ALFALFA IN MICHIGAN 



Special Bulletin No. 07 



J. F. COX, TROFESSOR OF FARM CROl'S 



During the past twenty years alfalfa has commanded more interest 

 in Michigan in proportion to the acreage grown than any other forage 

 crop. 



At the present time those who have had experience with growing it 

 are fairly well divided into two classes. One is the enthusiastic group 

 made up of those who have worked out successful methods of handling 

 this crop, and who have grown alfalfa under adapted conditions. These 

 are inclined to speak in glowing terms of the high yield of hay secured, 

 its superiority for feeding purposes and the value of alfalfa in improving 

 the land. 



The other, the doubtful or pessimistic group, is composed of those who 

 have not made a success with alfalfa or who have planted it under condi- 

 tions not suited to its growth. They are often equally emphatic in stating 

 that alfalfa cannot be considered as a dependable crop for Michigan. 



Through the experience of those who have succeeded and those who 

 have failed in alfalfa growing, the production of alfalfa has at the present 

 time become fairly well stabilized. Its acreage is increasing steadily but 

 slowly each year. It is estimated that about 80,000 acres were seeded in 

 this State in 1918. The success of this crop rightly handled, and the 

 value of alfalfa hay as a feed has been demonstrated to the extent that 

 it is apparent that a much greater acreage of alfalfa is warranted in 

 Michigan. 



Successful crops may be found growing on soils ranging in texture 

 from light sands, light enough to blow, to heavy clays which work with 

 difficulty. Good drainage is a characteristic of all soils where thrifty 

 alfalfa is found. 



Alfalfa fields may be found well distributed throughout the southern 

 peninsula and in certain of the more developed upper peninsula counties. 

 This crop is of greater value in the older farming sections and has no 

 great place at present in newly cleared sections of northern Michigan 

 where June grass comes in with surprising vigor and clover is easily 

 secured. 



Experience has shown that ordinary methods of culture which may 

 give good results with our better known forage crops, cannot be de- 

 pended upon to give successful results with alfalfa, but if the require- 

 ments and culture of this crop are thoroughly understood, dependable 

 and profitable returns may be secured under a wide variety of soil and 

 climatic conditions. ' ; 



While a comparatively few farmers located on favorable soils may 

 secure a good stand with little effort, it is necessary for the majority 



