Study reveals no impacts to alfalfa production after winter grazing

Sue Roesler
Aug 3, 2020
Aug 3, 2020 Updated Aug 4, 2020

Megan Van Emon, Montana State University Extension beef cattle specialist who works at Fort Keogh in Miles City, Mont., talked about the impacts of winter grazing on alfalfa production.

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Fall and winter grazing of alfalfa is a common practice, but there has been limited research on how it affects the subsequent years of production.

kAm|682? '2? t>@?[ |@?E2?2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ tIE6?D:@? 3667 42EE=6 DA64:2=:DE[ H9@ H@C<D 2E u@CE z6@89 :? |:=6D r:EJ[ |@?E][ E2=<65 23@FE E96 :>A24ED @7 H:?E6C 8C2K:?8 @? 2=72=72 AC@5F4E:@?]k^Am

kAm'2? t>@? 82G6 C6DF=ED @7 2 AC@;64E 4@?5F4E65 3J E96 7@C>6C |$& 7@C286 DA64:2=:DE[ t>:=J |644286[ 367@C6 D96 >@G65 E@ !6??DJ=G2?:2]k^Am

kAm“~?6 DEF5J AC@G:565 2 DFAA=6>6?E H9:=6 4@HD H6C6 8C2K:?8 2=72=72[ D@ E96 :>A24ED @7 E96 DF3D6BF6?E J62CD @7 E96 2=72=72 H2D >:?:>2=[” '2? t>@? D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 7@==@H:?8 J62C’D 2=72=72 AC@5F4E:@? H2D 2 D64@?52CJ >62DFC6 :? E92E DEF5J]k^Am

kAmx? a__f\_g[ 2?@E96C DEF5J =@@<65 2E 8C2K:?8 4@HD @G6C E96 =@?8[ 3:EE6C H:?E6C]k^Am

kAm“%92E H2D E96 H:?E6C E92E ?6G6C D66>65 E@ BF:E[ 3FE H6 5:5 D665 A@D:E:G6 :>A24ED E@ 2=72=72 AC@5F4E:@? WE96 7@==@H:?8 DAC:?8X 7C@> 8C2K:?8 E92E H:?E6C[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 @3;64E:G6D @7 E96 :?:E:2= DEF5J H6C6 E@ 6G2=F2E6 E96 :>A24ED @7 H:?E6C 8C2K:?8 2?5 7665:?8 @? 2=72=72 AC@5F4E:@? 2?5 A6CD:DE6?46 W2=72=72 DFCG:G2= @G6C E:>6X] x? 255:E:@?[ 2?@E96C @3;64E:G6 H2D E@ =6E AC@5F46CD 2?5 2=72=72 8C@H6CD :? |@?E2?2 2?5 E96 DFCC@F?5:?8 C68:@? <?@H 23@FE E96 C6DF=ED @7 E96 DEF5J 2E 7:6=5 52JD]k^Am

kAm$:?46 7:6=5 52JD 2C6 2? F?<?@H? 3642FD6 @7 r~'xs\`h[ '2? t>@? DA@<6 23@FE E96 2=72=72 EC62E>6?ED :? E96 DEF5J 2?5 D@>6 @7 E96 C6DF=ED]k^Am

kAmu:6=5D @7 2=72=72 49@D6? 7@C E96 DEF5J 925 E@ 92G6 2E =62DE 2 EH@\J62C A6C:@5 @7 8C62E6C E92? h_ A6C46?E 2=72=72]k^Am

kAmx? 6249 2=72=72 7:6=5 :? E96 DEF5J[ E96C6 H6C6 7@FC 6I4=@DFC6D E92E H6C6 A2:C65 H:E9 7@FC 8C2K:?8 A=@ED] tI4=@DFC6D 2C6 2C62D 36:?8 FD65 7@C 8C2K:?8[ 3FE 2C6 2C62D E92E 2C6 6I4=F565 7C@> F?H2?E65 H:=5=:76 @C @E96C 2?:>2=D 3J FD:?8 6=64EC:4 @C @E96C 76?4:?8]k^Am

kAmx? pAC:= a_`h[ E96J FD65 2 D@:= A6?6EC@>6E6C 7@C D@>6 >62DFC6>6?ED] %96 A6?6EC@>6E6C :D 2 E@@= FD65 E@ E6DE E96 4@>A24E:@? =6G6= 2?5 E:=E9 @7 E96 D@:=[ >62DFC65 :? A@F?5D A6C DBF2C6 :?49]k^Am

kAm%96J 2=D@ 6G2=F2E65 A=2?E 96:89E[ DE6> 2?5 A=2?E 56?D:EJ[ 2?5 C@@E D4@C6D]k^Am

kAmx? yF?6 a_`h[ E96J 4@==64E65 A=2?E 3:@>2DD 2?5 A=2?E 96:89E C:89E 367@C6 E96 7:CDE 92CG6DE]k^Am

kAm“%9:D DEF5J H2D 4@?5F4E65 :? q62G6C9625 r@F?EJ :? D@FE9H6DE6C? |@?E2?2 2?5 :? rFDE6C r@F?EJ :? D@FE962DE6C? |@?E2?2[” '2? t>@? D2:5]k^Am

