What are the advantages of seeding alfalfa in late summer?
Late summer alfalfa establishment offers several advantages over traditional spring seedings. Weed and insect pests seldom limit stand establishment success. Using a pre-plant incorporated herbicide or a companion crop is not recommended. Companion crops will compete too strongly with the developing alfalfa seedlings for moisture. Also, the first hard freeze will kill any annual weeds that may have germinated. Remember that soil temperatures are much higher in the late summer than they are in the early spring. With adequate moisture, alfalfa seedlings will germinate, grow and develop a crop canopy at a much faster rate. Alfalfa yields of late summer seedings during the first production year are generally higher than yields of spring seedings during the establishment year. In fact, yields are often comparable to 2- and 3-year-old stands. By seeding alfalfa during the late summer, forage producers can have the equivalent of an established stand the following spring. Additionally, springt
