Alfalfa

At the recent Western Alfalfa and Forage Symposium in Reno, Nevada, participants were asked to respond to a clicker survey-quiz, as presented by forage specialists Glenn Shewmaker (University of Idaho), Dan Putnam (University of California – Davis) and Shannon Mueller (University of California – Fresno Extension).

Growers’ opinions matter. It’s priceless information because it comes from boots-on-the-ground, multi-year experience.

In alfalfa production, input about what farmers are looking for in a product is critical for seed companies to help create the next generation of varieties.

While every season presents a different set of challenges for alfalfa growers, a successful crop begins with good stand establishment.

For alfalfa producers, mild winters come at a price. Thanks to hot summers and mild winters, alfalfa growers in California’s Central Valley can usually depend on six cuttings of hay each year, but since they do not experience a true winter, weed infestation in their dormant alfalfa stands can be a problem.

It’s about as basic as you can get in alfalfa production: Make sure soil nutrients are at optimal levels to give your crop the best opportunity to grow and thrive, and achieve return on investment and yield potential goals.

Genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa was deregulated in 2005 for the first time and again in January 2011, opening the door to renewed commercial sales and planting.