Alfalfa History & Importance
Alfalfa History & Importance Western Canadian Alfalfa Training Seminar April 11-13, 2006 Dr. Garry Lacefield Extension Forage Specialist University of Kentucky, USA
Alfalfa Intensive Training Seminar 1993 March
Louisville, KY
2000 March
Reno, NV
1993 July
Madison, WI
2000 October
Wooster, OH
1994 January
Pittsburgh, PA
2001 March
Reno, NV
1994 November Des Moines, IA
2001 November Boise, ID
1995 March
2002 March
Minneapolis, MN
1995 November Minneapolis, MN
2002 October
Pasco, WA
1996 March
2003 March
Kansas City, MO
1996 November Grand Rapids, MI
2003 October
Harrisburg, PA
1997 March
2004 March
Salt Lake City, UT
St. Louis, MO Denver, CO Omaha, NE
1997 November Nashville, TN
2004 November Albuquerque, NM
1998 March
2005 March
Reno, NV
1998 November Minneapolis, MN 1999 March
Reno, NV
1999 November Madison, WI
Indianapolis, IN
2005 November Denver, CO
- Medicago - Lucerne - Queen of Forages
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Native of Iran
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Georgia 1736
Alfalfa in U.S. George Washington Thomas Jefferson
Alfalfa – An Ancient Crop Origins; Iran/Asia
Described By Pliney
Introduced to California
Spread By Islam (Spain)
China Greeks, Romans
Babylon Reference
First US Introduction, Georgia Spanish Introductions to Europe
(Horse Culture, Chariots)
2000 BC
700 BC
490 BC
126 BC
Apasti
‘Grimm’, Winter Hardiness
(T. Jefferson)
500 AD
1100 AD
1600 AD
1736 AD
1850 AD
Alfalfa, “best horse fodder”
1857 AD
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Importance
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Million Acres
World U.S.
80 21.7
Alfalfa acres in world. Total approximately 80 million acres. USA 33.8
Europe 25.0
Argentina 23.4
Africa 1.6
Asia 7.8
Pacific 0.6
Canada 7.8
Alfalfa Acres Harvested
Acres in Thousands > 1,000 600-999 100-599 20-99 < 19
ALFALFA Yield & Value In Western Canada
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Adaptability
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Genetic Diversity
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Yield T/A
U.S. Kentucky
3.32 3.60
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Grazing
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Quality
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Nitrogen Fixation
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Nitrogen Fixation
200–300 lbs/A/Yr 50–100+ $/A/Yr
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Versatile Use
Alfalfa Use Total Dairy cows & heifers
80 mil tons 33 mil tons
Beef post weaning cows & heifers
9 mil tons 25 mil tons
Others
13 mil tons
Source: Bruce Anderson, 1996 Alfalfa Symposium
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Grazing
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Summer Pastures
Alfalfa 2 to 4
0 5 10
Soybeans 14 to 35
15 20 25 30 35
Soil Loss (tons per acre)
Establish for STAND FORAGE PROGRAM
Establish for Stand Produce for Yield Harvest for Quality Market for Profit
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage
Alfalfa Intensive Training Seminar 1993 March
Louisville, KY
2000 March
Reno, NV
1993 July
Madison, WI
2000 October
Wooster, OH
1994 January
Pittsburgh, PA
2001 March
Reno, NV
1994 November Des Moines, IA
2001 November Boise, ID
1995 March
2002 March
Minneapolis, MN
1995 November Minneapolis, MN
2002 October
Pasco, WA
1996 March
2003 March
Kansas City, MO
1996 November Grand Rapids, MI
2003 October
Harrisburg, PA
1997 March
2004 March
Salt Lake City, UT
St. Louis, MO Denver, CO Omaha, NE
1997 November Nashville, TN
2004 November Albuquerque, NM
1998 March
2005 March
Reno, NV
1998 November Minneapolis, MN 1999 March
Reno, NV
1999 November Madison, WI
Indianapolis, IN
2005 November Denver, CO
- Medicago - Lucerne - Queen of Forages
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Native of Iran
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Georgia 1736
Alfalfa in U.S. George Washington Thomas Jefferson
Alfalfa – An Ancient Crop Origins; Iran/Asia
Described By Pliney
Introduced to California
Spread By Islam (Spain)
China Greeks, Romans
Babylon Reference
First US Introduction, Georgia Spanish Introductions to Europe
(Horse Culture, Chariots)
2000 BC
700 BC
490 BC
126 BC
Apasti
‘Grimm’, Winter Hardiness
(T. Jefferson)
500 AD
1100 AD
1600 AD
1736 AD
1850 AD
Alfalfa, “best horse fodder”
1857 AD
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Importance
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Million Acres
World U.S.
80 21.7
Alfalfa acres in world. Total approximately 80 million acres. USA 33.8
Europe 25.0
Argentina 23.4
Africa 1.6
Asia 7.8
Pacific 0.6
Canada 7.8
Alfalfa Acres Harvested
Acres in Thousands > 1,000 600-999 100-599 20-99 < 19
ALFALFA Yield & Value In Western Canada
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Adaptability
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Genetic Diversity
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Yield T/A
U.S. Kentucky
3.32 3.60
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Grazing
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Quality
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Nitrogen Fixation
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Nitrogen Fixation
200–300 lbs/A/Yr 50–100+ $/A/Yr
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Versatile Use
Alfalfa Use Total Dairy cows & heifers
80 mil tons 33 mil tons
Beef post weaning cows & heifers
9 mil tons 25 mil tons
Others
13 mil tons
Source: Bruce Anderson, 1996 Alfalfa Symposium
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Grazing
ALFALFA Queen of the Forage Crops
Summer Pastures
Alfalfa 2 to 4
0 5 10
Soybeans 14 to 35
15 20 25 30 35
Soil Loss (tons per acre)
Establish for STAND FORAGE PROGRAM
Establish for Stand Produce for Yield Harvest for Quality Market for Profit
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage
