I planted alfalfa last July August and it looked great . This spring it looked great had my first cutting baled and still great life happened and my farmer had life problems the same time fast forward to August and foxtail has got out of control.i left it that way until last week and mowed it .donyou think that will smother it ? Will I need to start over ? I also just limed my food plots and alfalfa (28acres) should I work it in or let it sit ?
Ur fine right here where it’s posted. Don’t have lot of hard & fast rules around here 
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It’ll likely be fine. Don’t start over (& u really can’t with alfalfa). Alfalfa probably has 8-12’ roots the first year. Maybe more in some scenarios. It’s super hardy & very hard to kill. It can get smothered & choked out but I’m just gonna take a guess based on how u described it where it was established & only lost control later in season… probably / likely fine. In April & may u will know. Probably April. If it’s thin- fire some pics back. Still could interseed some clovers too. U likely be just fine & worst case a few tweaks to get it thumping along
. It’ll likely be fine. Don’t start over (& u really can’t with alfalfa). Alfalfa probably has 8-12’ roots the first year. Maybe more in some scenarios. It’s super hardy & very hard to kill. It can get smothered & choked out but I’m just gonna take a guess based on how u described it where it was established & only lost control later in season… probably / likely fine. In April & may u will know. Probably April. If it’s thin- fire some pics back. Still could interseed some clovers too. U likely be just fine & worst case a few tweaks to get it thumping along
How much clover should I interseed ? I’m thinking about not baling it next year because I have a super high deer density ? I’m working on doe management still as I write this but had 6 acres alfalfa 10 acres corn 10 a acres beans and 2.5 clover and everything is wiped out except a few beans and a little rye /oats I overseeded in beans. Do you think just clipping it a couple times a yr will be okay ? I limed all my plots yesterday should I work it in or let it sit ?
tall@wide
PMA Member
I have found a first year spring planting can be maintained with mowing but after that I’ve always had to bail it. Even with high deer numbers it needs to be bailed, and that is one reason so many people don’t like alfalfa. It’s more difficult to maintain. You could mow it frequently, but I’m betting the clippings will smother and kill some of it. Others may have a different opinion?
scottonbuck
Well-Known Member
Dang how many deer do you have 20 acres of standing grains gone already.
My farm is 288 acres and I had 2ea thermal drone surveys done and I had 155 deer on my property not counting the deer that were basically just across my line. I am the only food within 1 1/2 miles . Partly my problem as I did not get my grains in till mid June and add not much moisture afterwards and I’m sure coons are part of the problem.
Hardwood11
It is going to be a good fall!
Anything for sale next to you ??
