What is Alfalfa?

Alfalfa is native to Asia and is one of the most important and common hay crops in the world. A long-lived perennial legume, fresh, pure alfalfa stands from one to three feet tall and produces clusters of small purple flowers. It prefers deep, well-drained soils and is found throughout the entire United States.

In addition, alfalfa grass yields healthy amounts of plant matter that can be harvested several times a season, which is why it is invaluable in hay production and is widely grown and used among farms and pasture lands. Alfalfa can also be partnered with grass species such as meadow fescue and orchardgrass for pasture grazing, although it should be a small percentage of the overall forage mix content to avoid bloating.

 

What Are The Uses of Alfalfa?

Though we provide a brief list of its uses above, here is a more detailed description of the many uses of alfalfa for livestock and agriculture:

Hay Production – As mentioned earlier, alfalfa hay is considered ideal for farmers, as its persistent growth cycle throughout the year can allow for great volumes of hay to be produced. Alfalfa hay is also known as high-protein feed, ensuring the livestock it feeds grows healthy and strong.

Livestock Grazing – During more verdant times of the year, alfalfa is also great for animals such as cows and lambs to graze and consume directly.

Silage – Alfalfa can also be stored in a silo for lengthy amounts of time, providing high-quality feed for times of year when there are no grasses or other plants for animals to graze.

Green Manure – For those looking to help sustain their lawns or pastures better, alfalfa can also be used as a great fertilizer while it is still green, providing additional nitrogen to the soil.

Ground Cover – In some cases, alfalfa can also be used as feed or fertilizer and as protection from soil erosion, weeds, diseases, and more.

Those are just some ways alfalfa seeds are used to benefit your farm, pasture, or other landscape. There are many incredible advantages to growing it as a crop on your property.

 

What Are The Benefits of Having Alfalfa Fields?

In addition to its varied uses, planting alfalfa seeding provides several benefits that make it more distinct and ideal to include as part of your forage mix. Here are a few perks of alfalfa seed to consider:

Alfalfa Increases soil nitrogen

As it is a legume, alfalfa plants have the ability to fix available nitrogen from the atmosphere, absorbing it from the air and back into the soil, enhancing plant growth for subsequent crops you may be planting in the same field later on.

Alfalfa is the highest-yielding forage plant

As mentioned before, alfalfa seed also provides a high yield for a sizable time of the year, giving it the highest feeding value among other legume and grass species.

Alfalfa Helps prevent soil erosion

Alfalfa plants each grow an incredibly deep root system, making it somewhat drought-tolerant, loosening compacted soil for better water infiltration and structure, and reducing soil erosion.

Alfalfa Provides high-quality forage and animal feed

Alfalfa grass can also be excellent feed and forage for livestock such as sheep and cattle. It provides them with a healthy, abundant food source with a high protein content and remains fresh for long periods, even when stored in a silo.

Alfalfa Manages the insect population

Planting alfalfa also helps protect every acre of pasture or farmland from harmful pests, as it attracts all kinds of other more beneficial insects, such as bees and other pollinators, as well as birds, which will hunt down any pests looking to eat your other crops.

These benefits and more help to prove that alfalfa may be the best legume in the world to plant in your pasture or grazing area. For premium quality Alfalfa seed and other legumes, order from Nature’s Seed today!

Muhlenbergia rigens, commonly known as deergrass, is a species of perennial bunchgrass native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Deergrass is well-adapted to arid and semi-arid regions and is commonly found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and desert scrub. It prefers well-drained soils and is often seen on slopes or hillsides. Deergrass forms dense, clumping tufts with slender, arching, and graceful foliage. The leaves are narrow, linear, and can reach lengths of up to 2 feet (60 cm) or more. They are typically bluish-green or grayish-green in color.

Deergrass is an ecologically important plant in its native range. It provides food and habitat for various wildlife species, including deer, birds, and insects. Additionally, its dense clumps help stabilize soil and prevent erosion in areas prone to disturbance. Historically, indigenous communities in the southwestern United States utilized deergrass for various purposes, such as weaving baskets and mats.

