Growing Alfalfa - How To Plant Alfalfa

Since alfalfa roots quickly, it doesn't require deep planting—only about a half inch deep. Merely sprinkle the seeds evenly onto the soil and cover lightly with dirt. Use about ¼ pound of seeds per 25 square feet and space rows about 18-24 inches. You should begin to see sprouts within seven to 10 days.

What is the best time of year to plant alfalfa?

In years with adequate rainfall, late summer or fall is typically the best time to establish alfalfa. Yields from late summer seeding are generally higher than yields from spring seeded alfalfa in the establishment year.

How long does it take for alfalfa to sprout?

Alfalfa seed germinates best at soil temperatures between 65-85°F. If soil temperature is 40°F, it takes alfalfa six days to germinate, but only two days at 65°F.

Can you plant alfalfa after alfalfa?

1. For least risk, wait at least one year before reseeding alfalfa into a field previously in alfalfa. 2. At a minimum, do not reseed alfalfa into a previous alfalfa field until at least two weeks after destroying the previous alfalfa stand using tillage.

How much does it cost to plant 1 acre of alfalfa?

Alfalfa has to be planted at around 25 pounds per acre if I remember correctly. A 50 pound bag of seed is around $200 last I heard a few years back, so $100 an acre just for seed. Probably $120-150 per acre including tillage costs.

Can you overseed alfalfa?

Most producers would probably prefer to overseed additional alfalfa into a thin stand. However, overseeding alfalfa stands over one year old with additional alfalfa seed is not recommended due to the likelihood of autotoxicity issues.

Where does alfalfa grow best?

Alfalfa can be sown in spring or fall, and does best on well-drained soils with a neutral pH of 6.8–7.5. Alfalfa requires sustained levels of potassium and phosphorus to grow well.

Why are alfalfa sprouts bad for you?

Like any fresh produce that is consumed raw or lightly cooked, sprouts can carry a risk of foodborne illness if they are contaminated. Unlike other fresh produce, the warm, moist conditions required to grow sprouts are ideal for the rapid growth of bacteria, including salmonella, listeria, and E. coli.

Does alfalfa need a lot of water?

Alfalfa is a high water use crop because it has a long growing season, a deep root system, and a dense mass of vegetation. ... Commonly cited ranges in water requirements for alfalfa are 18 to 36 inches of water per season. Alfalfa is quite tolerant of drought or extended periods without highly available water.

Can you cut alfalfa the first year?

You can harvest seeding-year alfalfa as early as 40 days after seedlings emerge. ... However, after this early cutting the regrowth of seedling alfalfa will become more similar to established alfalfa, giving you the opportunity for two or three cuts the first year. And, it helps control many weeds as well.

What fertilizer is best for alfalfa?

Newly seeded alfalfa can benefit from 10-15 lb of nitrogen fertilizer per acre to ensure a good start, particularly on sandy or low organic matter sites and with early spring plantings into cold soils.

What's the best fertilizer for alfalfa?

A three-ton/ac alfalfa crop requires about 30 to 45 pounds per acre (lb/ac) phosphate (P2O5), 120 to 160 lb/ac potash (K2O) and 15 to 20 lb/ac sulphate-sulphur (S).

How many years does alfalfa last?

With alfalfa I try to plan for a 5 year stand. Sometimes it comes out after 3 years and sometimes it stays for 7 years. One time one field persisted for 11 full years of full production. I must also mention that one stand was plowed out before the first cutting.

Is growing alfalfa profitable?

Increased profits from alfalfa—Top dairymen know alfalfa is their most profitable crop. The high yield of high quality forage results in the greatest milk or meat production per acre of any forage. ... In two of those years, individual farmers pro- duced more than 10 tons of alfalfa per acre.

How much money can you make per acre of alfalfa?

NASS also reported alfalfa hay yields of 3.36 tons per acre, but remember that this does not include haylage, so a reasonable working alfalfa hay yield figure is 4.5 tons per acre. Average yields are from a broad range of conditions, so you must estimate what your yield potential is based on past history.

How much is a ton of alfalfa worth?

The start of 2020 saw the average U.S. price for alfalfa drop $4 per ton from December. The latest USDA Agricultural Prices report pegged alfalfa at $171 per ton, which was $8 per ton lower than one year ago.

Will Frost kill alfalfa?

Established alfalfa will outgrow the damage from a light freeze (upper 20s for several hours). ... Moderate freeze damage will kill the upper part of the stem and terminal buds, but not warrant any action. Regrowth must occur from lower axillary buds on the stem or from new crown buds.

What's the best way to plant alfalfa seed?

Since alfalfa roots quickly, it doesn't require deep planting—only about a half inch deep. Merely sprinkle the seeds evenly onto the soil and cover lightly with dirt. Use about ¼ pound of seeds per 25 square feet and space rows about 18-24 inches. You should begin to see sprouts within seven to 10 days.

How many pounds of alfalfa do you plant per acre?

Seeding rates should be between 12 and 15 pounds per acre. Prescribed seeding rates are designed to provide several times the seed needed to achieve optimal yield under ideal growing conditions.

Does alfalfa grow in clay soil?

Alfalfa does well on well-drained soil rather than wet, heavy clay soils and requires good soil pH ranging from 6.5 to 7.0. If your soil pH is lower than 6.5, symbiotic nitrogen fixation may not function properly.

Is alfalfa drought tolerant?

Although yields are highest with full irrigation, alfalfa can survive periodic droughts. This is due both to deep roots as well as ability to go 'summer dormant' under dry conditions.

How do you water alfalfa?

Alfalfa: Irrigation, Harvest Scheduling and Rotation Timing

Begin with a full soil water profile.
Monitor the soil profile weekly for moisture content.
Soil water should be depleted to about 50% of the available water in the top 2 feet before harvest. ...
Begin irrigating again as soon as harvest is removed to refill the soil profile.