News — Seed

Successful alfalfa establishment depends on more than seed choice and drill settings. Light competition, irrigation depth, tillage order and field traffic all shape root development and stand longevity. Dr. Carson Roberts explains why deep ripping should begin with a diagnosed compaction layer—and why the passes that follow may determine whether the investment lasts.

Dr. Carson Roberts explains when oat companion crops help or hurt alfalfa establishment, forage quality, stand life and returns per acre in dry areas.

Hay producers are the forgotten farmers. They bear the same droughts, the same markets, and the same financial pressures as everyone else, but with fewer tools to manage the risk.

When hot, dry summers reduce cool-season hay yields, warm-season grasses like millet, sorghum, and sorghum-Sudan hybrids can fill the gap.

As Jeffrey “Alfalfa” Jackson says: “If you like to haul manure, go ahead. If you want more efficient feed, think fiber digestibility.”

The agricultural sector is experiencing significant technological advancements that are setting new standards in forage production. Among these developments, the incorporation of yield mapping in harvesting equipment and traited alfalfa varieties like Roundup Ready and HarvXtra are leading a revolution in how forage crops are cultivated, measured, and managed.