kAmx? q62G6C9625[ g` 9625 @7 42EE=6 8C2K65 :CC:82E65 2=72=72 7:6=5D] %9@D6 42EE=6 6?565 FA H6:89:?8 `[`_a A@F?5D 8C2K:?8 7C@> }@G] `f[ a_`g E@ y2?] b[ a_`h]k^Am

kAm“xE H2D >@C6 @7 2 DE@4<6C\32D65 @A6C2E:@? @? E92E :CC:82E65 2=72=72[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmx? E96 rFDE6C r@F?EJ DEF5J[ H96C6 '2? t>@? :D =@42E65[ `ca 9625 @7 A2CE:2==J\H62?65 42=G6D 8C2K65 @? 5CJ=2?5 2=72=72]k^Am

kAm%96J 8C2K65 7C@> }@G6>36C a_`g E@ u63CF2CJ a_`h[ 2?5 6?565 FA H6:89:?8 dhb A@F?5D]k^Am

kAm~?6 AC@5F46C H2D 6=:>:?2E65 7C@> E96 DEF5J 3642FD6 96 E6C>:?2E65 9:D 2=72=72 H:E9@FE 2=6CE:?8 E96 |$& C6D62C496CD[ =62G:?8 ;FDE @?6 7:6=5 :? rFDE6C r@F?EJ 7@C E96 DEF5J]k^Am

kAm#6DF=ED H6C6 CF? D6A2C2E6=J E9@F89 2 =23 3642FD6 @7 E96 5:776C6?46 7C@> 2? :CC:82E65 2?5 2 5CJ=2?5 2=72=72 7:6=5]k^Am

kAmx? E96 5CJ=2?5 7:6=5 7C@> rFDE6C r@F?EJ[ DE6>D[ A=2?E 2?5 96:89E H6C6 6G2=F2E65 :? E96 8C2K65 2?5 F?8C2K65 2C62D] %96 C6DF=E H2D 2 !\G2=F6]k^Am

People are also reading…

Screwworm spreads into 4 more counties
Cereal rye smothers weeds
Revamped program offers one-year contract for cover crops
Montana Department of Livestock and MSU Extension issue guidance after New World screwworm detected in Texas
Beet stands come through cold, windy spring
Simple changes make the difference in cooling off cattle
Iowa dairy farm engages visitors while expanding operations
Longtime dairy farmer leads state dairy organizations
Better days for beets
Downpour floods fields in south-central North Dakota as farmers finish planting
What can I do about drought, minerals, and fly control for cattle?
How Mitchell-based Trail King powers heavy haul across North America
From the Fields: Sarah Pfaff-Cavadini
Interseeding outcompetes weeds, has host of other benefits
Manage small acreage pastures before, after drought

kAm|6EC:4 >62DFC6>6?ED H6C6 4@?G6CE65 :?E@ t?8=:D9[ D@ E96 DE6>D H6C6 >62DFC65 :? DE6>D A6C 7@@E DBF2C65j E96 A=2?ED :? A=2?ED A6C >6E6C DBF2C65j 2?5 E96 96:89E :? 46?E:>6E6CD]k^Am

kAmx? rFDE6C r@F?EJ :? pAC:= 7@C E96 8C2K65 2C62D[ E96 DE6>D H6C6 bg]f DE6>D A6C DBF2C65 7@@E 4@>A2C65 E@ c`]e DE6>D :? E96 F?8C2K65 2C62[ H:E9 2 ! G2=F6 @7 ]ga]k^Am

kAm%96 A=2?ED H6C6 a]b :? E96 8C2K65 2C62D[ 4@>A2C65 E@ a]c :? E96 F?8C2K65 2C62[ H:E9 2 !\G2=F6 @7 ]ge]k^Am

kAm%96 A6?6EC@>6E6C C625:?8 :? E96 8C2K65 2C62 :? pAC:= H2D `d]b 4@>A2C65 E@ `d 7@C E96 F?8C2K65 2C62[ H:E9 2 !\G2=F6 @7 ]hc]k^Am

kAm%96 C@@E D4@C6 :? pAC:= 7@C E96 8C2K65 2C62 H2D `]fd 4@>A2C65 E@ a 7@C E96 F?8C2K65 2C62[ H:E9 2 !\G2=F6 @7 ]fd]k^Am

kAmx? q62G6C9625 r@F?EJ :? pAC:= 7@C E96 8C2K65 2C62D[ E96 DE6>D H6C6 bc]f DE6>D A6C DBF2C65 7@@E 4@>A2C65 E@ be]c :? E96 F?8C2K65 2C62[ H:E9 2 !\G2=F6 @7 ]fd]k^Am

kAm%96 A=2?ED :? pAC:= H6C6 a]b :? E96 8C2K65 2C62D[ 4@>A2C65 E@ b]d :? E96 F?8C2K65 2C62[ H:E9 2 !\G2=F6 @7 ]`a]k^Am

kAm%96 A6?6EC@>6E6C C625:?8 :? E96 8C2K65 2C62 :? pAC:= H2D `h]d 4@>A2C65 E@ `e]` 7@C E96 F?8C2K65 2C62[ H:E9 2 !\G2=F6 @7 ]ac]k^Am

