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5 Products to Enhance Your Alfalfa Yield Potential

Mar 24, 2021

Alfalfa Field

All About Alfalfa

Enhancing your alfalfa yield potential

Enhancing your alfalfa yield potential is easier now with the addition of several new tools.

Make sure you check the basics first; soil pH, phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), and Sulfur (S).

Then these 5 yield enhancing products and tools work great when you have your soil fertility foundation built.

1. Priaxor® from BASF

Rate: 4-6.9 oz/A. Timing is on 6-8 inch tall alfalfa plant growth with a minimum of 15 GPA, and Pre-Harvest Interval (PHI) of 14 days. Ideal timing is to get this on first crop (also recommend second and last crop). Excellent control of plant disease like Spring and Summer Black Stem as well as Common Leaf Spot and multiple races of Anthracnose. This may give significantly better leaf retention and potential for higher feed value.

2. ASCEND® Plant Growth Regulator (PGR)

Rate: 3.2 oz/A. Timing is on 6-8 inch tall alfalfa plant growth with a minimum of 15 GPA. Ascend® plant growth regulator may be tank-mixed with Headline® and insecticides. ASCEND® plant growth regulator contains 3 distinct growth promoters. Their effect on alfalfa when applied foliar in a well-managed environment is to speed the rate of DM accumulation – possibly shortening the cutting interval and allowing the capture of higher quality and more tonnage over the season.

3. MAX-IN® Foliar Micro-Nutrients

MAX-IN® Boron, Timing is the same 6-8 inches of plant growth. Boron - the most responsive element for foliar application; the MAX-IN® Boron micronutrient formulation is applied at the rate of 1 pt/A, and may be tank-mixed with most anything you are spraying. Best results are seen when applications are made during active growth 2nd thru 4th crop. Boron can become more limiting in dry soils. MAX-IN® Boron micronutrient tank-mixes well with Ascend® plant growth regulator, Priaxor® and many insecticides.

Make sure you check the basics first; soil pH, Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), and Sulfur (S).

4. Arctic® 3.2EC Insecticide

Rate: 4-8 oz/A. Timing is when insect levels reach threshold. Apply before plant yield loss occurs. Contains permethrin for broad-spectrum control of insects in alfalfa. Tank-mixes well with ASCEND® PGR, MAX-IN® products and Priaxor®.

5. NUTRISOLUTIONS® Tissue & Soil Test

Manage macro- and micro- nutrients to promote high forage production:
  • Soil test to ensure that soil pH levels are on target. Alfalfa requires a neutral soil pH for high production. Also, review the test to ensure the necessary macro- and micro- nutrients are present to fuel alfalfa growth.
  • Test plant tissue to verify the need for micronutrients and secondary nutrients.
  • Test soil to take inventory of the nutrients that are available and those that are lacking:
    • pH 6.8 – 7.2 (lime alfalfa ground one to two years before seeding)
    • Potassium (Potash or K) soil test = 300 lbs. or 150 ppm
    • Phosphorous (P) soil test = 50 lbs. or 25 ppm
 

Al Stelpflug

Crop Production Specialist

Latest Posts

From the Manager's Desk
Mar 03,2023
With spring just around the corner, your cooperative is gearing up for another one of our seasonal rushes…spring planting season. Not only will we see our total employee count peak for the year, but nearly every asset in the company will be in use. While many businesses have equipment and buildings that are in use all year long, our grain and agronomy divisions have millions of dollars invested in some assets that only get used for a few months out of the year. It is critical that these assets are fully operational and ready to go when the season starts. Our agronomy operations team has spent the winter months going through all the equipment to make sure it's in good working order, unwrapping and greasing up the new sprayers, trucks and other equipment we’ve purchased this year, updating technology and precision tools on existing equipment, and conducting hours of training on its use and safety. 

In addition, the crop advisors and admin staff have been putting the finishing touches on crop plans and seed orders, wrapping up input financing and nutrient management plans, hiring and training new staff including college interns to help scout fields, and maybe taking a little time away to get rested for what is sure to be long days and short nights ahead. If you’re still looking to finalize plans for this planting season, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our highly trained crop advisors.

Gearing up for spring is not only about the equipment, but also the additional staff needed to provide the products and services our members rely on to help feed the world. Each year we try to fill about 100 full and part time positions at our eleven agronomy locations. These positions can last from six weeks up to eight months. Most seasonal positions involve delivering product to our members or directly to fields to keep our custom application machines running smoothly. If you or someone you know is interested in seasonal or year-round employment, please contact Shayla at our Mt Horeb office or stop by one of the agronomy locations. The hours can be flexible and available up to seven days a week. If agronomy work isn’t for you, ask about openings at any of our other locations including retail associates, plant operations, truck drivers, administrative professionals and more. Premier is always looking to add quality people to our team.

Thank you for your continued support of Premier Cooperative and its staff. Have a great month and stay safe!
Evaluating your Herd's Mineral Program
Mar 03,2023
Cattle nutrient requirements can vary by season and stage of production. Now is a great time to evaluate your cattle mineral programs and map out a plan to maximize impact.

While minerals are a relatively small portion of the diet, they control many vital functions in cattle and impact everything from cattle reproduction to feed efficiency and overall herd health. That's why it’s so important to make sure the mineral needs of your cattle are being met year-round.
Take Care of Early Season Weeds before Planting
Mar 03,2023
I know many of you have plans in place for a spring burndown herbicide application. If not, here are a few reasons for you to get in contact with your Premier agronomist to do so. Spring burndown applications typically target winter annuals and perennial grasses that overwinter and resume growing as soon as temperatures warm in the spring.  As they get going in the field they immediately begin stealing water and nutrients from the soil, and can create planting challenges. With the onset of resistant weeds like waterhemp, and standby challenges like giant ragweed, it is a best practice recommendation to add a strong residual herbicide to your preplant spring burndown application.  Doing so helps keep populations down and gets ahead of your first early post application. Here are some tips for establishing clean fields that give your crop a strong start.

 

Related Topics

Crop Production
CPP
Fertility
Forage
Dairy
Beef
Animal Nutrition

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