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10 Ways to Boost 
Alfalfa Yields

Federated Co-ops, Inc. partners with Croplan� by Winfield to offer high-quality alfalfa for growers in east-central Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Winfield suggests ten ways to promote better alfalfa yields:
  1. Choose the alfalfa variety that fits the field and specific management practices.
  2. Use coated seed to increase seed efficiency (and improve stand establishment).
  3. Prepare the seed bed, plant at proper depth, use the right equipment and the proper seeding rate to improve stand establishment.
  4. Evaluate alfalfa stands and rotate them regularly to increase total production.
  5. Identify and control insects to maintain plant health and quality.
  6. Control weeds.
  7. Manage macro and micro nutrients for optimum production.
  8. Minimize wheel traffic and soil compaction over the life of the crop.
  9. Manage alfalfa harvest for highest yield and quality potential.
  10. Minimize leaf loss from field to storage, from storage to feedout.
For additional information on these ten key points, view this Croplan Fact Sheet (PDF).

Read more about specific Croplan Alfalfa Varieties (PDF).

Contact your Federated Agronomist for specific recommendations to fit your growing operation.
discovery plot
Discovery Plots 
Begin Aug. 24
 
RSVP to your local 
Federated Agronomist for this year's Discovery Plots.

Important news and information will be presented on the following topics.
  • Xtend™ soybean herbicide and herbicide system (by Monsanto)
  • Acuron™ and Acuron Flexi� corn herbicide (by Syngenta)
  • Federated's new dry fertilizer micronutrient mix
  • Fall fertilizer update
Pick the date and location that fits your schedule. 

Monday, Aug. 24
Osceola - Craig, Janet, & Neil Gustafson
 
Tuesday, Aug. 25
Isanti - Paul & Janet Bostrom
 
Wednesday, Aug. 26 
Ogilvie - Steffen Farms
 
Thursday, Aug. 27
Rush City - Nathan Nelson
 
Friday, Aug. 28
Rush City - Cramaur Farm
 
Tuesday, Sept. 1
Albertville - Lenneman Farms
 
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Ogilvie - Larry & Sharon Wilhelm
August 11, 2015
The Season's Right for Alfalfa Fertilization
 
alfalfa cuttingAlfalfa reveals a potassium (K) deficiency with white spots on lower leaf edges, which become more noticeable as the deficiency moves up the plant. When potassium (K) is severely lacking, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. When that happens, it's too late. Yield is lost. Significantly.
 
Why chance the damage and the lost yield? Give alfalfa the nutrients it needs early on -- and for both established fields or new plantings, late summer and early fall is the ideal time to apply K (and other nutrients).
 
"Start with -- you guessed it -- soil sampling. You've got to know where all of the nutrient levels are to achieve high production," said Tim Stelter, Federated agronomist at the Osceola location. "As a general rule, you'd like to maintain your nutrients in the optimum to high range," he added. For high-quality alfalfa production, K levels need to be between 110-160 ppm, depending on the soil types. 
 
potassium symbol Potash (K) is relatively immobile in the soil so an application in an established field later in the growing season (i.e., now/soon) will help it move into the root zone for next year. For new seeding -- and it's a great year to plant alfalfa now -- K needs to be applied before tillage and soil bed preparation (see article below) so the K gets worked in and ready to move to the root zone of the new seeding.
 
The added bonus of late-season potash application, according to Stelter, is that K acts as an anti-freeze in alfalfa. "It helps the plants store up carbohydrates to fight off the ravages of winter," he said.      

Practically speaking, there's more time available for fertilizer application in the late summer and fall, "especially if Federated is applying it," said Stelter (adding a "thank you" for the business). Best agronomic practice suggests a split application as well: after first crop, and after third crop.
 
Talk to your Federated Agronomist for recommendations, to schedule application, or for help with soil sampling. 
Alfalfa Fits Well in Late-Summer Seeding
 
This summer is lending itself to fall greatness, and it's also a great time to seed alfalfa and other hay mixtures. Of course, said Kevin Carlson, Federated's senior agronomist, "Start with a soil test. Make sure the pH is in the right range, along with other nutrients (see article above). Proper pH, depending upon the soil type, ranges from 6.5-7, for alfalfa and other mixtures. Apply fertilizer before tillage, and then prepare the seedbed."
 
Newly seeded alfalfa with a soft seed bed, starting best in the firm tire track.
"Alfalfa and other hay mixtures need a nice firm seed bed," said Carlson. "When you step on the seed bed, you shouldn't see more than a one-fourth to one-half-inch indentation from your footprint," he said.
 
The seed rate for alfalfa is 15-20 lbs./ac., depending upon the seeding method, either brillion or drilled. Brillion is best at 15 lbs./ac., for alfalfa alone. Using a drill requires a little heavier seed rate. With mixtures, "the rates vary according to what you are trying to achieve," said Carlson.
 
An added bonus for late summer seeding is that weed control is basically not necessary. "You don't see the weed pressure like you do in the springtime," said Carlson.
 
The planting window for alfalfa is from mid-August through the end of the month. In this part of the country, Labor Day is traditionally too late to seed alfalfa, so planting now is ideal. Grasses can be seeded all the way to freeze up, according to Carlson. "Alfalfa is much pickier - it needs to establish itself to survive winter."
 
Talk to your Federated Agronomist for seed rate recommendations and any other hay-related questions.
soybeans in AugustSantiago Answer Plot #3 Next Week

Join Federated Co-ops for this informative plot tour, on Thurs., Aug. 20, 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., lunch included, at Centra Sota Cooperative, in Santiago, MN.
 
This season's final Answer Plot will feature the following:
  • Bean Variety Showcases (Winfield, Asgrow, Dow, Syngenta)
  • Corn Hybrid Showcases (Winfield, DeKalb, Mycogen, Syngenta)
  • 2015 Review and 2016 Planning
  • Alfalfa Management Discussion
  • Silage Management Discussion
  • Door Prizes (after lunch)

Federated Co-ops | 763-389-2582 | [email protected] | http://federatedcoops.com
502 S 2nd St
Princeton, MN 55371-1941