2zwudz
New Member
Posts: 39
Likes: 5
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Post by 2zwudz on Dec 10, 2020 9:25:15 GMT -6
I don’t hear much about alfalfa food plots for deer??? Is it difficult to maintain???
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Post by badgerfowl on Dec 10, 2020 9:57:06 GMT -6
We have a large ag field right next to us. It's planted in corn and alfalfa on the contour. No way in hell I'd be able to compete with that. That said, I'm throwing some alfalfa into my perennial clover plot next year for the hell of it. Will cut when/if needed.
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Post by smsmith on Dec 10, 2020 11:33:39 GMT -6
Expensive seed. Need a near neutral ph to get a good crop. Needs to be baled and removed unless your deer keep the growth under control.
I have some cheap (Vernal) alfalfa growing in a couple clover plots. I have not seen a preference for the alfalfa. In fact, once the alfalfa gets to blossom stage, it loses attraction until it's mowed. I'd guess I have around 5% alfalfa in those plots. That's enough for me
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Post by smallchunk on Dec 10, 2020 11:53:29 GMT -6
It has been a part of my last couple of clover plots but I rarely see evidence of it growing. I think the deer just hammer it as it grows.
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Post by benmnwi on Dec 10, 2020 12:26:26 GMT -6
I've had good luck mixing a little vernal alfalfa in with a few kinds of clover and chicory.
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Post by badbrad on Dec 10, 2020 13:01:28 GMT -6
Expensive seed. Need a near neutral ph to get a good crop. Needs to be baled and removed unless your deer keep the growth under control. I have some cheap (Vernal) alfalfa growing in a couple clover plots. I have not seen a preference for the alfalfa. In fact, once the alfalfa gets to blossom stage, it loses attraction until it's mowed. I'd guess I have around 5% alfalfa in those plots. That's enough for me Can alfalfa be mowed only like clover or do you have to bail and remove? |
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Post by Sandbur on Dec 10, 2020 13:06:36 GMT -6
My 30 acre alfalfa field with just a bit of red clover on the lower end has been getting steady use. With snow on the ground, they were more on corn. Now alfalfa and bean stubble are getting more use.
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Post by benmnwi on Dec 10, 2020 13:37:01 GMT -6
A clover mix that is light in alfalfa can just be mowed without any issues. A large field of fast growing alfalfa would likely need to be baled and removed because the mowed residue would smother and kill some of the growing alfalfa plants.
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Post by smsmith on Dec 10, 2020 14:50:38 GMT -6
Yup, what Ben said ^^^^
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Post by Bwoods11 on Dec 10, 2020 20:06:24 GMT -6
Working with a farmer on an alfalfa plot can be the ticket. It’s expensive though. But they may pay you per bale?
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Post by wklman on Dec 10, 2020 20:16:28 GMT -6
Working with a farmer on an alfalfa plot can be the ticket. It’s expensive though. But they may pay you per bale? Usually quarter share which can be pretty good if there's a long winter. |
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Post by wklman on Dec 10, 2020 20:18:38 GMT -6
Toughest thing with alfalfa is that if there's not much snow cover in a cold winter it'll die off. Then you're stuck with planting something else come spring.
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2zwudz
New Member
Posts: 39
Likes: 5
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Post by 2zwudz on Dec 10, 2020 20:35:52 GMT -6
Working with a farmer on an alfalfa plot can be the ticket. It’s expensive though. But they may pay you per bale? Usually quarter share which can be pretty good if there's a long winter. On average how many acres does it take to make a bale?? |
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Post by smsmith on Dec 10, 2020 20:44:51 GMT -6
Usually quarter share which can be pretty good if there's a long winter. On average how many acres does it take to make a bale?? Small square, big square, or round? These guys sound like 100 small squares an acre for a first cutting is reasonable for a farmer. www.haytalk.com/forums/topic/93676-alfalfa-per-acre/ |
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Post by sd51555 on Dec 10, 2020 21:23:47 GMT -6
The interesting thing about alfalfa, is it seems to be very hard to grow and keep a pure stand. Up by me, there is no alfalfa anywhere, yet all the mowed natural hay fields have an alfalfa presence in them, maybe 2% or less, but the deer find it. I did some night trespassing a year ago and took a flashlight out into a well attended field and found every alfalfa plant browsed in late September. Once early to mid October hits, the clover is enough of a pull to reliably put deer in front of me.
I planted some this past summer/fall. Hope to see it make an appearance in my plot, but not holding out hope for a pure stand. I'd be glad if there's just enough to get them to come through and grab a bite.
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