It’s been discussed most of the year and now the time has arrived. The first ever initiative to secure funding for alfalfa research through a checkoff program will begin on January 1.

Officially named the U.S. Alfalfa Farmer Research Initiative (AFRI), the voluntary program was conceived and approved by the National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance (NAFA) board of directors earlier this year.

Alfalfa brand marketers voluntarily have agreed to assess a $1 checkoff per bag of alfalfa seed sold. To date, the alfalfa seed brands participating in the program include:

Research input sought

NAFA is currently seeking input from farmers and industry representatives to help develop research priorities that will be used to direct and award the collected checkoff dollars. Selecting your top research priorities can be easily done at www.alfalfa.org.

All of the funds raised in the checkoff program will be used to support public research; no administrative costs will be paid with checkoff dollars. It is the first farmer-funded checkoff program that the alfalfa industry has ever had.