Alfalfa has been termed the “Queen of Forages.” Unfortunately, her highness is a fickle ruler

Although the USDA has Hay Quality Designation Guidelines (see tables) based on nutrition tests for alfalfa, that alone does not cover all of the terms and grades we use to describe hay. Many of the terms

Growing concern has been that many farmers lose too many leaves during the harvesting process

Technology is evolving faster than ever before, and farming technology is no exception

Weighing the costs and benefits of an opportunity can be the first step in the decision-making process. Farmers know both sides of this scale hang heavy when that decision pertains to agricultur

There are many routes to high-yielding alfalfa, but few of them don’t go down the potassium road. I was reminded of this after reading a recently published five-year study in Agronomy Journal that

Another flip of the calendar means the first cutting of alfalfa is fast approaching for many farmers

Fall dormancy of alfalfa is an important trait to consider when selecting a variety, but how relevant is it to farm-scale production?

During my years as an extension agent, I would occasionally be called out to a farm for the purpose of evaluating a failed or thin new alfalfa seeding field

Although alfalfa has been grown and studied for many generations, there are still some mysteries surrounding the crop that continue to dog us

Alfalfa offers a great opportunity to combat the spread of herbicide-resistant weed variants on your farm for two main reasons

Forage research and extension positions at state universities weren’t getting filled from lack of research funding and budget constraints

Though diminutive, the lowly alfalfa seed contains every genetic instruction for that plant to grow into a hearty, deep-rooted perennial legume, capable of multiple harvests, high yields, high persistence,

One of the core principles of plant breeding is to improve crop genetics so plants are better equipped to survive environmental stress

Despite the fact there is no symbiotic relationship between alfalfa and ruminants, the nutrient composition of alfalfa complements the nutritional needs of ruminant animals surprisingly well

By and large, forage seed supply for spring plantings looks to be in good shape to support what is expected to be higher demand for new seedings

Forage research from universities and seed companies fuels advancements in the alfalfa industry. This research also lays the foundation for many producer recommendations, but scientific experime

Water bodies not subject to external forces remain calm and level. This is true of a lake or mud puddle; however, when impacted by forces such as wind, the normally quiescent waters become rough

Really dry or really wet — it doesn’t matter because both conditions can be lethal to new spring alfalfa seedings. Depending on where you hang your hat, weather extremes on either end of the

The critical fall period for alfalfa has been said to start roughly six weeks before the first killing frost, which is roughly around the first week of September for most of the Midwest. This hard sto