Welcome to alfalfa.info. This site is designed to be a one-stop source for growers to access information about alfalfa production and management. The site is organized around a search engine that can help alfalfa growers and agronomists find regionally relevant information regarding any topic related to alfalfa establishment, management, harvest, conservation and feeding. The www.alfalfa.info database contains a regularly updated collection of web links to the most current alfalfa-related information on the net, sorted by region. To supplement the search engine, alfalfa.info contains an “Ask the Experts” function. “Ask the Experts” will send your alfalfa question to a regional alfalfa expert, and promises a prompt reply to your specific problem or question.

Relevant links.

Variety selection will be one of the most important decisions a grower will make relative to stand establishment. With adequate moisture, good management and modern varieties, university scientists are demonstrating record alfalfa forage yields (MSU 10T link). Yield potential is king, however most agronomists suggest that persistence and forage quality potential should be additional considerations in selecting an alfalfa variety. Many universities conduct alfalfa variety trials, and local yield data is often available to compare alfalfa varieties (public trials link). Over the last decade, alfalfa breeders have focused on increased persistence and many newer varieties offer significant improvements in winterhardiness and persistence. Data comparing persistence can be found in some university trials. Winter survival and multiple pest resistance ratings for many current varieties can be found on the NAA variety characteristics chart (NAA variety link). Although there are very significant differences in forage quality for alfalfa varieties harvested on the same schedule, comparison data is harder to find. Most alfalfa seed sellers will have comparison data on forage quality potential for the varieties they market. Dr. Dan Putnam recently presented an overview for variety selection to California alfalfa producers (CA variety link).

There is recent progress on exciting new research on biotech traits in alfalfa (biotech link and alfalfa redesign link). Many of these projects target improving alfalfa forage quality for improved animal performance. Recent developments at the University of Arizona demonstrate the potential use of alfalfa for economical production of pharmaceutical products (New use link). There is also new energy behind potential use of alfalfa as a biofuel crop. This home page and the alfalfa.info search engine will be regularly updated to capture developments on potential new uses.