Hay, Don’t Forget Your Forage Fertilizer Program
Would you ever consider not fertilizing your valuable crop ground? Probably not. Even though alfalfa is considered a high-value crop at over $100/ton this spring, most hay ground is left unfertilized and often forgotten from a nutrient standpoint (AMS Livestock, Poultry, & Grain Market News, 2021). With corn and bean prices on the rise, lower-producing hay ground will be transitioned to row crops. This reduction in hay acres will keep hay prices strong and provide an even better opportunity for return on investment with an established hay fertilizer program.
As a legume, alfalfa is very sensitive to pH levels with an optimum pH of 6.7-7.0. This optimum pH range helps the required phosphorus, potassium, sulfur and boron to be more readily available for uptake. No different than corn or soybeans, the first step in developing an appropriate fertilizer program is soil testing. Although we recommend fertilizing in the fall to help the forage prepare for overwintering and spring re-growth, fertilizing after the first or second cutting is also important.
As alfalfa is harvested, the nutrients removed with the crop need to be replenished. For each ton of harvested alfalfa, 15–20 pounds of phosphorus and 50-60 pounds of potassium are removed. Iowa’s 2020 average was 3.5 tons of alfalfa per acre, so an in-season fertilizer application can make a significant difference in future yield potential (Thessen, 2021).
In addition to increased yields, fertilizing alfalfa ground can extend plant life and lengthen the time between re-seedings. A solid fertility program will help the alfalfa crop produce more effectively for longer. On average, an alfalfa stand can remain productive for four to ten years or more when soil fertility is properly managed (Jennings, 2021). If the proper fertility levels are not maintained, not only will yield and plant life be limited, but the next planted crop will be negatively affected as well.
As we head into this next hay-making season, we challenge you to keep these fertilizer levels in mind. If hay ground was treated like corn and soybeans, imagine what the opportunities for increased tonnage and improved soil health could be. Give your Stutsman agronomist a call to discuss your forage fertilizer needs at 319.679.2281.
Sources
Thessen, G. (2021, January 12). Iowa Ag News-2020 Crop Production. Retrieved April 25, 2021, from https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Iowa/Publications/Crop_Report/2021/IA-Crop-Production-Annual-01-21.pdf.
Missouri Department of Agriculture (2021, April 29). Rock Valley Hay Auction. AMS Livestock, Poultry, & Grain Market News.
Jennings, J. (n.d.). Understanding Autotoxicity in Alfalfa. Retrieved April 25, 2021, from https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/forage/understanding-autotoxicity-in-alfalfa/#:~:text =Alfalfa%20can%20remain%20productive%20in,declines%20renovation%20eventually%20becomes%20necessary.