Alfalfa Planting and Production Management

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1 Alfalfa Planting and Production Management Dr. Bruce Anderson University of Nebraska-Lincoln 1

2 Strengths of Alfalfa High yield potential Excellent feed value Long-lived Produces nitrogen (N) Flexible use Planting New Fields of Alfalfa 2

3 Good Sites Fertile Well drained Deep Good moisture Avoid Poor drainage High water table Saline or salty Shallow 3

4 Variety Selection 4

5 Lime for Alfalfa Raise ph for improved nodulation Reduce toxic Al and Mn Supply Ca and Mg Improve soil mineralization and increase P, K, and S availability INNOCULATION Use Proper Innoculant Store in Cool, Dry Location Mix with Seed and Plant Soon Nitrogen Fixation 5

6 DATE OF SEEDING April August 6

7 THE SEEDBED 7

8 8

9 SEEDBED CHARACTERISTICS FIRM 9

10 Lose more plants in the first 24 hours than in the next 24 months 10

11 11

12 Effect of planting depth on alfalfa stand establishment Soil type Depth of planting (in) % Establishment Sand Clay

13 Weeds 13

14 MOWING Effective Broadleaf annuals and some perennials sunflowers, velvetleaf, ironweed Ineffective Grasses, winter annuals, other perennials foxtail, cheatgrass, sandbur, curly dock, mustards, thistles Cover Crops 14

15 Alfalfa yields using herbicides or oats to control weeds Treatment Seeding Year tons/acre st Cut Next Year Check Poast Poast + Oats Oats as hay Oats as grain Buctril Poast + Buctril Alfalfa yields using herbicides or oats to control weeds Treatment Seeding Year tons/acre st Cut Next Year Check Poast Poast + Oats Oats as hay Oats as grain Buctril Poast + Buctril

16 Seedling Options Eptam Balan Trust Poast Select Pursuit Raptor Butyrac Buctril Roundup 16

17 Alfalfa Your High Value Crop 17

18 Primary objectives Yield Quality Persistence Season-long impact of harvest timing Bloom Stage at Harvest Pre-bud Bud 1/10 th Full # of cuts Tonnage Protein % Protein yield DMD 2 % DMD 2 yield Dry weight basis 2 Dry matter digestibility 18

19 The 3 Factors That Most Affect Forage Quality Are: 19

20 Maturity s

21 Alfalfa Maturity Affects Milk Production 4% Fat Corrected Milk, lb/day Alfalfa maturity (bloom) % Concentrate Pre Early Mid Full Alfalfa Maturity Affects Milk Production 4% Fat Corrected Milk, lb/day Alfalfa maturity (bloom) % Concentrate Pre Early Mid Full

22 Alfalfa Maturity Affects Milk Production 4% Fat Corrected Milk, lb/day Alfalfa maturity (bloom) % Concentrate Pre Early Mid Full Extra concentrate CANNOT fully replace the loss in feed value (or milk production) when alfalfa quality declines. 22

23 23

24 The 3 Factors That Most Affect Forage Quality Are: Harvest Losses Storage Losses 24

25 Losses in Making Hay & Silage Metabolic: plant respiration; reduce by faster dry down Weather: leaching, leaf shatter, respiration; reduce by shorter exposure Mechanical: machine operation, leaf loss; reduce by proper moisture and proper machine operation Storage: microbes cause mold and heat, heat lowers protein & energy digestibility, mold reduces palatability & intake; reduce by proper moisture Mechanical losses % of nutrients lost Operation Average Range Mowing Conditioning Raking Tedding Baling square round Total

26 Hours to dry alfalfa from 80% to 20% moisture 26

27 27

28 28

29 Alfalfa losses due to moisture content when raked 29

30 Tedding * BEWARE OF LEAF LOSS * shortly after cutting * uniformity Windrow Moisture Variability 33 1 sec sec. Individual Samples 30

31 31

32 32

33 Moisture for Baling Small Medium Large <20% <16% <14% 33

34 Inoculants Not consistently effective for protecting tough hay Most useful when baling hay that might store safely without help insurance Preservatives * Inhibit or kill bacteria, mold, and yeast * Discoloration * Reduce but will not eliminate heat damage 34

35 Dew Moisture vs Stem Moisture Specialized Preservative Rates Bale Moisture Moisture conc. type type < Small square Dew & large round Stem Large square Dew Stem 6 12 (?) NO 35

36 The only preservatives or inoculants that permit consistent, reliable and safe baling of high moisture hay (over 20%) when applied uniformly at correct rates are the organic acids. Storage 36

37 37

38 STORING BIG BALES * Cure before storing * Air circulation * Humidity and temperature * Weather damaged * Drying fans 38

39 Thank you 39

40 Bruce Anderson Extension Forage Specialist Dept. of Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE /

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