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Alfalfa off to good start in Minnesota

Warmer weather is helping spring alfalfa to life in Minnesota.

University of Minnesota Extension crops educator Dave Nicolai tells Brownfield the heat is accelerating emergence and stands look promising.

“I have heard that most in most cases it came through the winter okay. We didn’t have any excessive damage from either ice sheeting or winterkill.”

He tells Brownfield there are always concerns about older stands this time of year.

“When you get to three or four year-old stands, their survivability is sometimes in question. So it’s good to go out and look at those roots, taproots, and splits, and see if there’s any damage.”

But all-in-all, Nicolai says Minnesota’s alfalfa crop looks very good.