Alfalfa

Last year we asked producers from around the country how their hay season had gone. We had such a great response that we decided to do the same thing this year. We gave three specific questions we consider to be burning questions in the industry.

Haymaking was difficult this year in many regions of the country. Now is the time to analyze what happened and think about what could be done differently for next year.

With 14 to 15 million salt-affected acres in the U.S., it’s clear managing saline soils is a big challenge for some farmers.

In Mississippi, a coordinated research and demonstration/extension effort has substantially increased alfalfa acreage since 2014. As some of the targeted producers in the region have a negative view of alfalfa and its management challenges, many of these efforts have been under a pretext of demonstrating cutting and fertility management techniques.

Alfalfa’s potassium requirement

Alfalfa requires potassium in the greatest amount to facilitate its maximum growth potential. For a healthy stand and optimum hay yields, alfalfa absorbs potassium more than any other nutrient from the soil.

To produce high-quality alfalfa, growers must be engaged in the timely management of pests, including weeds. Seedling alfalfa is especially susceptible to weed interference as interspecific competition can inhibit alfalfa growth and development and compromise stand persistence.