Alfalfa Seeding Date Recommendations

Mar 31, 2021


Alfalfa Field

Topics to think about. 

Many times producers will plant alfalfa early out of convenience. But, planting alfalfa later has its benefits and may lead to more success on your farm.

Considerations for planting later:
  • Alfalfa seed planted in mid-March will be in the “refrigerator” until soil reaches 45-50 degrees. Many pathogens are active in 35-40 degrees before alfalfa seed can germinate.  
  • Rapid and uniform germination occurs in “warm” soils.  Cold soil often produce thin and uneven stands leading to possible replanting situations. 
  • Early spring seed bed preparation can be difficult, leaving clumps. Poor seed soil contact is not a good way to start alfalfa. 
  • Wet soils conditions often leave wheel tracks, which is not ideal for alfalfa.
  • There is no yield advantage and more risk of stand loss between March and seeding in warmer soils in April. 
  • Seed depth control is important
    • Shallow planting will be warmer early planting.  Plant deeper later in spring as soils warm up.    
  • Seed treatments including fungicides (both Stamina® and Apron XL® (Grozone® from CROPLAN)) are absolutely required in any early planting.
Fill out the form below to contact a Premier agronomist and learn how to have a successful spring alfalfa planting. 

 

 

Todd Miller

Winfield United
 

Latest Posts

Oct 01, 2025
Fall is here and harvest is underway for most of our area. Our grain facilities located in Mazomanie, Mineral Point, Richland Center, and Westby are anxiously awaiting this year’s crop. A few weeks ago, the Premier grain team spent the day reviewing safety and operational procedures to better prepare to serve our members’ needs during the upcoming season. Whether you need help hauling this year’s crop to the elevator or are still looking to finalize your grain marketing plan, give us a call. Our knowledgeable staff is looking forward to working with you to make this year’s harvest as safe and smooth as possible. Our team will do their best to meet your needs and they always appreciate the communication of trucking needs and your planned delivery dates. Thanks for your support and please be safe this harvest season.
Oct 01, 2025
As corn silage season concludes, it’s important to take a moment to recognize the dedication and long hours that went into securing the feed you’ll rely on throughout the coming year. We all aim to put up the highest quality feed possible, but in the rush of long hours during a short harvest window, it’s easy to lose sight of our true goal. Ultimately, we’re working to produce feed that is consistent, clean, and rich in nutrients. Once that hard work is done, the next critical phase is feedout. Here are a few key things to keep in mind as you move forward.
Oct 01, 2025
We had a good ending to our energy division fiscal year, so I’m glad I’m still here this month to write this newsletter article.

Since 2020, we have increased our delivery efficiency (gallons per mile) by 17.4%. We’ve also dropped the number of miles driven by 21% comparing 2025 to 2020. That equates to 66,776 less miles this year than in 2020. In other words, we saved about 2.7 circumnavigations of the globe, conserving over 13,000 gallons of diesel fuel we would have used to power our propane delivery trucks. Less diesel consumption means less pollution. Heck, we’re saving the planet without even trying.