Alfalfa

It’s hard to imagine winter is coming when fall is just beginning. However, preparing for the winter survival of your alfalfa stand begins now. Your late summer and fall alfalfa management strategy can have a large impact on spring regrowth and next year’s yield potential.

Bermudagrass is the most persistent and dependable warm-season forage crop grown throughout the southern U.S., found from eastern Texas and Oklahoma across the region to the Atlantic Ocean, with nearly 28 million acres currently estimated to be utilized for both hay and grazing.

Why interseed alfalfa into bermudagrass?

1. Grow your own nitrogen.

2. Increase the quality of your forage (+30 or more RFQ points).

Many dairy farmers rely increasingly on corn silage to meet forage needs. While the efficiencies associated with the production, harvest and storage of corn silage are attractive, a less desirable corollary of this management trend is the increased linkage of manure distribution with production of corn.

“Alfalfa? In the South?! Will it even grow down here?” That has been the usual response when growing alfalfa in the South is mentioned, but that is starting to change.

Alfalfa is often referred to as the “queen of forages” due to its relatively good digestibility, high protein and ability to readily fix nitrogen. But there’s a big drawback to the “queen”: Much of her protein is lost during the harvest and ensiling process, and more is lost in the rumen.