Scout for Alfalfa and Clover Leaf Weevils
Postemergence Weed Control in Alfalfa
How Early Can Alfalfa be Cut?
First cutting often is the most important cutting of the year. It usually produces the most yield and its forage quality changes fastest from day to day. Alfalfa started growing like gangbusters this spring, is almost knee high in some places, and could be ready to cut soon.
Preseason Hay Equipment Maintenance
Pitfalls of Thickening Old Alfalfa Stands
If your alfalfa is looking a little thin, you may be tempted to add alfalfa to thicken the stand. Before you do, consider:
Take Advantage of Spring Moisture to Boost Pastures, Alfalfa
Most of us have more moisture in our soil profiles this spring than we’ve experienced in a long time. Following are some suggestions for how to take full advantage of this promising condition to better your pastures.
Wrapping Hay to Beat the Weather
Some years rain plays havoc with hay quality. When dark clouds are on the horizon some go ahead and bale the tough hay and hope it doesn’t spoil or get hot and burn. Others wait out the storm and cross their fingers that the rains will hit their row crop fields but miss their hay fields.
Pros & Cons of Using Companion Crops When Planting Alfalfa
Alfalfa often may be seeded with a companion crop like oats to control weeds and erosion and provide a crop of grain or hay. Clear seeding alfalfa alone, without a companion crop, also works well. A preplant herbicide like trifluralin, Balan or Eptam often is sprayed and incorporated first to control weeds in a clear seeding, but a herbicide isn't always necessary. So, which p