Managing Alfalfa for Optimum Hay-Stockpiling Production in Montana

By Dennis Cash and Ray Ditterline

Over 1.5 million acres of alfalfa are harvested for hay annually in Montana. Alfalfa is grown under a wide diversity of climatic conditions (42% irrigated vs. 58% dryland) and management schemes. Alfalfa can be a very valuable cash hay crop with yields exceeding 7 tons per acre in irrigated short-term rotations. However, a vast majority of Montana’s hay crop is fed on-site with less than 10% produced as a cash crop. The predominant use for alfalfa or alfalfa-grass mixtures for livestock operations is for “hay-stockpiling”. This management practice is defined as harvesting dry hay in the summer – one cutting on dryland or two under irrigation – and “stockpiling” the aftermath regrowth for fall grazing.

Over the last 50 years, much advancement in haymaking has been made, including modern machinery, irrigation equipment, improved crop varieties and better management techniques. These advancements are necessary for maximum production of high-quality alfalfa hay in short-term rotations, and are responsible for our success. However, optimum forage management is different for long-term production and persistence in the hay-stockpiling system practiced by most Montana ranchers. Recent fuel price increases are forcing producers to maintain longer stands, use summer and fall grazing in lieu of haying, reducing deep tillage at stand termination, and a number of other practices commonly used for maximum alfalfa yields. For example, alternative forage crops (primarily cereals) and herbicides have been inserted in alfalfa rotations using reduced tillage methods. Swath or windrow grazing is also used as a method to reduce some haying and labor costs. Increasing fertilizer prices are also resulting in reduced applications and production.

In short, there are many new questions on alfalfa management regarding the economics, sustainability, and optimum input levels for long-term hay-stockpile production in Montana. Many techniques for maximizing alfalfa yield are completely appropriate for hay-stockpiling, while others may not be. The following are some guidelines that we have developed specifically for cow-calf and sheep producers for “optimum” forage production in a hay-stockpile system:

1. Clearly define your annual forage needs in terms of pasture and hay base. Due to our climate, you will always need a supply of hay for one to four months every winter, depending on your location and land base. From your current forage base, consider developing and planting improved pastures to offset your hay needs.

2. Make a clear decision on your labor, equipment and land availability for hay production. Many producers in the 1990’s who “retired” from haying to buy all of their hay were faced with extremely high prices during the drought conditions in 2001 and 2002. In contrast during years of hay surplus, haying expenses are typically about half of the crop’s value. Forward-contracting hay for a 3-year period from a neighbor might be an option. Make a realistic plan for equipment repairs and replacement for the hay you decide to produce.

3. Determine your goals for all new seedings of hay or pasture. For example are new alfalfa or alfalfa-grass stands to be maintained long-term (8 to 10 years)? Consider using these only for hay for three or four years while they are in top production, then use them for hay-stockpiling or grazing in later years. Grazing – particularly at inappropriate times – causes rapid stand decline in alfalfa. At any point in your improved forage base, you will have “new” highly-productive fields, and several older stands of medium to low production.

4. When establishing new alfalfa or alfalfa-grass mixtures, follow all of the recommended practices for top production – this is not the stage to consider cutting corners. When an old alfalfa stand is terminated, we recommend rotation to an alternative crop for two years before returning to alfalfa. Cereal forages such as hay barley or a winter cereal (wheat, triticale) forage are very useful to ranchers in this two year interval. This provides an opportunity to maintain hay production while reducing weed, rodent and pathogen pests in alfalfa, as well as breakdown of sod residues. Soil test and apply P and K ahead of establishing alfalfa. Plant an adapted variety or mixture based on performance data in Montana. Besides alfalfa, there are other adapted legumes (sainfoin, birdsfoot trefoil) and grasses (meadow bromegrass, orchardgrass) widely used in mixes http://animalrangeextension.montana.edu/Articles/Forage/Main-species.htm. Use good management strategies such as weed control, irrigation and harvest timing to develop a vigorous productive forage stand during the establishment year.

