Agriculture

• Weed Control: Begin with a clean field. Perennial weeds must be eliminated before seeding, as effective control in established alfalfa is limited. Avoid fields with a history of sweet clover to prevent seed carry-over.
• Pre-Plant Management: Start field preparation two years prior to seeding. Certified production requires land free of alfalfa for two years. Avoid rapeseed during this period to prevent volunteer plants; cereals are preferred for broad weed control options.
• Perennial Grass Control: Apply glyphosate (e.g., Roundup) in fall if quack grass or similar species are present.
• Soil Requirements: Alfalfa performs best on deep, medium-textured, well-drained soils. Avoid poorly drained or saline soils.
• Isolation: For certified seed, maintain at least 50 m (165 ft) from other alfalfa fields. Ensure neighbouring fields pose no contamination risk.
• Pollination Considerations: Select sheltered fields to aid bee activity and pollination.
• Seedbed Preparation: Summerfallow the year prior to establishment for optimal results.

• Firm, Fine Seedbed: Prepare a well-worked, firm seedbed to allow shallow seed placement (maximum ½ inch or 2 cm). A firm bed promotes upward moisture movement for germination.
• Firmness Test: The heel of a shoe should sink no more than ¼ inch (1 cm). Packing may be required, but avoid excessive packing on clay soils to prevent crusting.
• Alternative Practice: Seeding into undisturbed stubble conserves moisture and provides firmness but limits weed control options. Use only the cleanest stubble fields for this method.

• Use of Nurse Crops: While many growers still use companion crops, planting without one is increasingly common.
  Advantages of No Nurse Crop:

• Preferred Crops: Flax and canola are recommended. Seed them separately, prior to and at right angles to alfalfa rows to minimize competition.
• Seeding Adjustments: Reduce nurse crop seeding rate by one-third to one-half to lessen competition. This reduction typically decreases nurse crop yield by only 10–20%.

• Optimal Plant Density: Highest seed yields occur at 14,000–30,000 plants per acre (35,000–75,000 plants per hectare) in rows spaced 24–48 inches (60–120 cm). Narrower rows and higher densities suit moist regions.
• Recommended Seeding Rate: 0.5–1.0 lb/acre (0.5–1.0 kg/ha). Avoid rates below 0.5 lb/acre.
• Timing: Seed very early in spring to maximize soil moisture and root development before summer heat.
• Avoid Late Seeding: August seedings have less than a 50% chance of success and rarely produce a satisfactory crop the following year.

• Certified seed generally provides higher returns than common seed with minimal extra cost or labor.
• Certified production requires planting foundation seed of Canadian varieties or registered foreign varieties, following Canadian Seed Growers Association regulations.
• Considerations for Variety Choice:
• Marketability and long-term outlook
• Seed yield potential
• Availability of seed stock
• Consult seed companies for marketing opportunities and stock seed of proprietary or public varieties. Older Canadian public varieties can be sourced through the Canadian Forage Seed Project.

• Inoculate seed with the proper nitrogen-fixing bacteria immediately before planting.
• Best method: dampen seed with water or a sticker solution (e.g., 2 tbsp corn syrup per quart of water), mix inoculant thoroughly, and sow promptly.
• Fertilizer applications are generally unnecessary unless soil tests indicate deficiencies.

• Herbicides are often necessary due to low seeding rates and wide row spacing.
• Without Companion Crop:
• EPTC (Eptam) or Trifluralin (Treflan) preplant incorporated
• Pursuit for grass and broadleaf weeds
• Velpar in fall if stand is well established
• With Companion Crop: Limited herbicide options—consider this when selecting the crop.
• Mechanical control (mowing or haying) is possible but sacrifices seed yield in that year.
• Refer to Manitoba Agriculture Guide to Crop Protection for current recommendations.

• Major pests: lygus bugs, aphids, and grasshoppers.
• Monitor fields regularly and identify pests early.
• Control options include cultural practices (e.g., burning) and selective pesticides.
• Refer to Field Scouting Guide for details.

• Seed matures 5–6 weeks after pollination. Begin harvest about six weeks after bees are removed or bloom ends.
• Swathing:
• Swath when ⅔–¾ of pods are dark brown or black
• Swath damp to prevent pod shatter and in the direction of the prevailing winds to reduce seed loss
• Use rollers or leave standing strips to reduce wind damage
• Straight Combining:
• Desiccate with Reglone or rely on frost
• Combine 3–5 days after desiccation

• Minimal maintenance required for well-established fields.
• Annual weed and insect control programs recommended.
• Spring burning helps manage pests and diseases.
• Monitor stand density—thin back to 30,000 plants per acre (75,000 per hectare) after first or second harvest using cross-cultivation in spring.