Alfalfa monoculture next year Z4

[Maddog66]

The farmer who rents my tillable ground has an alfalfa field a few miles from my place. I’ve watched it closely now for 3 years and I’m just dumbfounded at the deer that thing attracts. Even now after many hard frosts. I must have one! . I have a 1.25 acre spot that’s the best dirt on my farm and it’s on.

At first it surprised me that alfalfa grew so well way up north, but he told me he gets 4 cuts per year on that field! He’s never grown alfalfa on my ground, but said he would do it without reservation if he needed more of it for his milking herd.

Anyway his first advice was to soil test and get my PH up to 6.8 or better. My soil test came back at 6.5 so I cut the clover short and spread one ton of AG lime on it last weekend. Didn’t kill the clover. Hope it gets me to 6.8. I have more lime for a spring application if needed.

In the spring I’m going to nuke it a couple of times and disk it, plant at 20# per acre with 100# of oats, and fertilizer. He said to let it grow all summer without touching it. It will look horrible and weedy. Then, in late summer mow it off and the alfalfa will blow up and be good for at least 3 years….with some maintenance.

My farmer is happy to harvest it for me in 2027 when he cuts his hay twice per summer. Is that enough to keep it healthy or will I have to mow it also and take a chance on smothering it with my bush hog?

 

[Stubborn1VT]

Sounds about right to me. We tended to use 70# of oats as a cover crop rather than #100.
I'd be tempted to put down at least 200# of pelletized lime as a kind of insurance.
Cutting it twice a year in "27 should be fine. Three times might be better, but it depends on the growing year.
I've seen what a draw alfalfa can be. I don't really have the dirt for it (too wet) but deer love it. As a plus, it's very drought resistant.
As a minus, it's harder to establish than clover and doesn't seem to last well in many places.
Good luck with the planting!

 

[Bill]

I would thin on 1.25 acres the deer might keep mowed for you. Depends on deer density.

 

[jsasker007]

I would thin on 1.25 acres the deer might keep mowed for you. Depends on deer density.

My thoughts as well. The farmer might not have much to take after the deer find it. I just put some alfalfa in this year and the deer are in there every morning and night. Maybe 2 acres worth and has some strawberry clover with it. Going to throw some chicory in that plot also next year.

 

[marlin]

The variety of alfalfa makes a difference. Deer prefer small stem.