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Harsh winter testing hardiness of alfalfa

Harsh conditions this winter are testing the hardiness of alfalfa in the Upper Midwest.

 

University of Minnesota forage specialist Scott Wells says growers have been asking him about the chances of injury as frigid temperatures ushered in a new year lacking significant snow cover.

“It has been colder and we have had some snow, so we know that if we can keep 3 to 4 inches of snow out there we should be able to insulate those crowns.”

Wells tells Brownfield he’s more concerned about warmer temperatures thawing snow that later re-freezes, creating a sheet of ice over low-lying areas.

He says newer stands should fare better as winter progresses.

“If you let them go to at least 10 percent flower at least some time during the growing season last year.  If they’ve been managed well with potassium.  And not really punished like in some of our programs where we really push the alfalfa for high-quality, high tonnage, and you get maybe two to three years life-span on it.”

Wells says the timing of late-season cuts, age of stands, and the condition of the alfalfa at the end of the season are good indicators of how well the crop will overwinter.