Are the Stands Good Enough to Keep?

As alfalfa stands begin to green up it is important to determine if the stands will yield well enough to keep. This becomes particularly important as costs continue to rise. Changing economics have changed the way we should think about alfalfa stands. We used to want to try to keep alfalfa stands as long a possible to spread establishment costs over several years. This is no longer most profitable due to high fixed costs.

High costs mean that the fixed costs associated with farming (land, taxes, depreciation, etc) are more than half
the cost of growing a crop. 
 
In addition, production costs change little whether we are in a high yield range or low. Further, harvesting costs are about the same whether we are in a high yield range or low. For example, mowing and raking costs are about the same for a 1 t/a yield as for a 2 t/a yield. Chopping or baling cost may only be about 10% higher for the 2 t/a yield. The major difference is that, with the higher yield, more trips must be made to the barn or haystack! All these factors mean that high annual yield is more important to profitability than keeping the stand another year to spread establishment costs.

From studies we have done in the Midwest and irrigated regions, alfalfa varieties generally begin to decline in yield in the third production year and by the fourth year may be yielding 25% less than they did the first two years. Stands may last a year or two longer in Western regions. Most farmers cannot afford to keep stands that are yielding 25% below maximum, given the high fixed costs.

Would you plant a corn hybrid that yielded 25% below the maximum?

So as stands begin to green up in the spring it is important to walk fields and see if stands are good enough to keep. One should determine if there are at least 6 good healthy plants per square foot. Additionally, since we are cutting stems of alfalfa for hay or silage, 55 stems per square foot are what is needed to be in a optimal yield range. Fewer stems per square foot mean lower yields. You can count the stems from the last cutting last year or you can count the stems as they green up this spring. After counting one spot you can usually walk fields and visually assess stem density without counting.

One additional indication of a poor stand is dandelions. Dandelions do not crowd out alfalfa, they only fill holes. Spraying dandelions will not increase alfalfa yield (in fact may reduce yield) because holes in the stand will remain. Fields like the one shown will have 30% or greater yield reductions due to thin stands and should have been turned over and new fields of alfalfa planted.