Alfalfa Production

Now is a good time of year to look at alfalfa fields to make sure they are ready to continue to produce next year. Getting the plants in good condition will help to prevent winter and spring heaving. Start with a good soil test. Alfalfa can draw down levels of potassium and calcium. This will reduce future yields. Good soil tests in alfalfa should include micronutrients. Boron is often needed to maximize yield and keep plants healthy. Alfalfa uses about 50 pounds of potassium per ton of alfalfa. Also, remember that it is really too late to harvest alfalfa right now. The plant needs to grow strong crowns in order to overwinter. Late harvest will weaken the crowns. If you really need the extra production, harvest after a hard freeze. This may not be a great idea, but it is better than harvest growing plants right now.