Prepping for alfalfa

[j0hc0llins]

my dad and I are trying to reseed the hay fields with alfalfa, and he's gotten a few different ideas from the neighbors about how to prep the ground. I told him I'd ask here to get some pro opinions.
My neighbor said to plow in the fall and plant in the spring. But my uncle said to just disk everything and then drill it. And a few others swear by spraying the whole field and then drilling it.

My dad's a little confused about which is the best way to go. What's the best approach for this? Any pro tips or advice that can make this easier?

 

[vmxguy]

It's a lot of work really. Preparing a field for alfalfa is a bit like getting a house ready for new residents.
The biggest thing is to get a clean, firm, and weed-free seedbed. Plowing in the fall and then working the ground in the spring can help with weed control and getting a nice, level surface. Just disking and drilling can be a good low-tillage option, especially if the field is not too weedy, because helps preserve soil moisture and structure. The spray and drill method is essentially a no-till approach, which is great for reducing soil erosion and saving time and fuel.

The right choice depends on the specific conditions of your field, like what kind of weeds you have and how much existing plant matter is there, but all of these methods can work if done correctly.

 

[FelipeTogo]

Get to know your soil first. A soil test will tell you its pH and what nutrients are present. Alfalfa grows best with a pH between 6.5-7.0 and needs phosphorus and potassium. If lime or fertilizer is needed, apply it before tillage so it gets incorporated into the root zone.

 

[hayderre23]

It's a lot of work really. Preparing a field for alfalfa is a bit like getting a house ready for new residents.
The biggest thing is to get a clean, firm, and weed-free seedbed. Plowing in the fall and then working the ground in the spring can help with weed control and getting a nice, level surface. Just disking and drilling can be a good low-tillage option, especially if the field is not too weedy, because helps preserve soil moisture and structure. The spray and drill method is essentially a no-till approach, which is great for reducing soil erosion and saving time and fuel.

The right choice depends on the specific conditions of your field, like what kind of weeds you have and how much existing plant matter is there, but all of these methods can work if done correctly.

Thanks for this! I helped my uncle prep a small field last fall for his first alfalfa patch. He went with spray and drill since the soil was light and we didn't want to tear it up too much. It saved us a ton of time, but we did have to stay on top of early weed pressure. Do you ever overseed in year two to help thicken the stand, or do you just let it ride?

 

[0ldfashioned]

my dad and I are trying to reseed the hay fields with alfalfa, and he's gotten a few different ideas from the neighbors about how to prep the ground. I told him I'd ask here to get some pro opinions.
My neighbor said to plow in the fall and plant in the spring. But my uncle said to just disk everything and then drill it. And a few others swear by spraying the whole field and then drilling it.

My dad's a little confused about which is the best way to go. What's the best approach for this? Any pro tips or advice that can make this easier?

if your current field is smooth and relatively clean, just spraying (no-till) is the modern gold standard.
You save time, fuel, and preserve valuable soil moisture. You'll need to use a good burndown herbicide (like glyphosate or similar) to kill everything first