QUESTION #37 

When capital is limited, what is a least-cost method of alfalfa stand establishment or where can costs be cut on stand establishment without undue damage? 

SHORT ANSWER: It is essential to get a stand established that has a reasonable chance of surviving several years (four or more). Any shortcuts associated with reduced costs will reduce returns over the life of the stand. An alternative is to follow stand establishment recommendations, but consider establishing fewer acres of alfalfa to reduce total capital outlay. 

EXPLANATION: A number of factors affect alfalfa stand establishment: seedbed preparation, variety choice, fertilization and liming practices, weed and insect control, and harvest management, as noted throughout this publication. Some factors involve higher costs than others. Depending on the site, soil, rainfall, probability of weeds, insects, and diseases, etc., some factors may be more critical to yields and stand life than others. Recommended practices are designed to maximize the probability of establishing a profitable stand. Any adjustment will decrease the likelihood of obtaining a satisfactory stand. 

One approach to take when capital is limited is develop a budget with the right amount of inputs to get the best possible stand. To determine what costs could be reduced, think about the likely effect on the stand if one factor is eliminated or cut back to a less-than-optimum level. 

Evaluate each factor independently. There will be trade-offs in terms of effects on income and expenses. How much would elimination or reduction cost in terms of lost yield and stand life (lost income)? How much would that save in terms of capital usage (lower expenses)? 

Table 7 concisely lists ranges of costs and represents a starting point for developing an alfalfa stand establishment budget. Table 8 includes probable effects of skipping or cutting back on certain practices. These tables can assist in understanding underlying economic considerations in several of the responses to questions in this series. 

EXAMPLES: You might risk using less than the recommended amount of fertilizer at establishment (a cost savings), but recognize you will need to apply fertilizer in the second or a subsequent year (at least an equivalent cost). This trade-off depends on the initial level of soil fertility. If your soil fertility is very low for a key nutrient, first-year yields will be reduced. If soil fertility is only slightly low, then yields might be reduced very little the first year of the stand. 

You might eliminate that last trip over the field in seedbed preparation and use a higher seeding rate. Weigh the cost of the last field activity against the cost of more seed. If the last seedbed activity will only slightly improve the seedbed, it may save money to bypass it and use a higher seeding rate. If the seedbed is in poor condition when you make the decision, the last activity may be needed just to bring the seedbed to an acceptable quality for stand establishment. 

You might risk not using a preplant herbicide if you think weeds may not be a problem. However, you must recognize that if weeds become a problem, you will need to control them. This decision may depend on your seedbed, previous experience with weeds on this site or nearby sites, previous crop on this site, etc. 

You might use a common variety of alfalfa to save money rather than an improved variety. However, you risk having virtually no resistance to insects and diseases. Therefore, the cost savings (lower input costs) may be more than offset by the lost income from lower yields and reduced stand life. 

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: First things first. Some minimum level or degree of seedbed preparation is mandatory or even the highest quality seed will not germinate and grow. 

Poor quality seed, either non-inoculated or seed with little or no resistance to insects and diseases, reduces the likelihood of the stand remaining productive for the necessary four or more years. Consequently, a reasonably good quality seed is important. 

There is a high correlation between the amount of key soil nutrients used by the alfalfa plant and plant growth or yield. Poorly fertilized soil will produce an alfalfa crop but yields will suffer, as will income. In addition, what appears as a cost savings from reduced fertilizer use may result in lower plant population, less vigorous plants, and poorer quality alfalfa hay due to increased susceptibility to weed and insect infections. Therefore, some minimum level of soil fertility is necessary. 

Not properly controlling weeds will contribute to higher weed populations, competition for plant nutrients and sunlight, and eventual reduction in stand life. If weeds threaten a new stand, they need to be controlled. Growers need to recognize their desired output is harvested alfalfa forage, not simply harvested forage (including weeds and grasses). Too many weeds and grasses will reduce the feed value of alfalfa and buyers will discount the price they otherwise would pay for hay with high feed value. 

If a serious infestation of insects threatens to completely destroy a new alfalfa stand, treatment is required. A less serious infestation may reduce yields this year and cause thinning of the stand. To control or not control becomes a more difficult question, though a less serious infestation may weaken plants, making them more susceptible to further insect damage, reduce yields, and allow weeds to compete with alfalfa the following year. Consequently, attempting to save costs by not treating insect pests will result in lost income and reduced stand life.
DI'JA'NO
(Pronounced in some areas "did you know") 
Low soil fertility or lime is probably the most yield-limiting factor in Oklahoma alfalfa. The 1995 Alfalfa Production Evaluation Project showed that over 75% of the fields chosen by producers were deficient in P, K, or lime for maximum production. 

Of the 1500 alfalfa soil samples analyzed by the O.S.U. laboratory in 1995, 90% were deficient in at least one of these factors. A little over ½ of the samples needed phosphorus fertilizer, ½ needed potassium fertilizer, and ½ needed lime.

 

 

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Have you checked the fertility in your fields recently? 

