Hay Cover: Light Land

The largest difference between the Light Land Cover and the Heavy Land Cover is the composition of alfalfa, with 50% being present in the light land and 30% being present in the heavy land. The high composition of alfalfa in the Light Land Cover is present due to increased alfalfa rates being ideal for regrowth where water is the limiting factor.

The Heavy Land Cover has reduced alfalfa composition but has the addition of red clover, which adds the valuable legume component that grows well under high moisture conditions. The increased grass component in the heavy land blend is done as grasses have a greater regrowth potential where water is not the limiting factor.

Perennial hay can be established with or without a companion crop. Benefits to using a companion crop such as the Full Season Cover, can aid in suppressing weeds, retention of soil moisture and providing a canopy for shelter for low-growing perennial plants in the year of establishment. If using a companion crop, it is best practice to reduce your seeding rate to 2/3 to allow perennial plants adequate space to become established and reduce competition.

By not seeding the companion crop, you allow plants to have no competition from the companion crop in their year of establishment but do lose a year of production from that field. It comes down to the context of what works best for your farm.

For fertilizer recommendations, it is best to soil test your fields to get the best use out of any application. Although fertilizer is not required, it may help in some instances.  It is very important with any fertilizer application that we make sure we are not placing the fertilizer in high levels next to the seed, as this will increase the possibility of seedling damage. Phosphorous and Potassium can improve plants' ability to establish quickly in the soil and increase winter survivability.

If planting with a companion crop, it is best to base your nitrogen fertilizer recommendations on the level at which you are planting a companion crop. Do not to exceed 40 lbs of N actual and 10 lbs of P actual. For the following years, it is best to establish a plan for what uses you have for the crop, such as hay or pasture, and work towards the goals and outcomes of the crop.

Spring seeding is a popular establishment practice across the Canadian prairies. (increased growing days, available moisture from spring melt). Summer seeding is also an option to establish perennial hay stands, but it comes down to the context of your situation. If good soil moisture is available and the field is in good condition, summer seeding is also a valuable option.

Frost seeding is a practice in which a producer seeds in late fall or early winter, and the seed will not germinate until the following spring. Doing so allows the perennial seeds to start capturing the maximum amount of sunlight and water beginning the following spring.

The recommended seeding depth for perennial hay blends is ¼” to ½” in most soils or up to 1 inch in depth if you are dealing with very light sandy land.

In the year of germination, perennial plants are expected to be low-growing and vegetative but not a source of feed or grazing. The essential component is allowing those plants to develop their root systems properly and put on available biomass late into the growing season to be in healthy condition to enter their first year of production the following spring.

In the first year of establishment, it is best to practise if seeded with a nurse crop to cut the nurse crop at an earlier stage to allow for maximum regrowth of the perennial plants. Cutting early opens the canopy for the perennial forages to capture sunlight and water and establish the root system.

If seeded without a nurse crop, allow plants to grow fully throughout the growing season.

It is best practice not to graze regrowth in the year of germination to allow plants to properly develop their root systems and put on available biomass late into the growing season.

Yes, you can graze after the initial cutting. It is best practice to allow plants to mature as much as possible before grazing regrowth. Producers should look to avoid over-grazing regrowth of hay land as this may negatively impact future crops. If a producer is concerned with a high legume component of alfalfa in their regrowth, it is best to wait for hard-killing frost and 10 days past to place cattle on the hay land unless the alfalfa has already flowered.

Connor says giver shit and alfalfa is bulletproof if its full flower.

Maturity levels play a significant role in the risk of bloat with alfalfa. When alfalfa is at full maturity (flowering or setting seed) it is at a very low risk for bloat issues. If the alfalfa plant has not hit the flowering stage yet, it is at a higher risk for bloat, but it can be utilized at very high rates with intensive management.

Yes, it is safe to graze after a frost. If a significant component of alfalfa is present and bloat is a concern, it is best to wait 10 days before grazing after a hard-killing frost.

Species that work well in saline areas are often perennial plants. Perennial plants most often have a higher EC (electrical conductivity), which means they have a higher tolerance to establish and grow in saline areas. Grasses often have a higher EC tolerance, with plants such as Wheatgrasses, Russian Wild Rye, and Salt-Tolerant Alfalfa having good success surviving in saline areas. These plants will look to compete with weeds in saline areas and cycle the salts throughout the soil profile with a living root.

Consider sowing our Salinity Cover if these conditions are present.