plant a winter hardy variety. Strictly defined, winterhardiness describes the ability to withstand the extreme cold, temperature fluctuations, heaving and ice sheeting common in the upper Midwest.
Forage quality
Getting the highest quality possible from your alfalfa crop requires proper management.Varieties with high natural forage quality may be harvested later without a loss of quality, while lower quality alfalfa should be cut earlier. Higher quality ratings give you a wider harvest window. Alfalfa with a feed quality rating of 8 or higher can be harvested in the early flower stage vs.mid-bud for other varieties—resulting in an increase in tonnage and no loss of quality.
Disease resistance
Fields with poorer drainage require a stronger disease package to maintain a quality stand over a period of years. Select varieties for a high score (30 is the highest possible score) to ensure a long productive stand.
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR ALFALFA
We at Renk clearly feel we have the best alfalfa on the market, but good management is key to getting the highest return on your alfalfa. Here are a few key points to remember in raising alfalfa:
Seeding: Alfalfa likes a firm seed bed and should be planted very shallow, 1/4” to 1/2” on medium and heavy soils and 1/2” to 1” on sandy soil. Seeding rate should be around 12-15 pounds per acre (use higher rates if seedbed is in poor shape). Direct seeding is recommended unless fodder is needed or you are planting highly erodible ground. Due to autotoxicity, alfalfa fields should be out of alfalfa for at least one year before reseeding with alfalfa.
Fertilizer: Alfalfa performs the best when soil PH is
6.5 to 7.5. In most cases, this requires lime to be applied at least one year before going into the ground with alfalfa. Proper PH improves availability of phosphorous and potassium and increases activity of nitrogen fixing Rhizobium. Having adequate phosphorous the seeding year is key for establishment. Potassium levels should be closely monitored throughout stand life as this nutrient probably has the most effect on overall yield. Each ton of alfalfa removes the equivalent of 150 pounds of 0-10-40 fertilizer. The nitrogen needs of alfalfa should be adequately taken care of by Rhizobium bacteria that colonize the roots and fix nitrogen from the air.
Life of stand: When alfalfa stands fall below 40 stems per square foot (at 6”growth), yield potential becomes limited and no longer profitable. Rotating the field is highly recommended at this point.
Cutting schedule: For the best combination of high yield and high quality, first cutting should be taken at bud stage (mid to late May). The second cutting should be 28-33 days later or mid-bud stage. The third cutting 38-55 days later or 25% bloom. Leave only 1” of stubble, if possible, with your equipment. An optional fourth cut can be taken mid to late October after a killing frost, but 6” of stubble should be left behind as winterkill. No cutting is recommended from September 1st to mid October, as this leaves the stand vulnerable to not having enough root reserves to weather the winter if a killing frost comes in that time period.
After harvest: Harvest to feed losses add up. They can be as high as 30% loss, so following proper management is important. Keep equipment tuned to minimize mechanical losses and follow proper moisture guidelines, bale hay at 18-20% and ensile at 50-70%. Silage inoculant can be very effective in preserving silage quality (see our Advantage page), especially when field drying times are under two days.
Pest control: Weed control is very important the seeding year, but after that the return on spraying is less economical. Spraying older stands does little to change tonnage, but may improve quality based on weed species being killed.
The main insect pest to monitor in the Midwest is the Potato Leafhopper, which moves up from the south and does damage to the second and third crop. Normally, it is economically justifiable to spray once or twice for leafhoppers.
If you would like to have more details on alfalfa management we can provide a complimentary management guide upon request.
See chart for spray thresholds.