Host plant: white-lined sphinx and green cutworm moth

Produced by S&S Seeds

Helianthus mollis, commonly known as the ashy sunflower, is a striking wildflower native to the central and southeastern United States. Characterized by its vibrant yellow blossoms with dark centers and gray-green foliage, it adds a splash of color to prairies, roadsides, and open woodlands. Despite its name, the ashy sunflower exudes warmth and vitality, particularly in late summer and early fall when it blooms profusely. This species is admired for its resilience, often thriving in dry, sandy, or rocky soils, and tolerating a range of environmental conditions. The ashy sunflower attracts a plethora of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and birds, with its abundant nectar and seeds. Its robust nature and ecological importance make Helianthus mollis a beloved and valuable component of native landscapes, contributing to biodiversity and ecosystem health.

A biennial member of the mint family, dotted mint is found in central and eastern United States. Its multiple whorls of dotted flowers makes this plant hard to mistake. Tolerant of many soil types, it prefers dry to mesic-dry sandy soils in full sun to partial shade. Growing up to 2 feet in height, its pink flowers can be seen in bloom from June-August attracting insects and hummingbirds of many types.

This daisy will be consumed by livestock and will disappear from grazed areas due to its high palatability and protein content. It is a yellow flower with leaves that will fold under during hot times of the day. Engelmann’s daisy will flower from May through August. It is widely distributed across its native range in the southern Great Plains and can be found growing in grassland/uplands of many different soil types. Its deep taproot makes it a hardy, drought tolerant perennial that can grow to 2 feet in height. Fall or early spring, shallow, seeding provide good germination and caution should be taken to not plant deep.

False Boneset is a perennial wildflower found throughout the eastern ¾ of the United States where it inhabits dry soils of upland prairies. This deep-rooted wildflower is often found in over-grazed pastures because of the bitter taste.

Mature height of 1-3 feet

Deep rooted up to 17 feet

Drought tolerant and grow in a wide variety of soil types

White flower can be seen blooming from August-October

Very similar in structure to Joe Pye Weed except with white, cream colored flowers

Often found in sandy or rocky soils along roadsides

False Sunflower is a perennial forb native to the eastern half of the United States and Canada. Also known as Oxeye Sunflower, this aggressive wildflower inhabits upland prairies and open grasslands.

Prefers full sun to part shade

Mature heights of 4-5 feet

Adapts well to mesic to dry soils

Commonly found growing with native warm season grass species

Bright yellow flowers atop this plant from July-August

Spreading via seed, it is not highly aggressive

Makes a great addition to butterfly or native gardens

Deer resistant species

Grayhead Prairie Coneflower is mainly found in the Midwest and Eastern United States. This beautiful wildflower is an important species in many diverse ecosystems.

Mature plant height of 3-4 feet

Late spring to early summer bloom period

Long yellow drooping petals

Medium seedling vigor and deep-rooted with a minimum of 15 inches

Moderate heat and drought tolerance

Great source of food for pollinators and other beneficial insects

Highly adaptable in varying soil types and climates

Deer resistant species

Baptisia australis, commonly known as blue false indigo, is a striking perennial wildflower native to the prairies and woodlands of North America. Its name derives from its blue, pea-like flowers and its historical use as a substitute for true indigo dye. The plant typically grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet and features attractive gray-green foliage. Blue false indigo blooms in late spring to early summer, producing tall spikes adorned with numerous indigo-blue flowers that are a magnet for pollinators like bees and butterflies. After flowering, the plant develops intriguing black seed pods that persist into the fall, adding visual interest to the landscape. Aside from its ornamental value, Baptisia australis is valued for its role in native plant landscaping and restoration projects due to its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, enriching it for other plant species. It’s a low-maintenance plant, tolerant of drought and poor soil conditions once established.

Brassica carinata, also known as African cabbage or Ethiopian mustard, is a resilient member of the Brassicaceae family, recognized for its versatility and unique characteristics. With a hard, erect central stem that remains upright even in winter, it displays remarkable resilience in adverse weather conditions. This attribute not only aids in its survival but also makes it adept at trapping snow during the winter months, contributing to moisture retention in the soil. Beyond its agronomic benefits, African cabbage offers additional advantages in agricultural practices. It demonstrates efficacy in controlling several parasitic nematodes, making it a valuable tool in integrated pest management strategies. However, despite its numerous strengths, it is worth noting that African cabbage is considered less palatable for livestock forage compared to other brassicas. Nevertheless, its nutritional value and adaptability make it a valuable asset in sustainable farming systems, offering both food security and soil health benefits.