News > Co-op News > Evaluating Alfalfa Stands

Evaluating Alfalfa Stands

May 11, 2022

Will your alfalfa reach its full yield potential?

Assessing the health of alfalfa stands is extremely important in helping estimate future yield potential as well as anticipating which fields are likely to suffer yield loss due to winterkill. Learn from Agronomist Mikayla Caygill as she explains how to evaluating stands.

Another valuable piece of evaluating alfalfa stands but one that is often overlooked is taking a close look at the crown of the alfalfa plant. Heavy traffic and compaction cause injury to the crowns creating a wound allowing the introduction of crown rots and other soil diseases. This will impact the longevity of your stand as well as a reduction in yield potential. The root health of alfalfa is determined by on a scale from 0-5 (0 being healthy) and in this case I would call this between 1 and 2 with some light discoloration but still strong enough to make it though the winter.

Add-a-subheading-(1).png

Please contact your local Premier agronomist today if you have any questions on evaluating alfalfa stands.

Mikayla Caygill
Agronomist

Mar 06, 2026

As fields begin to green up, now is the time to walk stands, make early decisions, and protect first-cut yield. Here are easy, practical steps that help drive more tons in 2026.

Mar 01, 2026

We’ve all heard the old adage that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. This year it came in more like an overfed barn cat than a lion. It still has claws and will fight when cornered, but it’s really more content to just lay around all day on a window sill enjoying the sun.

Mar 01, 2026

Today’s dairy and beef operations rely heavily on accurate forage inventory planning. Feed costs remain one of the largest contributors to overall expenses, and even small miscalculations can result in unplanned purchases before the next harvest. Key elements of effective forage management include proactive planning, understanding shrink and waste, accurately estimating animal numbers, and feeding consistent dry matter amounts.