March 18, 2010

If your internal engines are reving up to get out in the field but it's still too early, shift your gears to your alfalfa crop.  Taking time in the next two weeks for assessment and decision-making can be critical to the success of this year's crop. 

Weed Control. Precipitation and temperatures last fall created excellent conditions for a bumper crop of winter annual weeds like mustards, pennycress, and wild oats or downy brome. To prevent these weeds from damaging your first cutting, act now to apply the right herbicides before your alfalfa develops much growth.

Stand Evaluation. With all the alternative cropping and forage options available to you, there is no good excuse for having low production from fields due to a thin stand of alfalfa. If alfalfa stands have declined to where you need to add extra hay, oats, or orchardgrass, plant these now, before your alfalfa gets too much of a head start and overwhelms new seedlings.

Delaying either of these management steps until after you attend to your row crop preparations may be too late for this year’s production.

Bruce Anderson
Extension Forage Specialist