Alfalfa monoculture next year Z4

[Maddog66]

It was harder to find 50# bags of gypsum (pelletized) than I thought it would be. But I did and they were 18 each. I bought 4 for my alfalfa plot today.

 

[homerj]

It was harder to find 50# bags of gypsum (pelletized) than I thought it would be. But I did and they were 18 each. I bought 4 for my alfalfa plot today.

Menards in Rhinelander out of stock?

 

[Maddog66]

I didn’t think to check there actually, but 3 other local-ish places didn’t have it in bulk bags now. They said they get it in the spring and sell out over the summer.

I could have waited on buying it, but the warm weather up here lately has me jumping the gun. As usual.

 

[homerj]

I didn’t think to check there actually, but 3 other local-ish places didn’t have it in bulk bags now. They said they get it in the spring and sell out over the summer.

I could have waited on buying it, but the warm weather up here lately has me jumping the gun. As usual.

I've never found it cheaper than at Menards. I've also not bought it in bulk so maybe it'd be cheaper that way.

 

[Maddog66]

Homerj, when you buy gypsum, does it actually say the word Gypsum on the package?

Mine does not. I just the chemical decsription :

0-0-0-21CA-17S Calcium Sulfate Fertilizer.

 

[homerj]

Homerj, when you buy gypsum, does it actually say the word Gypsum on the package?

Mine does not. I just the chemical decsription :

0-0-0-21CA-17S Calcium Sulfate Fertilizer.

Menards stuff says pelletized gypsum

 

[Foggy47]

Menards stuff says pelletized gypsum

Just checking on my local Menards for gypsum. One thing of interest to me is gettng sulfur added to any fertilizer I buy. I see that this gypsum has sulfur included. price is right at $7.88 for 40 lbs. Some of the benefits do not occur to be as beneficial in my sandy soils tho. I got no problem with water passing through. I can hardly make a puddle in my sand. I always remember a local seed producer tell me that sulfur was critical to crops in sandy soils. That always stuck with me. One year I put two bags of sulfur on a newly developed large plot. I really got some good growth from that new plot. Tho....I was always worried about spontaneous combustion - with the smell of that on sulfur when I spread it on my land.

 

[sandbur]

Just checking on my local Menards for gypsum. One thing of interest to me is gettng sulfur added to any fertilizer I buy. I see that this gypsum has sulfur included. price is right at $7.88 for 40 lbs. Some of the benefits do not occur to be as beneficial in my sandy soils tho. I got no problem with water passing through. I can hardly make a puddle in my sand. I always remember a local seed producer tell me that sulfur was critical to crops in sandy soils. That always stuck with me. One year I put two bags of sulfur on a newly developed large plot. I really got some good growth from that new plot. Tho....I was always worried about spontaneous combustion - with the smell of that on sulfur when I spread it on my land.
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I can remember talking to the same guy about how important sulfur was and he was referring to to sandy soils just west of you.


Reading through this thread, I am sure glad to have the neighboring dairyman rent my place and he usually plants half of to alfalfa and half to corn.

He has a consultant and they monitor insect damage, when to cut, and when to top dress. They did so late last summer and with timely rains it worked.

He even brought two round bales of alfalfa this winter. I found six sheds near one of them.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

I can remember talking to the same guy about how important sulfur was and he was referring to to sandy soils just west of you.


Reading through this thread, I am sure glad to have the neighboring dairyman rent my place and he usually plants half of to alfalfa and half to corn.

He has a consultant and they monitor insect damage, when to cut, and when to top dress. They did so late last summer and with timely rains it worked.

He even brought two round bales of alfalfa this winter. I found six sheds near one of them.

This is exactly my goal with an area I will be planting to pure alfalfa. I think this could be huge for late winter in my area.

I am contemplating having our tenant who does the cutting, bailing, and hauling, just leave the bail in a protected area on the farm and I would cover it with a tarp until late winter.

 

[Maddog66]

This is a pic of the bags I picked up. $18 / $50#

SD, since I’m starting from scratch this spring with a clover / chicory plot, when should I put down the gypsum and boron?

 

[Newbie]

Forgive me if I’m out of line here, but would you want to rotate to a grain or something before going to alfalfa if you’re converting a clover plot? A non-legume, non-nitrogen fixing crop? Of course I’m sure that varies significantly based on your soil profile but as a general rule of thumb?

Also, if I remember correctly alfalfa is difficult to throw/mow or no till without a drill? Could be misremembering but I was under the impression it was a little finicky to get going.

Apologize in advance for the basic level questions, but I’m intrigued particularly with the late season attraction. I know a few farmers locally who grow it very successfully in our area so just wanted to store away some metal notes.

 

[Maddog66]

I think I see your point Newbie. I’m not really “using” the nitrogen built up over the 3 years this plot has been in clover.

I don’t know….in a perfect world, maybe I’d leave it for another summer and put brassicas in this fall.

For me, I’m not going to worry about that. The tiny bit of nitrogen I don’t use is dwarfed by the fertilizer inputs I will….gypsum, boron, 300#/a P and K.

*** I’m still learning about alfalfa too….so use your grains of salt!!

Edit: I’m not going to T&M or drill. I’m going to turn dirt, broadcast seed with a solo, and cultipack.