5. After establishment, continue to follow good crop and harvest management techniques. For grass (or predominantly grass) stands used in hay or pasture, a major input will be N fertilizer – apply 25 to 30 pounds of actual N per every ton of potential yield. With increases in fertilizer prices, we are anticipating that the use of alfalfa and other forage legumes will increase.

6. Use appropriate harvest or grazing schedules. For cash alfalfa hay, there is an emphasis on “early” cutting (harvest in the bud stage) for maximum quality. For alfalfa grown in short (3 to 4 years) rotations, early and timely cutting is a way to maximize yield and quality. However, most cow-calf producers do not require a large supply of high-quality (for example >20% CP, >150 RFV) hay. Often, it may useful to put up some high-quality second cutting alfalfa hay for feeding to replacement heifers or bulls. Generally, alfalfa hay cut at the early bloom (<10%) stage has the best combination of high yield and good quality for livestock maintenance diets. For long-term, productive alfalfa stands, we recommend that alfalfa is cut once or twice prior to early August, then stockpiled until October (http://animalrangeextension.montana.edu/Articles/Forage/hay/alfalfaharvest.htm) Haying during this “hardening” period causes rapid alfalfa stand decline (>20%), reduced yields (up to 39%), and increased weed invasion.

If hay or pasture is desperately needed during the critical period, use older fields and do not do it repeatedly – rotate fall use among all of your pastures. After “killing” frosts, about one fourth of your annual alfalfa production is available for grazing or haying (Table 1). Aside from proper timing of harvest, continue to fertilize and irrigate for good levels of production.

7. Consider using swath grazing rather than direct “open” grazing for the aftermath. For crops such as alfalfa, swathing eliminates leaf and nutrient loss, and combined with proper stocking rates, the overall utilization is improved (http://www.montana.edu/wwwpb/pubs/mt200106.html).

8. Define the proper time and method to terminate an old stand. Again, this differs between alfalfa grown in s short-term cash hay vs. a stockpiling setting. Some cash hay producers use their cost of production figures to determine a kill point- for example when a stand falls below 4 tons per acre, it is plowed, whether it is 3 or 6 years old). In a hay-stockpile system, you can use different strategies, such as managing a 4-ton stand for hay only until it reaches your pre-determined end point, then incorporate it into your hay-stockpile or pasture base. Under dryland, 1 to 2 tons may be your potential, so the kill point will occur when weeds have overtaken your pasture. Older stands are likely infested with weeds, such as dandelion, quackgrass Canada thistle, downy brome or others. Be diligent in your grazing and harvests to minimize these weeds from making seed – while you can “get by” with these in an old pasture, they are costly to eliminate in new stands. There are many considerations when a stand is to be terminated. Late fall or winter deep plowing was a traditional method of taking out an old alfalfa stand, however other lower-cost options should be considered. For most forages, the first cut comprises 40 to 70% of the total production, so an opportune time to terminate a stand is after first-cut regrowth is vigorously growing. Under irrigation, it is possible to apply herbicide, do light tillage, and plant a winter crop for forage – thus saving fuel, labor and time in the rotation phase. For the two years that cereals are grown, be sure to fertilize and control weeds before returning to alfalfa and other perennial crops.

In summary, most crop management practices for maximum alfalfa yield are appropriate for Montana livestock producers. However, there are several additional considerations for long-term stands of alfalfa that are used in a hay-stockpile system.

Table 1. Alfalfa at Bozeman, MT Under "Ideal" Management for Hay-Stockpile

New stands, weeds controlled, fertilized for 6-ton yields, adequate & timely irrigation

A.  Average yields in replicated trials with 15 to 30 varieties

B. Seasonal Yield Distribution (tons DM/A) - Bozeman, Irrigated

*We recommend not cutting or grazing between Aug. 1 until "killing frost" to maximize winter survival and aftermath.

C. Projected Alfalfa Productivity in a Hay-Stockpile System

Return to regular view	Text-only	Updated: 08/29/2006