Alfalfa

[Wingman]

Any of y'all ever tried alfalfa?

[dukmisr2005]

My boss did at his camp and deer loved it. however the last couple years of high water has killed it out and the hogs rooted it up. they made 3 or 4 cuttings a year off of it and sold it as a way to supplement the funds for the camp and keep dues/assessments down.

[SWAG]

Just helped a local guy plant about 12 acres of the RR alfalfa. He will be cutting it for horse hay and of course looking at the wildllife benefits of having alfalfa on his place now. Also got copied on an email that someone had sent out looking for alfalfa info that Rocky Lemus responded to. Will forward you that email. It is some good info.

[Sprangletop1]

Rob, I grow it. I grew some pretty close to you. There are some varieties well suited for those soils. It will not tolerate flooding. I recommend you pull an ox-plow or flip plow prior to planting. This allows the roots to go deep and will help get through the hot summers. RR ready variety is easy, but you can use a broad spectrum of Ag chemicals on the non RR varieties.

[Wingman]

Sprangletop, I've see it on your old place. I subsoiled some levee tops earlier this year and was thinking about putting it on them. Would get pretty dry in summer, though.

[cockandlock25]

Just helped a local guy plant about 12 acres of the RR alfalfa. He will be cutting it for horse hay and of course looking at the wildllife benefits of having alfalfa on his place now. Also got copied on an email that someone had sent out looking for alfalfa info that Rocky Lemus responded to. Will forward you that email. It is some good info.

Rocky knows his stuff...

[Sprangletop1]

I was suprised how much drought the plant can handle. I have seen it shut down in July-Sept and perk up with a rain. The longest run I had on the stand was four years. So take seed and prep cost and divide (3-5 years), weigh that against other "gucchi" seed.
It requiers some TLC, hands down best stuff out there as far as response from wildlife.
Any chance for occasional shot of H2O from poly?

[Wingman]

Yes, very easily. One end of the levee buts up to the well and I could put a riser in and shoot it straight down the levee. I have a broken fitting I need to dig up and cap anyway.

It's only one acre. Don't need a whole bag of seed. Where can I get just a little seed?

[Sprangletop1]

Not sure on small quantity of seed. What was name of seed company in Memphis you could order by pound?

[dukmisr2005]

Seeds Inc?? out on Presidents Island. not sure they sell by the pound though.

[Lodi Rebel]

Alfagraze 300 is all Seeds, Inc. has left in stock... I just got through planting about 8 acres last weekend! If you call up to Seeds talk to Jeff or Shane, both are great guys and will help you any way possible.

[Sprangletop1]

^^^^
exactamundo!!
Seed Inc it is!!

[hillhunter]

SWAG, can you forward me that email also? robert@topashaw.com

Also, I didn't realize that you plant this in the fall. Can it be planted in the spring?

[SWAG]

Sent

[Sprangletop1]

Can be planted in spring, but if roots are not fully developed and deep enough in ground the plant will not make through summer. Also, plan on at least one fungicide application and manage insects as needed.