EVALUATE THE STATUS OF STANDS
 & PLAN FOR REPLACEMENTS

Sometimes we are surprised in July to see how thin some of our stand have become. Our first reaction may be to think that the stand thinned all of a sudden.   

Some of our stands are already thin and we should be thinking about where we want to plant next fall. Before applying herbicides on wheat fields producers should be sure what they are going to plant next in that field.   

Several of the commonly-used wheat herbicides are pretty rough on alfalfa seedlings. The same thing goes for many of the commonly-used alfalfa herbicides. Old plants can tolerate Sinbar^® and Velpar^® , for example, but seedlings may be killed if you plant alfalfa in that field next fall.   

The table below summarizes some of the herbicides to watch out for, if you want to plant alfalfa in that field within the next few months.   
 

 
Several producers have said they did not pay any attention to these planting restrictions and planted alfalfa anyway. It is true we can get by some of the time, but a little more planning could help avoid problems later. 
 
Additional Information:   

• Alfalfa Stand Establishment Questions and Answers. OSU Extension Circular E-949   

• Alfalfa Stand Establishment. OSU Extension Facts F-2089