Table 7. Alfalfa Establishment Costs Per Acre, Based on Custom Rates. 
Establishment Practices Low Estimate $/A High Estimate $/A Comments & 

Conditions
Soil Fertility and pH
Soil Test -- -- $10/sample - negligible
Nitrogen 0 4 20 lb @ $0.20/lb
Phosphorus 0 18 100 lb @ $0.18/lb
Potassium 0 10 100 lb @ $0.10/lb
Lime 0 60 3 tons @ $20/ton (applied)
Fertilizer Application 0 5
Land Preparation
Deep Tillage 0 12 Moldboard ($12), Chisel ($9), Disk ($6)
Disk to Incorporate Fertilizer 5 10 Break Clods
Level & Drain 5 15 Depends on needs
Seedbed Preparation
Shallow Disk 5 7 (1 time)
Spring Tooth 4 8 (1 time)
Spike Harrow 4 8 (2 times)
Cultipacker 0 7
Seed 20 30
Planting 5 8
Pest Control
Herbicide 0 25 1 or 2 post-emergent application
Insecticide 0 15 1 application
TOTAL $ 48 $240 $80 - $125/A is typical

 

 

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Table 8. Importance of Stand Establishment Practices and Cost Savings of Omitting Practices When Capital Is Limited. 
Establishment Probable Losses To * Short-Term Comments
Practice New Stand Yield Stand Life Cost Savings
FERTILIZER & LIME
Soil Test Always Critical Always Critical Always Critical $10/field Soil test should be taken each year.
Nitrogen fertilization Important if N is very low Not Critical Not Critical $7/A
Phosphorus fertilization Critical if P is below 75% sufficient Critical Critical $ 0.28/lb of P2O5/A 4-year supply should be applied before establishment. 

1 year's production lost when P sufficiency is below 85%. Higher rates will be required after establishment.
Potassium fertilization Critical if K is below 75% sufficient Critical Critical $ 0.18/lb of K2O/A Should be applied before establishment, and each year according to soil test.
Lime Important if pH is below 6 Important if pH is below 6 Critical if pH is below 6 $20/ton Much less efficient applied after establishment.
LAND PREPARATION
Deep tillage Little or no Importance Important if hard pan exist Rarely Critical $10-12/A Cannot be corrected later.
Disk to incorporate fertilizer & lime Important if high rates are required Important if high rates are required Important if high rates are required $5-10/A Cannot be corrected later.
Level and drain Always Critical Always Critical Always Critical $5-15/A Cannot be corrected later.
Establishment Probable Losses To * Short-Term Comments
Practice New Stand Yield Stand Life Cost Savings
SEEDBED PREPARATION
Shallow disk Always Important Not Critical Not Critical $ 5-7/A Cannot be corrected later.
Spring tooth Important Not Critical Not Critical $ 4-8/A Stand establishment importance depends on state of seedbed. Cannot be corrected later.
Spike tooth Usually Important Not Critical Not Critical $ 4-8/A Stand establishment importance depends on state of seedbed. Cannot be corrected later.
Cultipacker Perhaps Important Not Critical Not Critical $ 5-7/A Stand establishment importance depends on state of seedbed. Cannot be corrected later.
SEED AND SEED TREATMENTS
High quality Always Important Always Important Always Important $ 10-15/A See questions on "Variety Selection." 

Cannot be corrected later.
Well -adapted variety Always Critical Always Critical Always Critical $ 5- 10/A See questions on "Variety Selection." 

Cannot be corrected later.
Inoculum Always Important Always Important Always Important $1-2/A Practically, cannot be corrected later.
Pre-inoculated seed Not Critical Not Critical Not Critical $ 0.50-2.00/A Practically, cannot be corrected later.
Fungicide treatment Sometimes Critical Not Critical Not Critical $1-2/A Cannot be corrected later.
INSECT CONTROL
Aphids May Be Critical May Be Critical May Be Critical $5-15/A Field scouting is critical.
Caterpillars May Be Critical May Be Critical Rarely Critical $5-15/A Field scouting is critical.
Grasshoppers May Be Critical Rarely Critical Rarely Critical $5-15/A Field scouting is critical. May treat borders only.
Establishment Probable Losses To * Short-Term Comments
Practice New Stand Yield Stand Life Cost Savings
WEED CONTROL
Herbicide for non-competitive broadleaf weeds Not Important Not Important Not Important $16/A Field scouting is critical to determine weed identity.
Herbicide for competitive broadleaf weeds May Be Critical May Be Important Not Critical $11-20/A Field scouting is critical to determine weed identity.
Herbicide for competitive weedy grasses May Be Critical May Be Important Not Critical $13-23/A Field scouting is critical to determine weed identity. Competitive relates to available N in seedling stand.
Herbicide for non-competitive grassy weeds Not Critical Not Critical Not Critical $5-20/A Field scouting is critical to determine weed identity.
Preplant incorporated herbicides Rarely Important Not Critical Not Critical $16/A Different herbicides can be applied if a problem exists after planting.

 

* All "Establishment Practices" represent decisions producers must make and are, therefore, at least somewhat "Important" to successful alfalfa stand establishment. Ratings of "Important" and "Critical" address long-term losses that should be balanced against "Short-Term Cost Savings" if a practice is skipped or cut short. Those marked "Critical" can have drastic effects on stand establishment, potential yield, or stand life. Those marked "Important" can have effects on stand establishment, potential yield, or stand life, but they are not normally devastating. Modifiers of "Important" and "Critical" indicate how often that decision will impact stand establishment, potential yield, or stand life. These can be used to help judge if the "Short-Term Cost Savings" are worth the risk, even when capital is limiting. See discussions on each of these topics to see how the practices impact production. 

 

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