What it takes for a persistent alfalfa stand (new insights)

     Alfalfa has been getting a lot of attention from forage research lately, given concerns that the big seed marketing brands  (generally owned by chemical companies today)  have been selling off or dropping their premium alfalfa lines.     Industry observers site three reasons:  (1) these companies make more money producing corn and soybean seed than alfalfa:  (2)  over the last twenty years, alfalfa growing farms have plateaued yields around 4 tons per acre  (bringing all the genetic selection efforts  into question):   (3)  RoundUp Ready alfalfa never got further than the irrigated fields of Idaho, costing 50% more than conventional seed without promising any increased yields.     Conventional seed sales volume plateaued for several years now.

A new technique for extending alfalfa stand life  

We already knew that the ideal soil pH for alfalfa to grow and persist is 6.5.      Less thought has been put into the ideal soil nutrient ratio for alfalfa, which is 20 parts Carbon to 1 part Nitrogen. Soil microbial populations that feed nutrients to the alfalfa roots are maintained at these levels.

During the harvesting season, each cutting removes carbon.    Alfalfa leaves are not that great at drawing in carbon dioxide (grass species are much superior to legumes in this process).    Thus a “pure” alfalfa stand will begin to die off just from periodic harvesting.     Mixed stands of alfalfa and improved grasses do much better (the alfalfa draws in nitrogen to root zones, and the grass draws in carbon to the root zones);  thus yields from mixed alfalfa-grass stands will be greater over the life of the stand.    But if you planted “pure” alfalfa, just overseed forage oats into the alfalfa stand after last cutting, and they will restore carbon to the soil.   The oats die off during winter, and you will see a more vigorous alfalfa regrowth in the spring!!

Great Lakes  Forage and Grazing  Conference   March 19, 2026
CTE John C Magnus Center:     3200 S Clare Ave.—Clare MI          9:00 am to 3:00 pm

This event happens once a year, with interesting speakers and topical breakout sessions.  The annual business meeting of Michigan Forage Council including election of rotating directors is held in the idle of the day.    If you register before March 15, admission is $65 (includes lunch).
To register online, go to https://bit.ly/GLFGC2026...  Or call Brittany Schultz (989) 426- 7741.