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Alfalfa Production

Alfalfa Production. Introduction and Evaluation. Introduction. Medicago sativa Introduced into US 1736 Oldest cultivated forage crop Rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals Very high yield. Benefits. Beneficial insects Attracts wildlife Nitrogen fixation

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Alfalfa Production

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  1. Alfalfa Production Introduction and Evaluation

  2. Introduction • Medicago sativa • Introduced into US 1736 • Oldest cultivated forage crop • Rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals • Very high yield

  3. Benefits • Beneficial insects • Attracts wildlife • Nitrogen fixation • Alfalfa replaces high N-requiring crops • Alfalfa provides N to a subsequent crop • Improves Soil Tilth • Protect groundwater

  4. Basics • Grown for seed,meal, cover, mostly for hay • California, South Dakota, Wisconsin, & Minnesota are leading alfalfa states • Alfalfa lives from 5 to 7 years

  5. Consumers • Dairy = 60% • Meat Animals = 25% • Horses = 15%

  6. Plant Biology • Alfalfa is a legume • Grow about 3 ft.high & compound leaves • Stems grow from buds on crown (base) • Racemes. • Alfalfa roots 25-30 feet or more under favorable conditions

  7. Types of Alfalfa • Hardy northern part of the US and in Canada. • Medium hardy are raised mainly in the central United States. • Nonhardy thrive on irrigated land in the Western United States

  8. Growing Alfalfa • Flourish in fertile, well-drained soil that is neutral or slightly alkaline • Plant in early spring or late summer • Cut after the plants begin to produce flower buds, but before the seed pods form.

  9. Variety Selection Factors • Yield Potential -5% improvement in yield • Stand Persistence- <5 plants/square ft. • Hardiness & Dormancy • Disease and Insect Resistance

  10. Visual evaluation • Stage of maturity-maturity at harvest influences quality more than any other factor. • Leafiness-contain highly digestible energy and at least two-thirds of the protein found in hay. • Color-bright green is a good indicator of proper curing, good palatability. • Foreign material-weeds and straw have little or no feeding value • Odor and condition

  11. Designations • Premium-Prebloom stage low fiber, high energy/protein TDN (54% and higher) • Good-Early bloom stage, low to medium fiber, high protein and energy TDN (52-54 %) • Fair-Mid-late bloom coarse texture TDN (49-52%) • Poor- full to late bloom very coarse very little leaf TDN (<49%)

  12. Laboratory analyses • Quality Designations: Relative Feed Value Acid Detergent Fiber Crude Protein • RFV ADF CP • Supreme Over 180 Under 27 .22 or over • Premium 150-180 27-29 .20-.22 • Good 125-150 29-32 .18-.20 • Fair 100-125 32-35 .15-.18

  13. Laboratory analyses • Dry matter (DM) • Crude protein (CP) • Acid detergent fiber (ADF) • Total digestible nutrients (TDN) • Relative feed value (RFV)

  14. Alfalfa • Perennial • Deep rooted • Needs good soil & Good Drainage • Dormant, Semi Dormant, Non-Dormant

  15. Alfalfa • Deep loam 8’ – 40’ • Ph – 6.5 – 7.5 • Level fields – irrigation slope .2’ - .4’/100’

  16. Seedbed • Laser level • Borders 100’ – 200’ wide (Border Machine) • Pre-plant fertilizer = 6-20-20, 9-19-0, 11-46-0 • Pre-plant Herbicide = incorporated – eptan, balan. Established – Karmex, treflan

  17. Seedbed Preparation • Heavy work • Disc 2x’s with stubble disk • Sub soil • Finish work • Landplane 2x’s • Put up borders

  18. Plant • September and sprinkled up • Brillion seeder • 25-30 lbs./ac • 15 lbs./ac = 64 plants/sq. ft. • 25 lbs./ac = 107 plants/sq. ft. • 35 lbs./ac = 150 plants/sq. ft. • 45 lbs./ac = 193 plants/sq. ft.

  19. Plant • Time • Fall or Spring • Method • Broadcast • Drill • Depth • Lightly cover

  20. Irrigation • Problems = Too Soon Too Much Too Little Too Late • Alfalfa will extract: 46% of its water from the top 2’ 26% of its water from the top 2’-4’ 18% of its water from the top 4’-6’ 10% of its water from the top 6’-8’

  21. Irrigation • Total for season • 4’-5’ • Timing • 1st. Irrigation critical • 1st. Choice is no irrigation before 1st. Cutting • Number of irrigations • Depends on the number of cutting and weather conditions • Source of water • Ditch water or well water

  22. Irrigation • Loss – wind, temperature, radiation, Humidity • ET – Evapotranspiration Rate KMJ

  23. Pests – Egyptian Alfalfa Weevil • 1. Alfalfa caterpillar • 2. Army worm • 3. Aphids • 4. Alfalfa Weevil (Hypera postica) • 5. Egyptian Alfalfa Weevil( Hypera Brunneipennis) • Different Species but almost identical in most respects.

  24. A. Thrive in cool spring weather • B. Adults lay eggs in the stem • C. When the eggs hatch, the larvae emerge and begin feeding on the leaves. • D. So. Calif. & Arizona - Feb to April • E. No. Calif. – March to May • F. Weevils generally affect 1-2 cuttings • G. Parasitic wasp (Bathyplectes curulionis) • H. Furadan – Permit & gets bees • I. Lorsban – non permit & doesn’t bother bees.

  25. Diseases • A. Phytophthora – moisture related • B. Nematodes – Sandy Soils • C. Leafspot – spotted leaves • D. Anthracnose – Leaf • E. Rhizoctonia - @ crown; moisture related. • F. Fusarium – Wilt

  26. Weed control in established stand • Main weeds • Fiddle neck, chickweed, foxtail, groundsel, • Malva, curly dock, ect.. • Control • Depends on the time of year and type of weed.

  27. Fertilization of established stand • Spring • 250lbs./ac ammonium phosphate 11-52-0 • Lime

  28. Harvesting • 24-35 Days ( depends on the farmer) • Re-growth of shoot and maturity. • Swather – windrows • Rake – 55% - 65% moisture • Bale 17% - 23% • Cured – 10% - 12%

  29. Harvesting • Swather cost • Curing time • Depends on weather • Raking • Types • 41/2 to 5 mph • Lube every 50 – 75 hours • Baling • Big bale • Small bale • Moisture

  30. Custom Harvest • Swath • Rake • Bale • Roadside

  31. Yields • Tons per acre • 6 to 8 tons per acre • Number of cuttings • 6 to 8 • Cash cost per acre

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