| VARIETY | KEY POINTS | TECH SHEET |
|---|---|---|
| DAIRYGOLD | • Very high yielding genetics • Elite forage quality • Very adaptable to varying cutting schedules and soil types | VIEW |
| QUICKGOLD | • Very high yielding genetics • Handles intense cutting schedules • No soil limitations | VIEW |
| TOUGHGOLD | • Persistent alfalfa for heavy and poorly drained soils • High resistance to stem nematodes • Aphanomyces race 2 resistance | VIEW |
| SPRINGPEARL | • Reduced lignin for higher digestibility at the same maturity • Broader harvest window allows for fewer cuts per season • Roundup resistant | VIEW |
| GRAZINGPEARL | • A Roundup Ready® alfalfa • Best suited for grazing by non-dairy cattle • Tough disease package for all soil types and conditions | VIEW |
ALFALFA PRODUCTS
We at Renk Seed clearly feel we have the best alfalfa on the market but good management is crucial to getting the highest return. We carry proprietary alfalfa that is chosen for high yield, forage quality, and durability. We stock conventional, RoundupReady® and Harvxtra® products so you can tailor your pick to your needs.
ALFALFA TECHNOLOGIES
HARVXTRA®
Reduces lignin in plant by 10-15%. This makes it more readily digestible without losing standability, compared to other alfalfas at the same maturity. Allows for wider cutting window and/or delayed cutting with increased tonnage with no loss in quality. All HarvXtra® varieties are also Roundup Ready®.
ROUNDUP READY® ALFALFA
Roundup Ready® Alfalfa technology allows the spraying of your alfalfa with Roundup® herbicide. This delivers the weed control and ease of use you come to expect from Roundup® herbicide. This should aid in keeping your stand weed free and improving overall feed value.
ALFALFA CONSIDERATIONS
WINTER HARDINESS
If your fields are subject to poor snow cover, ice sheeting and poor drainage, you should plant a winter hardy variety. Strictly defined, winter hardiness describes the ability to withstand the extreme cold, temperature fluctuations, heaving and ice sheeting common in the upper Midwest.
FORAGE QUALITY
Getting the highest quality possible from your alfalfa crop requires proper management. Varieties with high natural forage quality may be harvested later without a loss of quality while lower quality alfalfa should be cut earlier. Higher quality ratings give you a wider harvest window. Alfalfa with a feed quality rating of eight or higher can be harvested in the early flower stage vs. mid-bud for other varieties. This results in an increase in tonnage and no loss of quality.
DISEASE RESISTANCE
Fields with poor drainage require a stronger disease package to maintain a quality stand over a period of years. Select varieties with a high score (30 is the highest possible score) to ensure a long productive stand.
ALFALFA MANAGEMENT
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR ALFALFA
We at Renk Seed clearly feel we have the best alfalfa on the market but good management is crucial to getting the highest return. Here are a few key points to remember in raising alfalfa:
SEEDING
Alfalfa likes a firm seed bed and should be planted very shallow, 1/4” to 1/2” on medium to heavy soils and 1/2” to 1” on sandy soil. Seeding rate should be around 12-15 pounds per acre (use higher rates if seedbed is in poor shape). Direct seeding is recommended unless fodder is needed or you are planting on highly erodible ground. Due to autotoxicity, alfalfa fields should be out of alfalfa for at least one year before reseeding with alfalfa.
FERTILIZER
Alfalfa performs the best when soil pH is 6.5 to 7.5. In most cases, this requires lime to be applied at least one year before going into the ground with alfalfa. Proper pH improves availability of phosphorous and potassium and increases activity of nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium. Having adequate phosphorous during the seeding year is key for establishment. Potassium levels should be closely monitored throughout stand life as this nutrient likely has the most effect on overall yield. Each ton of alfalfa removes the equivalent of 150 pounds of 0-10-40 fertilizer. The nitrogen needs of alfalfa should be adequately taken care of by Rhizobium bacteria that colonize the roots and fix nitrogen from the air.
LIFE OF STAND
When alfalfa stands fall below 40 stems per square foot (at 6″ growth), yield potential becomes limited and no longer profitable. Rotating the field is highly recommended at this point.
CUTTING SCHEDULE
For the best combination of high-yield and high-quality, first cutting should be taken at bud stage (mid to late May). The second cutting should be 28-33 days later or mid-bud stage. The third cutting 38-55 days later or 25% bloom. Leave only 1” of stubble, if possible, with your equipment. An optional fourth cut can be taken mid to late-October after a killing frost, but 6” of stubble should be left behind to help prevent a winterkill. No cutting is recommended from September 1 to mid-October, as this leaves the stand vulnerable to not having enough root reserves to weather the winter if a killing frost comes in that time period.
AFTER HARVEST
Losses after harvest can be as high as 30% so following proper management is important. Keep equipment tuned to minimize mechanical losses and follow proper moisture guidelines: bale hay at 18-20% and ensile at 50-70%. Silage inoculant can be very effective in preserving silage quality (see chart to the right), especially when field drying times are under two days.
PEST CONTROL
Weed control is very important the seeding year but, after that, the return on spraying is less economical. Spraying older stands does little to change tonnage but may improve quality based on weed species being killed. The main insect pest to monitor in the Midwest is the Potato Leafhopper which moves up from the south and does damage to the second and third crop. Normally, it is economically justifiable to spray once or twice for Leafhoppers.
If you would like more details on alfalfa management, contact our office for a complimentary management guide.
