Cover crops for alfalfa.

[jgstuart]

Since this year looks like a total wipe out due to drought in this area (east central alberta) we're already into "next year" mode. I have been strictly a grain producer, but I'm looking to try a little alfalfa to break things up a little. I've read a little about using 6 row barley as a cover crop for the alfalfa and then cutting the barley as greenfeed. Has anyone used this method? What sort of results did you get? I would appreciate any thoughts. Thanks.

[AdamSmith]

I have used a variation of this method when planting alfalfa/meadow brome mix for establishing hay/pasture. Worked really well in 2000. Put about a bushel/acre of barley with the hay mix and got lots of rain. Took off 10 ton/acre of silage and had a decent hay crop in 2001.
This year have done the same think but is a wreck with the drought. Could establishment in the spring with snow as we had it in early but now in a serious situation. Concerned about survival of hay mix when barley is silaged. If it stays dry will the forage burn up?

[rodbradshaw]

Cover crops get you a decent yield the first year but can severally hamper the developement of the alfalfa and reduce its yield in the next couple of years. If first year yield is not a factor it is better to plant by itself and recoup the yield in year two and three.

[hutton]

In terms of cover crops for perennial forages it has always been recommended that if you want to use a cover crop to cut the seeding rate in half from you traditional seeding rate for that crop. Barley or oats are used since they are the best suited cereals for green feed or silage. If a feed crop is planned then seed early (May 15th) and plan to harvest early (mid July). This gives the rest of the growing season to the establishing alfalfa plants. Under the dry conditions that we have seen in the past two springs a cover crop can be more harmful than helpful. It is important to remember that the cover crop is not a benefit to most forage seedings. In fact it serves more as a competition crop and can result in poor forage seedling establishment.
Some producers have also underseeded canola or mustard to alfalfa and harvested as grain and had good alfalfa estblishment. Most herbicides for the oilseed crops are compatible with alfalfa.
A third option is to not use a cover crop and direct or black seed alfalfa on its own. If you have the ability to direct seed into stubble then this option can work. In the year of seeding you generally will not see significant hay yields (1/2 to 3/4 tonne). If seeded by early May we would expect the alfalfa to reach the bud stage in about 3 months. This approach to estblishing alfalfa generally gives you a more productive hay stand for the next two to three years versus underseeding the alfalfa with another crop.
Also if you plan to grow alfalfa make sure you check out your soil phosphorus levels and sulfur levels. Under dryland conditions it is better to boost these nutrients at the time of seeding then to try and add them via surface application in later years.
For further information on estblishing forages go to Alberta Ag's web site www.agric.gov.ab.ca. Under the "Crops " heading you will find information on forages and on estblished perennial crops.

[emiled]

Research by Gateway Research Org. at Westlock has shown that cover crops (especially if kept for grain) can affect the forage performance for up to 3 years. In their study it appeared bromegrass was much more sensitive (to competition from a cover crop) than alfalfa.

Reasons growers use cover crops... 1. To provide some economic return in year 1 which is understandable but if that's the case, it's best to reduce seeding rates (1/2) and N rates and harvest it as soon as possible (greenfeed not grain)... 2. To compete with weeds which is a fallacy as the cover crop competes just as well if not more with the emerging forage

When considering fertility, consider K along with P and S. Forages (especially alfalfa) are huge users of these nutrients. Westco's research has shown reasonable response to top dressed P and K in deficient situations on alfalfa. (Grasses are much less responsive) Good moisture is required to make this happen and the full response often is spread over 2 years.

One last note, be careful which canola varieties and chemistry you use when using it as a cover crop. Clearfield canola is often used when underseeding alfalfa and works well. Pursuit or Odyssey can harm underseeded grasses.

[drbriand]

It sounds like you have received some good feedback. I know two farmers who will never use a cover crop again. The one fellow says it took him thirty years to finally make this decision.

One observation I will pass along is that when a silage covercrop is taken off in early August and then a heatwave hits before any significant rainfall, the suppressed seedling alfalfa and grasses can be lost (if they have germinated.

Whatever you decide to do about the covercrop is up to you. Focus on the forage seed as your primary crop and make sure you get the forage seeded by mid-May, keep the forage seed within 1/2" - 3/4" of the surface and pack the seed bed if you are not direct seeding. The packing can make all of the difference for a good forage stand establishment.

For the type of alfalfa you should grow think about your end user. Quality is extremely important and that starts with the alfalfa variety.
I prefer using meadow brome over smooth brome in a multi-cut system, especially in a drier area.

Dairy farmers only like a small amount of grass (5 - 10%)in their alfalfa. This is just to help the swath dry out and cure.

Dairymen are good customers if you have what they need. There is hay moving into Leduc from Brooks just as an example.

Well there is so much more that I could pass along, but you could always e-mail me for more specific questions.

[rosco]

I direct-seeded my alfalfa last spring with smart canola for a cover crop-8lbs alfalfa and 5 lbs canola with 50-18-0-10. Got lucky with some rains and the alfalfa got an excellent start. I sprayed the crop with full rate pursuit, and got good results. Took off 27 bushel crop and the alfalfa survived the winter good with the tall stubble to catch snow. I'm in east-central Alberta and the drought has hit the alfalfa hard this spring. I still managed to get 98 bales off 150 acres. I did the same thing this spring but the drought has hit it hard. With the recent rains I hope the rest off the alfalfa will come up! If crop insurance writes off the canola, I'm going to leave the canola stand to catch snow.