Alfalfa

Crop farmers are embracing technologies prior generations didn’t even dream possible. Alfalfa seed production is no exception, and this very specialized production niche could soon benefit from new tools that help alfalfa seed producers plan for more efficient, more consistent pollination and seed set.

Weed management in alfalfa poses significant challenges for many producers. Conventional herbicide options are limited, both in number and how they can be used.

Now that the baleage is made, take some time to inventory the forage in your baleage and decide how to use it to its best benefit.

When I help growers choose the right alfalfa for their operations, there are a lot of factors we discuss. As an adviser, my goal is to really understand each grower’s unique situation and management style to recommend an alfalfa variety that best fits those needs.

Currently underway is a project to enable alfalfa producers to map yield and quality (or more precisely, nutritive value) across an alfalfa field using an unmanned aircraft system (UAS – also called a drone) at sufficient resolution to enable identification of the yield damage caused by wheel traffic.

Alfalfa is used by and marketed for dairy cows, beef cattle and exports, in the form of cubes and compressed bales. In Washington state, alfalfa makes up about 65 percent of the total hay grown.