Some of The Most Often Asked 
Questions And Answers for 
Alfalfa Growers Around the USA 

Through the years, I have tried to help farmers improve their success record when establishing and growing alfalfa. Here are but a few of the most frequently asked questions and my stock answers. I hope they help you get started and wind up as successful as you planned.

Q. What are the biggest problems farmers have when seeding alfalfa?
A. Long time planning and seasonal timing are the biggest problems. Examples; soil testing and the necessary time for soil amendments especially lime to alter pH, seedbed preparation, clearing residual herbicide carryover following row crops, seeding early enough to allow new plants time to survive weather related pitfalls, finding a varieties that fit your needs. This crop ought to be in production for several years. So take your time and do it right! 

Q. When is the best time of the year to seed alfalfa?
A. When moisture is not a problem, either spring or fall. If you choose fall, allow about 6-8 weeks for establishment before the historic freeze date. If you prefer spring instead of fall, wait until the frost is ‘out of the ground’. 

Q. Which variety should I plant and where can I get it?
A. If you are planting one of our varieties, check with your local suppliers. Should you come up blank, call our toll free number at 1-800-873-2532 or email me at advice@americasalfalfa.com and we will lead you to the source. 

Q. How deep should alfalfa seed be planted?
A. Shallow! On most soils ¼ to½ inch. On sandy soils up to ¾ inch.

Q. Why is alfalfa so hard to establish?
A. Alfalfa is not hard to establish so long as you take your time and think. Take as much time as you would take to plan and plant a great piece of corn. Chances are the alfalfa will make you a lot more income than a corn crop! 

Q. What is one of the better and more exciting and successful seeding systems that has been developed in the past 10-20 years?
A. Spring no-till seedings into killed winter wheat. Read about it in our AmericasAlfalfa .com website for specific instructions.

Q. Can I seed alfalfa into an established grass pasture and if so, how?
A. So long as you adhere to the basic principles in the first part of this series which includes pH of 6.5+ prior to seeding, P and K according to soil test needs, seed on schedule, and follow the program that I have outlined in lecture series in our website Americasalfalfa.com especially you must eliminate the heavy grass competition. You will find the entire program following Lecture series 5 in the main introduction. Remember, there are no short cuts if you want to be successful! 

Q. What alfalfa is best for both grazing and hay? 
A. Plant a verified grazing tolerant variety. Avoid the me-too varieties. Ask to see the grazing data. If data is not available, find one that is verified. These verified varieties yield as high and often higher than many/most ‘hay’ types and they can be grazed. A hint: so long as you stay in the Alfagraze ‘family’ you are on the right track. 

Q. When should I use a grain cover crop in a new alfalfa seeding?
A. When you know there is a good chance of sheet erosion without it. But keep the grain to about ½ the normal seeding rate to avoid competition with the alfalfa. I also suggest you harvest the first hay crop when the grain is in the milk stage or earlier to avoid lingering competition with the alfalfa.

Q. What do I need to do to successfully plant alfalfa following corn? 
A. Check the herbicides and the per acre rate used on the crop last season. If you or your supplier is not sure of the safety specks, check with your county agent or your University Specialist. 

Q. When should cool season grasses be seeded with alfalfa?
A. When you fear erosion, an aging-thin alfalfa stand and weed encroachment, to reduce bloat potential when grazing, and because you prefer to feed grass-legume over alfalfa alone to name a few of the more pertinent reasons.

Q. Are there any ways to control broad leaf weeds in established alfalfa?
A. Not to my knowledge except spot spraying. Any herbicides that will take out the likes of the various thistles and dock (and others) will kill alfalfa. There are herbicides that remove grassy weeds without harming the alfalfa. Check with your county agent for the ones to use. The best time to control broad leaf weeds is prior to seeding. Go to 6th lecture, in the first series in the website for the whole story. 

Q. Can I thicken an old alfalfa stand by seeding more alfalfa seed this year?
A. Probably not. Not unless the established seeding is less than 18 months old. If you want to get the whole story, I refer you to Lecture 9 of my 1st Lecture Series entitled “Autotoxicity in Alfalfa”.

Q. Will alfalfa grow on river bottom ground?
A. Yes if it is well drained and pH and fertility levels are up to specs but if the soils are not well drained and water remains on the soils for extended periods, the answer is no.

Q. How long does it take to bring a pH level from say 5.6 to 6.6?
A. It depends on the fineness of grind of limestone, the rate applied per acre, and the soil type. We usually allow 12-18 months to make the change. Sometimes it takes less time. Infrequently it takes more time than this. Why not check with a new soil tests after about 6-8 months to get a current status.

Q. When is the best time to apply manure on alfalfa.
A. During seedbed preparation and before seeding.

Summary: I hope we covered some/most of the questions that bother you. But if we have missed, get to us and we will sure try our best to fill the void.