The establishment and management of alfalfa in central Oregon

Abstract

Alfalfa is an extremely important crop in the agricultural economy of Central Oregon. Some of the alfalfa is fed in livestock operations on the farms where it is produced, but most of it is sold as baled hay for use in other parts of the state and region. Annual yields of 4 to 5 tons of hay per acre have been considered to be very good. However, if proper establishment and management prac­tices are conscientiously applied, much higher yields are possible. Studies conducted at the Central Oregon Experiment Station, Redmond, have clearly shown that yields greater than 8 tons of hay per acre per year are obtainable (Table 1 )