Source: CropWatch - University of Nebraska, Lincoln
By: Bruce Anderson, Extension Forage Specialist

Most alfalfa fields start to lose stand and production ability after cutting hay for three or four years. When this starts to happen, I usually suggest rotating to another crop and planting a new hay field.

For an added twist to this crop rotation idea, consider interseeding grasses and other legumes into your thinning alfalfa to create a high producing pasture. Not only might you extend the useful life of your alfalfa field by many years, you also will develop excellent grazing for your livestock.

The most common grasses interseeded into alfalfa are orchardgrass and smooth brome, but other grasses like tall fescue, wheatgrass, creeping foxtail, meadow brome, and reed canarygrass also can be used. In addition, seed other legumes like red clover for short-term pasture or birdsfoot trefoil if you plan to graze this pasture more than three years to add diversity to your animals' diet and help assure good legume growth for several more years.

It is important to get these new seedlings off to an early start, so be sure to interseed as soon as conditions allow tractor and drills to operate properly. If your alfalfa is thick enough to form a canopy that shades new seedlings, take a very early hay cutting, maybe during the first week of May. This will allow sunlight to continue to reach new seedlings below the alfalfa. Then use your good judgement on subsequent hay cuts or starting to rotationally graze.

Both land and livestock will improve with your efforts.