Alfalfa Best Practices Dan Undersander University of Wisconsin

Alfalfa Best Practices Dan Undersander University of Wisconsin UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Select varieties with increased Winterhardiness Less winterkill n Less winter injury – more yield n UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Choose best establishment method • Direct Seeding • Oats with Poast Plus or Roundup • With Companion crop • Oats • Ryegrass UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Causes of Seeding Failure n Low soil p. H n Loose soil n Seeding too deep UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Control weeds during the first 60 days after establishment UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Harvest first cutting of new seeding early n Take first cutting at 60 days after planting n n More additional cuttings – higher tonnage Less weed problems UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Harvest first cutting of established stands by quality UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Variation in forage quality among years UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Forage Quality Stick UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Cutting Height Effect on Forage Yield by Cutting UWEX Clark and Wood County, WI 1999 -2000 Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Total Forage Yield (3 cuts) Clark and Wood County, WI 1999 -2000 UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

RFV by Cutting UWEX Clark and Wood County, WI 1999 -2000 Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Effect of mower type on alfalfa stand yield Sickle Cutterbar Disc mower Average First Cut Yield (t/a) 1. 47 Stand Persistence Plants per sq ft 1. 49 6. 2 UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Conditioner types Flail/impellers Rubber Rolls UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Rollers vs flail (impeller) conditioners UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Conditioner drying rates Alfalfa Grass UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Conditioner field losses Flail conditioners have 2 to 3 % higher field losses with alfalfa. The loss is all leaves so forage quality is significantly reduced. Stems Leaves UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Adjust conditioner properly n n Tension on rollers Spacing of rollers UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Adjust conditioner roller spacing Measure clearance where “Crimp” or smallest clearance occurs UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Put hay into wide swath n n Dries faster Higher TDN UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Minimize wheel traffic damage No traffic Traffic UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Minimize wheel traffic damage UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Managing to Reduce Wheel Traffic Loss n Minimize driving on field n n n Use smallest tractor for equipment Merge windrows where possible Go to larger equipment Take most direct route to edge of field Make road to drive on UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Managing to Reduce Wheel Traffic Loss n n Minimize driving on field Do driving on field soon after harvest n n n Manage to dry forage quickly Harvest for haylage or baleage Use preservative and harvest wet hay Use of duals not recommended Apply manure quickly after cutting UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Assess stands and replace when thin UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Yield is the most important component of profitability n Fixed costs same regardless of yield n n n e. g. taxes, land costs, machinery depreciation Production costs similar Harvesting costs similar n Slightly higher for extra fuel and labor to harvest higher yield and haul to barn UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Alfalfa Yield and Dollar Return from Wisconsin Green-Gold Program Profitability increases with yield because fixed inputs remain constant and variable inputs increase only slightly as yield increases. UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Yield of alfalfa as stand ages (% of 1 st production year) UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Stand assessment – UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Benefits of shorter rotations are great: n n n Increased alfalfa yield from younger stands Increased corn silage yield following alfalfa 10 to 15% higher corn yields following alfalfa More legume credits Less rootworm insecticide needed following alfalfa UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Alfalfa Legume Credits Med, Fine Soils Sandy Soils -----Regrowth after last cutting----->8 inches <8 inches >8 inches Stand Density <8 inches -------lb nitrogen/acre------ Good, > 4 plt/ft 2 190 150 140 100 Fair, 1. 5 to 4 plt/ft 2 160 120 110 70 Poor, < 1. 5 plt/ft 2 130 90 80 40 UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005

Alfalfa Stem Count and Yield Potential UWEX Dan Undersander-Agronomy © 2005