Alfalfa

Multileaf Alfalfa

 Alfalfa is one of the leading forage crops. It was first originated in Asia before 700 BC. It was thought to have been cultivated first in Iran. From South America, alfalfa was first brought to California during the Gold Rush. From California, the crops spread to the Midwest and then further eastward.

The common name of alfalfa issued in the U.S. , but Europeans call the crop Lucerne. Regardless of the common name, the crop is a herbaceous perennial that can produce large amounts of nutritious forage material. The energy and protein yield/acre by alfalfa rivals that of a corn crop used for silage purposes. It is considered the "Queen" or "Cadillac" of forages. The alfalfa crop can be used as a pasture, hay, or silage crop. It can also be cut and dehydrated to make protein rich meal or pellets for livestock.

There are many different varieties of alfalfa. (Click here for information on different varietys of alfalfa

1. Agate
2. Ladak
3. Multileaf
4. Norwegian
5. Nomad
6. Perry
7. Rambler
8. Ranger

Alfalfa is and has always been important for grazing. Click here for further information on establishing alfalfa for grazing. Alfalfa is also important for making hay. This is a picture of a typical field of alfalfa hay:

 If alfalfa is grazed, an intensive rotational grazing program has been shown to be most productive, while insuring alfalfa survival. Allowing livestock to graze for 3 days, then giving alfalfa 30 days for recovery, works well. Using this approach to graze alfalfa obviously involves partitioning the pasture area into smaller areas. Thus, fencing can be an added cost of using alfalfa in this manner. Intensive grazing is not much different than harvesting alfalfa for hay, where forage is cut, baled , and hauled away. Hay harvest can occur every 30 to 35 days during the growing season if weather permits normal rates of regrowth.

Planting Alfalfa

Seeding of alfalfa can be done in the fall or late summer. If herbicides are not used for weed control, it is recommended to have a companion crop of oats (usually oats at 1/2 normal seeding rate)to help control the weeds and prevent erosion during the seedling establishment period. After the oats are harvested early to alleviate competition on the alfalfa. Depending on whether alfalfa is seeded alone, or with other legumes and grasses, approximately 8 to 12 lbs of seed per acre will usually be needed.

Pests

Alfalfa, like most plants, is vulnerable to be attacked by insects. One insect problem is the alfalfa weevil, which is a leaf feeding pest. Much has been studied about the pest, so management can be effective. When present, the use of insecticide is often required to keep it from dramatically lowering yield of the crop. In exceptional cases, where the pest is not controlled, alfalfa can die as a result of alfalfa weevil feeding - for they "continuously graze" until root reserves are depleted and the plant dies.

The Alfalfa Weevil

For a full description of the alfalfa weevil and other information click here.

Other pests include: the alfalfa caterpillar, beet army worm, blue aphid and pea aphid, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, and crickets.

The "Queen of Forages", alfalfa is not only the oldest cultivated forage crop in the US, but it is one of the most palatable and nutritious. Alfalfa is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. And, when cut prior to bloom, it is low in fiber and high in energy. Thus, it is prized as a primary component in dairy cattle rations and is an important feed for horses, beef cattle, sheep, and milk goats. (ALFALFA International Fact Sheet.)