kAm%96 C@@E D4@C6 :? pAC:= 7@C E96 8C2K65 2C62 H2D `]fd 4@>A2C65 E@ a 7@C E96 F?8C2K65 2C62[ H:E9 2 !\G2=F6 @7 ]ea]k^Am

kAm “%96C6 H6C6?’E 2?J D:8?:7:42?E 5:776C6?46D :? pAC:= 32D65 @? @FC H:?E6C 8C2K:?8 A6C:@5D[ D@ E92E :D 2 G6CJ 8@@5 D:8? E92E H6 2C6?’E 92G:?8 2?J ?682E:G:EJ 7C@> 8C2K:?8 :? H:?E6C >@?E9D] p=72=72 42? AC@G:56 6IEC2 AC@E6:? 2?5 6?6C8J[ 6DA64:2==J 7@C E96 H62?65 42=G6D :? E9@D6 4@=5[ H:?E6C >@?E9D]k^Am

kAmx? yF?6[ E96J 6G2=F2E65 E96 96:89E :? 46?E:>6E6CD W3FE ?@ 96:89E 52E2 :? q62G6C9625X 2?5 E96 AC@5F4E:G:EJ]k^Am

kAm“xE D9@H65 2 8C62E6C E6?56?4J 7@C F?8C2K65 A=@ED E@ 8C@H E2==6C E92? F?8C2K65 A=@ED 3J 2? :?49[ 3FE E92E H2D?’E D9@H:?8 FA 2D 92G:?8 2?J D:8?:7:42?E :>A24E @? AC@5F4E:@?[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmx? rFDE6C r@F?EJ :? yF?6[ E96 96:89E H2D `_ :?496D 4@>A2C65 E@ ``]` :?496D :? E96 F?8C2K65 2C62D[ H:E9 2 !\G2=F6 @7 ]`_]k^Am

kAmx? yF?6[ E96 AC@5F4E:G:EJ H2D e[dch E@?D[ 4@>A2C65 E@ c[geb :? E96 F?8C2K65 2C62[ H:E9 2 !\G2=F6 @7 ]cc]k^Am

kAmx? yF?6 :? q62G6C9625 r@F?EJ[ E96 AC@5F4E:G:EJ H2D e[adb :? E96 8C2K65 2C62[ 4@>A2C65 E@ d[ghb :? E96 F?8C2K65 2C62[ H:E9 2 !\G2=F6 @7 ]bh]k^Am

kAmx? 3@E9 rFDE6C 2?5 q62G6C9625 r@F?E:6D[ AC@5F4E:@? H6:89E H2D ?F>6C:42==J 8C62E6C :? 8C2K65 A=@ED E92? F?8C2K65 A=@ED W3FE ?@E D:8?:7:42?E=J 8C62E6CX]k^Am

kAm“(6 5:5?’E D66 2?J ?682E:G6 :>A24ED @? 2=72=72 AC@5F4E:@? :? E96 J62C 27E6C 8C2K:?8[” '2? t>@? D2:5] “%9:D 42? 8:G6 @FC AC@5F46CD 2 =:EE=6 >@C6 4@?7:56?46 H96? E96J 2C6 8C2K:?8 E96:C 2=72=72 2?5 2==@H E9@D6 2?:>2=D E@ 8C2K6[ C2E96C E92? AF==:?8 E96> @77 2?5 7665:?8 F?92CG6DE65 7@C286 :? E96D6 H:?E6C >@?E9D]”k^Am

kAm%96 7:?2= 4@?4=FD:@?D D9@H65 E96C6 H6C6 ?@ D:8?:7:42?E 5:776C6?46D 36EH66? pAC:= 52E2 :? 6:E96C =@42E:@?]k^Am

kAm“%92E H2D 2 8@@5 E9:?8 2?5 D9@H65 ?@ :>A24ED H:E9 8C2K:?8 @? E9@D6 2=72=72 7:6=5 AC@5F4E:@? H9:=6 H6 2C6 32=:?8[ D@ H6’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ D66 E9@D6 5:776C6?46D :? 32=6 H6:89ED @C :? ?F>36C @7 32=6D 4@>:?8 @77 E9@D6 7:6=5D[” '2? t>@? D2:5]k^Am

kAm%92E 2==@HD E9@D6 42=G6D E@ 36 @? 2 9:896C\BF2=:EJ 5:6E 5FC:?8 E9@D6 H:?E6C >@?E9D]k^Am

kAm“|2J36 H6’C6 ?@E 7665:?8 D@ >F49 H9:=6 8C2K:?8 2=72=72[ D@ H6 42? D2G6 D@>6 >@?6J E96C6[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 DEF5J H:== 36 D6?E E@ E96 28 64@?@>:4D 56A2CE>6?E 7@C E96:C :?AFE]k^Am

kAm'2? t>@? :D 9@A:?8 E@ D92C6 52E2 2E a_a_ 7:6=5 52JD[ 3FE E9@D6 564:D:@?D 92G6?’E 366? >256 J6E]k^Am