Summertime Alfalfa Establishment
Paul H. Craig
CCA Forages
Dauphin County Extension
This spring, a dairyman
from Elizabethville com
mented on the fantastic de
velopment of an alfalfa stand
planted last summer. By late
April, this stand was out
standing! This producer is
convinced, like many others,
that midsummer is the best
time to plant alfalfa. August
seedings can provide an alter
native for producers, if they
pay attention to details.
Often called “fall seed
ings,” the best time to sow is
mid to late summer. New
seedlings need a minimum of
eight weeks of growth prior
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to cold weather to ensure
winter survival and to be
ready to develop next spring.
Crown and root development
are critical during the estab
lishment stage. Heaving
losses increase greatly with
later season attempts at es
tablishment, but sowing too
early can increase the risk of
moisture stress. August 5 to
IS is ideal in southcentral
Pennsylvania.
Providing necessary lime
and fertilizer nutrients is im
portant for stand productiv
ity. There is still time to
collect soil samples for a
summer seeding. Turna
round time at testing labs is
getting faster and faster.
Lime is needed to ensure root
and rhizobium health: phos-
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phorous aids root growth and
yield; and potassium is criti
cal for plant vigor. At only
$6, soil analysis is a great in
vestment.
Small seeded plants, like
alfalfa, require special atten
tion to seedbed preparation.
A loose, fluffy soil results in
poor seed to soil contact.
Contact is necessary for the
seed to absorb moisture to in
itiate germination. On tilled
soils, firmness is improved by
cultipacking before seeding.
With attention to controlling
existing vegetation, no-till
forage seeding can be suc
cessful in summer.
Seeding depth is critical.
Small seeds have limited
energy reserves. Most suc
cessful stands are sown at 'A
' *
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inch. If you cannot find some
alfalfa seed on the soil sur
face, you are planting too
deep. Properly adjusted press
wheels are beneficial.
The goal of establishment
is to have a minimum of 20 to
30 crowns/square foot for a
one year stand. Typical al
falfa seed lots provide 200-
225,000 seeds per pound.
Sowing 15 pounds per acre
drops approximately 90
seeds/square foot. Survival
rates will vary from 10 to 50
percent, depending on envi
ronmental conditions. Drill
calibration ensures correct
seeding rates.
Often, weed pressure will
not impact summer seedings.
Perennials should be con
trolled with tillage or sys
temic herbicides. Summer
annual weeds won’t compete
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and will be controlled by
frosts. Winter annuals, such
as chickweeds, mustards, etc.
can be severe and may need
to be controlled while small.
One increased risk of a
summer seeding is a disease,
sclerotinia. This disease in
soybeans is called white
mold. Under certain fall con
ditions, the disease will grow
on the soil surface and release
spores. These spores enter the
alfalfa stem and infect plant
crowns. Next spring, severely
infected crowns may die. Le
sions and black spore bodies
can be seen. Rarely does the
infection result m total stand
loss. Many alfalfa varieties
are evaluated for sclerotinia
resistance.
Pay attention to detail and
sound agronomics and your
summer seeding will get off
to a great start.
Alfalfa Intensive
KANSAS CITY, Mo. Alfalfa pro
duction and use technology is expand
ing at a rapid pace and there is much
to be learned about alfalta. The Alfalfa
Intensive Training Seminar (AITS),
developed by the Alfalfa Council, is
unique within the agriculture industry
and provides participants the knowl
edge needed to make educated and in
sightful recommendations to alfalfa
producers.
The next semiannual AITS will take
place in Pasco, Wash., Oct. 29-31 for
the first time since the AITS program
was founded 10 years ago. The semi
nar offers the expertise ol nationally
recognized and experienced alfalfa in
structors.
The three-day conference will cover
topics such as genetics, variety devel
opment, soils, fertility, forage quality,
marketing, economics and a host of
other alfalfa-related subjects. People
who would benefit from learning more
about alfalfa, including agronomists,
district sales managers, product mana
gers, dairy and beef nutritionists, farm
editors, extension agents and custom
harvesters, just to name a tew, should
plan to attend.
Certified crop advisers can earn up
to 10.5 C.E.U. credits. Registration in
formation, as well as a complete course
curriculum, can be obtained by con
tacting the Alfalfa Council at (816)
584-8169, or visiting the Website at
www.alfalfa.org. A brochure is avail
able for downloading at the Website.
The Alfalfa Council is a non-profit
organization, founded in 1953. During
its history, the Council has developed a
wealth of alfalfa materials and pro
grams, including videos, slide sets, ad
vertising, and printed materials all
promoting “a better understanding
and wider use of alfalfa” throughout
the United States.
179