ALFALFA, HAY FERTILIZER PAYS OFF

As the first crop of alfalfa/hay comes off and growers look toward second crop, it’s time to consider fertilizer (again, if early season fertilizer was applied).

Good fertility, plant health, seed vigor, and disease resistance can all be traced back to good fertilization – and all those factors contribute to a longer-lasting stand.

Duane Droogsma, Federated agronomist at the Rush City location, reiterated that most growers fail to fertilize sufficiently, which in effect, leaves money in the field. Fertilized alfalfa/hay will produce longer and better with proper fertilization.

Fertilizing after each cutting is the best crop management recommendation for alfalfa/hay. Fertilizing mid- to late-season gives the alfalfa/hay ground time for a reserve to be built up through the winter, Droogsma noted.

Talk to your Federated Agronomist soon to determine the best fertilizer plan for the remainder of this season and to prepare for next year’s crop.