1. Alfalfa Production in Georgia (or similar areas in the South)
Dennis Hancock, PhD.
Extension Forage Specialist
UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences

2. Interested in producing alfalfa?
Either I’m going to:
Talk you into growing alfalfa. OR
Talk you out of growing alfalfa.

3. Alfalfa in GA Very valuable ($140-200++/ton)
Very high quality forage (when harvested correctly)
High yielding (5-8 tons/acre)
Performs best under irrigation

4. Alfalfa Hay Costs – 2009 (projected)
Cost Per Ton
Variable Costs: $109.61
Remember that NPK are not all the costs for hay production. Again- a bermudagrass example. Note (using old costs) the breakeven on hay production is around $60 per ton. I’d argue that fertility, land and machinery costs are much higher today and that breakeven likely exceeds $70 per ton.

7. Remember that NPK are not all the costs for hay production
Remember that NPK are not all the costs for hay production. Again- a bermudagrass example. Note (using old costs) the breakeven on hay production is around $60 per ton. I’d argue that fertility, land and machinery costs are much higher today and that breakeven likely exceeds $70 per ton.

8. So Why Not Alfalfa?

9. Lack of Marketing Skill
So Why Not Alfalfa?
Blister Beetle
Drying Conditions
Diseases
It’s Too NEEDY
Lack of Marketing Skill
Not Enough Labor
Pest Control
Poor Soil Fertility
Too Risky

10. Species, Soil, and Management
Poor
Best
Perfection
Alfalfa
Perennial Peanut
Soil Conditions
Bermudagrass
Best
Management Skill and Input
Required

11. Soil Conditions for Alfalfa
Well-drained, deep soils
Deep taproot
Soil pH maintained > 6.5 (6.2)
Major nutrients should be balanced P-K
Minor nutrients needed (B, Mo)

12. Aluminum Toxicity – Low Soil pH
Alfalfa
control
treated

16. Nutrients removed per acre of dryland and irrigated alfalfa.

17. Selecting the Right Alfalfa Variety
Dormancy rating of 5 to 8.
Rating (1-10) based on growth after September 1.
Winter survival in the North.
Disease resistance: > MR to
phytophthora root rot (PRR), anthracnose (An), bacterial wilt (Bw), and fusarium wilt (Fw), as well as a R rating to aphanomyces root rot (APH).
Varieties: Bulldog 505 or 805

18. Selecting the Right Alfalfa Variety
Persistence
Particularly if to be grazed
Yields
Variety
Est. Yr
Yr. 2
Yr. 3
----- lbs DM/acre -----
Bulldog 805
4799
14036
9525
Alfagraze
2957
10840
7284
Fla. 77
5159
12939
8149

19. Planting Alfalfa: LV & Piedmont
Well-prepared, firm seedbed
Pack-plant-pack method
Cultipacking seeder (Brillion)
Broadcast
(Distant 3rd) Drilled
2) No-till into suppressed sod
Timing: mid-Sep to late-Oct

20. Planting Alfalfa: Coastal Plain
Well-prepared, firm seedbed
Pack-plant-pack method
Broadcast or Drilled
Cultipacking seeder (Brillion)
2) (Distant) No-till into suppressed sod
Acceptable if interseeding into bermudagrass sod
Timing: mid-Oct to early Dec

21. Inoculate Legume Seed
The population of the specific Rhizobium (Rhizobium meliloti) is likely to be very low in the soil.
Inoculate seed with fresh inoculant before seeding.
1 bag of inoculant per bag of seed.
Use a “sticker” material.
Alfalfa seed often comes pre-inoculated.
coated with an inert material, usually lime,
saves time and helps to ensure inoculation
check expiration date

22. Seed Quality Concerns Seed crop has been of relatively poor quality
Poor germination
Purity is low
Pure Live Seed (PLS)
(Germ + Hard) x Purity
Maybe < 80% PLS
To be successful with new varieties, pay attention to some establishment basics.

23. Weed Management

24. Visit the Pest Management Page on
Specific Weed Problem?
Visit the Pest Management Page on

25. Insect Management

26. Alfalfa Weevil

27. Potato Leafhopper

28. Potato Leafhopper
Potassium Deficiency

29. Potassium Deficiency

31. Harvest Management

32. Balancing Yield, Quality, and Persistence
Total Yield
TDN
Stem Yield
Leaf Yield
vegetative bud st flower full-flower full-seed

33. Quality Declines with Length between Cuttings
Adapted from Alfalfa Management Guide.

34. Balancing Yield, Quality, and Persistence
cut at bloom
Root Reserves
cut at bud
growth initiation
6-8 inch height
bud stage
full bloom

35. Resources on CD: Alfalfa

36. Questions?