How much does it cost to seed an acre of alfalfa? check this out | alfalfa seed prices 2020

Alfalfa has to be planted at around 25 pounds per acre if I remember correctly. A 50 pound bag of seed is around $200 last I heard a few years back, so $100 an acre just for seed. Probably $120-150 per acre including tillage costs.

How much does alfalfa yield per acre?

The average total yield is 20-35 tons per hectare (or 8-14 tons per acre) per year (distributed in 5-6 cuts). Top yields (intensive farming) can exceed 40 tons per hectare or 16 tons per acre per year.

What month do you plant alfalfa?

If you have land available for alfalfa in late summer, optimal seeding dates are July 15 through August in the Upper Midwest; closer to July 15 for northernmost regions. For growers in warmer climates, seeding into early September is acceptable.

How many alfalfa seeds are in a pound?

There are about 199,000 alfalfa seeds per pound. If that one pound was evenly spread over one acre (43,560 ft. 2), there would be in the neighborhood of five seeds per square foot.

How much does a bag of alfalfa seed cost?

Alfalfa seed of modern varieties can cost over $4.00 per pound, while older varieties can be purchased for $2.00 per pound or less.

How many bales of alfalfa can you get per acre?

1st of all how are you seeding? How many lbs of alfalfa per acre, then we may be able to give you a more accurate response. 100 50 lbs bales about @ acre would be a good average on 1st cut, but depending on seeding, soil and fertilization could be up to 150 bales.

Is alfalfa hay profitable?

Alfalfa farmers are on their second hay cutting in California’s Central Valley. Alfalfa hay fields are cut from four to ten times a season, averaging about seven tons per acre per year. It’s a profitable crop these days, with prices for high quality hay frequently reaching $250/ton.

How many years does alfalfa last?

Alfalfa can remain productive in stands from four to ten years or more, but as plant population declines renovation eventually becomes necessary.

How much does it cost to fertilize an acre of alfalfa?

However, alfalfa has high potassium fertilizer and harvesting costs (generally about $50 per acre per cutting for mowing, raking, and baling). The next step is to consider yield and value of the crop.

Does alfalfa come back every year?

Alfalfa is a cool-season perennial commonly grown for feeding livestock or as a cover crop and soil conditioner. It’s ideal for improving the soil and providing erosion control. Alfalfa’s extensive root system nourishes both plants and soil.

Does alfalfa reseed itself?

Alfalfa is a crop that naturally tends to lessen its density over time because alfalfa doesn’t reseed itself. Planting more alfalfa into current alfalfa fields is not recommended since alfalfa has autotoxicity characteristics. A good population/density is about 35 well-growing stems per square foot.

Can you broadcast alfalfa seed?

Alfalfa seed can be broadcast planted on a clean, tilled seedbed instead of planted with a drill seeder. If broadcast seeding is used, the seedbed should be firmed with a roller or cultipacker before seeding. After the seed is broadcast, it should be covered with a roller or cultipacker.

What is the price of alfalfa per ton?

The average price for alfalfa hay (all qualities) essentially hovered in the $170 to $180 per ton range for month after month. That situation rapidly changed during 2021 when average alfalfa hay prices soared from $171 per ton in January to $213 in October.

How many acres does a bag of alfalfa plant?

Seeding rate.

For pure alfalfa stands, 18 to 20 pounds per acre should be planted. For mixed stands with grass, 15 to 16 pounds per acre is recommended. For broadcast seeding, seeding rates need to be increased by 10 to 20 percent.

How long does alfalfa take to grow?

Managing Seeding Year Alfalfa

You can harvest seeding-year alfalfa as early as 40 days after seedlings emerge. It takes plants about 40 days to become able to regrow from the crown after cutting.

How much can you make growing alfalfa?

Over a three-year average, alfalfa returns a profit of $98.82/acre compared to a $44.77/acre return for corn and $39.68/acre for soybeans, Miller estimated using information from Midwestern farms compiled through the FINBIN database.

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