Seed Types
Green Prairie Seed Company also offers several different alfalfa varieties to fit our customers various situations and needs. If you have questions about the best alfalfa variety for your application, please reach out to us and let us help.
ESTABLISHMENT
A seedbed should be smooth, firm, free of weeds and trash, and contain adequate moisture for germination and emergence. Land grading should be sufficient to ensure good surface drainage. Alfalfa should not be seeded as a first crop on newly leveled land where fill may settle and cause poor surface drainage. Fifteen to twenty pounds of coated or non-coated inoculated seed per acre evenly drilled ¼ – inch deep on adapted, properly prepared sites will produce adequate stands. A combination drill and packer is desirable. Cultipacking soil before and after seeding is helpful to stand establishment. Seeding depth should be no greater than ¼ inch on finer textured soils and no greater than ½ inch on sandy soils. Spring seedings can be made 30 days before the average date of the last killing frost. Alfalfa can also be successfully seeded during the late summer. Allow time for adequate growth prior to the first killing frost.
MANAGEMENT
Graze or cut for hay when alfalfa is in early bloom. Graze or cut to about a 2 inch height. Successive cuttings for hay should occur at a 10% bloom stage. Alfalfa can best withstand grazing if rotated frequently or grazed in small strips. The last cutting of alfalfa should be made 3 to 4 weeks before the first killing frost date. Alfalfa may cause livestock to bloat. Care should be used in managing such grazing to reduce the possibility of this hazard.
GPS Alfalfas
EXTENDER IV ALFALFA
- Resistant to Sclerotinia crown and stem
rot - Perfect 30 out of 30 on the Wisconsin
disease index - Excellent hay yield and wide adaptability
- Newer genetics and higher yield
- 4.0 fall dormancy
- 3.1 (Good) winter survival
- Very fast recovery after cutting
EXTENDER IV is a new improved version of Extender III Alfalfa. This productive variety is highly resistant to all major disease pests and offers resistance to Sclerotinia crown and stem rot. EXTENDER IV is also resistant to Pea Aphid and Stem Nematode and displays excellent tolerance to Lepto Leaf Spot and Spring Black Stem. Adapted for hay, haylage, or grazing purposes, EXTENDER IV delivers consistent performance under a wide range of climatic and soil conditions. Characteristics include superior establishment, excellent persistence, fast recovery after cutting, and exceptional winter hardiness.
FSG 421LH ALFALFA
- Very high resistance to potato leaf
hoppers - Superior yield potential
- Excellent forage with increased
palatability - High resistance to Aphanomyces Race 2
- A widely adapted glandular haired
conventional alfalfa variety - 4.0 fall dormancy
- 2.0 (Very Good) winter survival
- Tap root type
- Very fast recovery after cutting
FSG 421LH alfalfa is Farm Science Genetics latest conventional potato leafhopper resistant variety. With very high leafhopper resistance, a Wisconsin disease index rating of 35/35 and a fall dormancy of 4, FSG 421LH is at the top when it comes to performance, adaptability, and pest resistance. FSG 421LH tolerates a wide range of environmental and soil conditions with characteristics such as high resistance to Aphanomyces Race 2, excellent persistence, fast recovery after cutting and high relative feed quality in sprayed or unsprayed conditions. FSG 421LH is the perfect choice for areas where potato leafhoppers cause economic damage year after year.
FSG 527 ALFALFA
- Great forage yield potential
- Superb forage quality
- High multi-foliate leaf expression
- Very fast recovery after cutting
- Excellent winterhardiness and persistence
- Perfect 30 out of 30 on the
- Wisconsin disease index rating
- 5.0 fall dormancy
- 1.0 (Superior) winter survival
- Very fast recovery after cutting
FSG 527 alfalfa is at the top of its class with superior combination of winter hardiness, very fast recovery after cutting, high multifoliate leaf expression for improved forage quality and great forage yield potential. FSG 527 alfalfa is ideal for the commercial hay grower or dairy producer using an intensive cutting management schedule or for those on a less intensive cutting management schedule. Designed for the Midwest alfalfa grower.
FSG 438RR ALFALFA
- Roundup Ready Alfalfa
- High resistance to Aphanomyces Race 2
- Unsurpassed weed control
- Great forage yield potential
- Superior forage potential
- High multi-foliate leaf expression
- Excellent winterhardiness and persistence disease/insect/nematode ratings
- 4.0 fall dormancy
- 2.0 (Very Good) winter survival
- Very fast recovery after cutting
FSG 438RR alfalfa lets you produce cleaner, higher quality alfalfa for greater profit potential. The simplicity and improved crop safety of using one herbicide with the widest window of application available enables you to be in control instead of Mother Nature. 438RR alfalfa performs well over a wide range of environmental conditions and is adapted to all areas where 3, 4, and 5 fall dormancy varieties are planted. With high resistance to Aphanomyces Race 2, 438RR alfalfa features a Wisconsin disease index rating of 35/35 and is also resistant to stem nematodes. Whether it’s for great forage yields, superior forage quality or very fast recovery after cutting, 438RR is the choice for commercial hay, beef, and dairy producers who want to take advantage of Roundup Ready Alfalfa technology. FSG 438RR alfalfa requires the grower to have a license technology number from Bayer before the product can be sold.
FSG 450 ALFALFA ULTRA-CUT
- High resistance to multiple races of Aphanomyces
- High resistance to multiple races of Anthracnose
- Exceptional forage yield potential
- Superior forage quality
- Unmatched winter hardiness and persistence
- High multifoliate leaf expression
FSG 450 alfalfa is the leader in alfalfa performance with an outstanding trait package that raises the agronomic achievement bar to the next level. FSG 450 performs well over a wide range of environmental conditions and is adapted to all areas where 3 and 4 fall dormancy varieties are planted. FSG 450 features the UltraCut alfalfa disease package which helps you grow a healthy alfalfa crop in field conditions susceptible to evolving Aphanomyces and Anthracnose disease strains. Its protection can help deliver an advantage through improved agronomic performance and yield potential. Whether it’s for exceptional forage yields, superior forage quality or very fast recovery after cutting, FSG 450 is the first choice for commercial hay, beef and dairy producers. FSG450 Ultra-Cut is an industry leader in disease resistance.
COMMON ALFALFA
This is a nonspecific variety that is usually an untreated/uncoated variety. It is commonly used in organic transition acres. While it can produce good alfalfa, the quality and life expectancy of the stand is unknown. It is economically priced as an entree level alfalfa.
Alfalfa is a very nutrient-rich plant that can be harvested for hay, both as a stand alone crop or in a mix with grasses and other legumes, or it can be included in pasture mixes and grazed by livestock.