Description
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.; aka lucerne) acreage is low in comparison to perennial grasses in warm humid regions. This includes the tropics and subtropics, and in the USA, the Southeastern states. The alfalfa seed industry therefore saw few reasons to target sales and marketing in these regions. This overlooked logical opportunities. In this paper, these opportunities are examined for Southeastern USA. The Southeast contains a majority of beef herd, a high percentage of the dairy herd, and millions of acres suitable for conversion to alfalfa. Alfalfa is also now viewed as the best crop to solve problems inherent with the region’s perennial grass systems. These include interplanting alfalfa to enhance these grasses’ nutritive value and reduce their nitrogen fertilizer costs. Development of grazing tolerant and herbicide resistant varieties extended seasonal production and allowed use as high quality, grazed pasture. Alfalfa is also now used as a rotation crop with corn silage for dairies and an integral component of polyculture mixes for pastures and wildlife plots. Direct marketing and sales efforts by the seed industry needs to substantially increase. Research and extension efforts along with varietal development targeted for warm, humid production systems also needs to continue. This makes regions such as the Southeastern USA an important target to increase alfalfa acreage and seed sales.
Included in
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Industry Perspectives, Challenges, and Opportunities to Enhance Alfalfa in Warm Climates
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.; aka lucerne) acreage is low in comparison to perennial grasses in warm humid regions. This includes the tropics and subtropics, and in the USA, the Southeastern states. The alfalfa seed industry therefore saw few reasons to target sales and marketing in these regions. This overlooked logical opportunities. In this paper, these opportunities are examined for Southeastern USA. The Southeast contains a majority of beef herd, a high percentage of the dairy herd, and millions of acres suitable for conversion to alfalfa. Alfalfa is also now viewed as the best crop to solve problems inherent with the region’s perennial grass systems. These include interplanting alfalfa to enhance these grasses’ nutritive value and reduce their nitrogen fertilizer costs. Development of grazing tolerant and herbicide resistant varieties extended seasonal production and allowed use as high quality, grazed pasture. Alfalfa is also now used as a rotation crop with corn silage for dairies and an integral component of polyculture mixes for pastures and wildlife plots. Direct marketing and sales efforts by the seed industry needs to substantially increase. Research and extension efforts along with varietal development targeted for warm, humid production systems also needs to continue. This makes regions such as the Southeastern USA an important target to increase alfalfa acreage and seed sales.
