Choosing the right alfalfa
Selecting an alfalfa variety is one of the most important management decisions you make. Choosing varieties that offer the best combination of yield, forage quality, persistence and pest resistance for your growing conditions is critical, considering the fields you plant today will probably last 4-5 years.
The NEXGROW® brand helps you make the best decision based on your needs and your environment. Our innovative alfalfa seed can be divided into three main categories: HarvXtra® Alfalfa with Roundup Ready® Technology, Roundup Ready® Alfalfa, and conventional alfalfa.
WORKHORSES OF THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS
With the exception of California, the bulk of U.S. alfalfa production occurs in states where lower fall dormancy ratings (2-5) may prove beneficial. Our conventional alfalfa varieties have been developed to maximize the shorter growing season, to resist insects and disease associated with cool, wet weather and to bounce back quickly after cutting. Growers seeking to maximize cuttings, as well as those on a 26- to 30-day cutting schedule, should opt for varieties with higher fall dormancy ratings. These varieties tend to green-up faster in the spring and continue growing later in the fall. This extra growth period and proven alfalfa genetics could be the difference in making one additional cutting to your alfalfa crop. The NEXGROW brand also offers three excellent non-dormant alfalfa varieties for geographies where winterhardiness isn’t a deciding factor.
EXTEND YOUR CUTTING WINDOW WITH HARVXTRA® ALFALFA
There’s an old saying about making hay while the sun shines, because if you miss your opportunity, forage quality can decline quickly. But that was before we introduced HarvXtra® alfalfa — the industry’s first genetically-enhanced alfalfa developed to maximize quality compared to conventional alfalfa at the same stage of maturity, by reducing the amount of lignin in the plant. The HarvXtra alfalfa technology fundamentally changes the relationship between forage quality and stage of maturity by modifying lignin content (ADL) beyond what is possible with conventional breeding techniques. The result of this technology is unprecedented flexibility by widening cutting windows. Alfalfa growers now have the ability to better manage the yield-versus-quality trade-off. Growers have the option to maintain harvest for higher quality or delay harvest for higher yield potential, without sacrificing quality. HarvXtra alfalfa varieties also feature weed management options with Roundup Ready technology.
ROUNDUP READY® ALFALFA FOR BETTER WEED CONTROL
Getting your alfalfa stand up and running can be a challenge, especially when broadleaf weeds and grasses gain a foothold in your newly-seeded fields. According to Penn State University Extension, the most critical time for weed management in alfalfa is during stand establishment. NEXGROW brand dormant and non-dormant alfalfa varieties with the Roundup Ready® trait are the answer to early weed problems. To maximize the benefits of Roundup Ready alfalfa, apply glyphosate to seedling alfalfa at the 3 to 5 trifoliate stage, when weeds are less than 4 inches tall. If weed problems persist, an additional application of glyphosate can be made up to 5 days prior to harvest.
SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN YOUR FIELD.
NEXGROW® seed varieties with the UltraCut™ alfalfa disease package provide agronomic and economic advantages by protecting your crop against expensive, evolving Anthracnose and Aphanomyces disease strains.
EXPAND YOUR ACRES AND YIELD POTENTIAL, TOO.
Crown, stem and root diseases can cause significant impacts on alfalfa yield, quality and persistence. The UltraCut alfalfa disease package enables strong stand establishment and variety performance through unmatched disease resistance. See healthier stands and more yield in your fields by planting varieties* with the UltraCut alfalfa disease package.
*Compared to varieties without the UltraCut alfalfa disease package in fields with disease pressure.
Customer Service: 1-800-568-5424