Alfalfa advice?

[dfarms11]

Oats/barley planted as a cover at 2/3 normal seeding rate under seeded to alfalfa sprayed with Buctril M.

Excuse me, you spray your alfalfa with Buctril M and it doesn't kill it?😳

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Since you farm in a very similar climate to me, too wet, and too cold, you probably have found the same thing I have. That most of the rules apply to areas where moisture is the limiting factor, instead of heat units and growing season. From there, many of the recommended methods just don't apply the same. This likely is one of them. Everyone around here plants hay underseeded in a grain crop, some end up as silage or greenfeed, but many are combined as usual, and it always seems to work fine in the end. If your oat crop has more value than the alfalfa seed cost, then not much question of what to do.

[Mufferaw]

Excuse me, you spray your alfalfa with Buctril M and it doesn't kill it?😳

Alfalfa under seeded this spring. Doesn't look like much now.


Overall field perspective.


Different field. Second year of cutting. Frost hurt it in first week of May a bit.
Same management - 2/3 seeding rate and Buctril M application. Buctril M won't kill it, may set it back a bit under certain conditions.

Took off around 4,000 lbs last year on first full cut. Last year only had 3.5 inches of rain - nothing significant prior to June 19. 1 inch came in 1/10 and 2/10 increments. We didn't see significant rain until June 9 this year - around 4 inches to date.

This is Sask. Crop Insurance J and K land.

[burnt]

This is about 3 weeks after cutting the triple mix. It was very dry before and after cutting but rained since and the stuff exploded.

[Sheepwheat]

Well I’m thinking now because my cut hay keeps getting rained on, that I might end up needing more hay. So I think I’ll it it for green feed.

Everything I read says make sure alfalfa has been emerged for over sixty days before cutting it. Should I be worried that cutting it will hurt it’s regrow the and recovery?

[newguy]

Well I’m thinking now because my cut hay keeps getting rained on, that I might end up needing more hay. So I think I’ll it it for green feed.

Everything I read says make sure alfalfa has been emerged for over sixty days before cutting it. Should I be worried that cutting it will hurt it’s regrow the and recovery?

As long as it is not cut past middle of August it should put enough into the roots before freeze up to be an established crop next year.cut a bit higher if you are still concerned about winter kill.Probably it would never get winter kill but may start up a bit slower next spring.

[Sheepwheat]

Sounds like I am thinking this through too much. Using rocket science where it’s not needed. Thanks everyone.

Thinking of cutting it early next week here.

[Sheepwheat]

So I ended up cutting those oats mid August. Seems like alfalfa is regrowing ok, but slowly, been wet enough for sure. I just hope it grows enough before killing frost. Thanks all for the advice. Set my mind at ease for sure. Ended up hay secure with some to sell as well.

[woodland]

So I ended up cutting those oats mid August. Seems like alfalfa is regrowing ok, but slowly, been wet enough for sure. I just hope it grows enough before killing frost. Thanks all for the advice. Set my mind at ease for sure. Ended up hay secure with some to sell as well.

Having extra feed is always a good thing. Currently sitting on a few years of extra feed here and and it takes the thought of the next drought almost completely away. Alfalfa is an amazing plant and we use it in all our pastures too. We feed on it in the winter, feed on it in the muddy spring, basically abuse it and generally it comes back. The first stuff we planted (40% AC Grazeland alfalfa 60% orchard grass) was 15 years or so ago and now it’s getting tired and due for a rotation.

Can’t beat alfalfa for the economics or productivity. 🍀

[Sheepwheat]

Having extra feed is always a good thing. Currently sitting on a few years of extra feed here and and it takes the thought of the next drought almost completely away. Alfalfa is an amazing plant and we use it in all our pastures too. We feed on it in the winter, feed on it in the muddy spring, basically abuse it and generally it comes back. The first stuff we planted (40% AC Grazeland alfalfa 60% orchard grass) was 15 years or so ago and now it’s getting tired and due for a rotation.

Can’t beat alfalfa for the economics or productivity. 🍀

Drought? What the heck is drought? Lol