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Hay field (alfalfa) full of foxtail this year... what to do?

Ed S.

Ed S.

Well-known Member
Location
Middle Tennessee
I plowed up and reseeded 10 acres of alfalfa last year (this is the second year since reseeding), and most of my field is now completely overgrown with foxtail. I've tried to cut as early as possible (to keep non-alfalfa from reseeding itself), but apparently am doing something wrong here... Horse folks generally won't buy hay with foxtail in it, which limits saleability.

We avoid using chemicals on the field (i.e. Roundup), so it would appear I can either plow it under this fall and start over again, or maybe just keep cutting it frequently (maybe with a rotary mower, not baling) until the alfalfa comes in thicker? We've had a really wet year (Central IL), which seems to encourage the grasses and hurt the alfalfa.

Not really sure what to do next - suggestions welcome.

es
 
Frequent cuttings will help prevent the foxtail from going to seed. The wetter than normal summer is the culprit. Grass is pretty easy to control in straight alfalfa........with herbicides. But, only you can make that decision.
 
If the field was in alfalfa last year, you plowed it, and reseeded to alfalfa, you have an autotoxicity problem. Alfalfa leaves a toxin in the ground for about a year, which kills new seeding of alfalfa, so you need to go to another crop for one season. Going back to alfalfa, it will not grow well, and lets the weeds control the field. Rotating out of another crop, seeding alfalfa, and you get a poor stand...sometimes you can reseed those washed out areas and get a decent stand, but going directly back into alfalfa usually results in autotoxicity.
 
JMS,

I plowed the field probably around late July of 2007 and reseeded around April 2008 or so with an oats nurse crop (which I let stand and combined). The field had been in alfalfa previously for six years and corn/beans before that.

Most of the alfalfa came in pretty good in 2008, and one section looks really good and thick even now. It's really just been this year that the foxtail has been a bad problem (I always seem to have some amount out there, tho).

Randall - understand... but for now, we prefer to avoid chemicals... I may change my mind eventually, tho!

es
 
I know your not into chemicals. But with all the money you would spend in replowing, the cost of new seed, fuel and your time, not to mention waiting another year becasue of the autotoxcity.

It would be cheaper to apply a chemical 1 time and then forget about the headache. You could then work on establishing your current stand.
 
I just started a couple of acres of alfalfa this year and would be interested to know how you control grasses. What type of herbicide kills grass but not alfalfa? How about broadleaf weeds?
 
It would be cheaper to apply a chemical 1 time and then forget about the headache. You could then work on establishing your current stand.
Click to expand...

Good point. As LarryWa asked, what would you use on the field?

es
 
You got me on that one. Its been so long since ive established a field of alfalfa. Last time i did the local Co-op sprayed an herbicide i cant remember off hand, as its been over 6 years. Ill see if i can dig out my paper work from then.

Kyhayman would be the person to know Hopefully he will reply to this thread.
 
I THINK THE CHEMICAL IS CALLED POAST;IT KILLS GRASS BUT NOT WEEDS OR ALFALFA.I'M NOT SURE IF THERE IS ROUND UP READY ALFALFA YET OR NOT;I THINK THEY ARE WORKING ON IT.LET IT GROW 45 DAYS TO 1ST CUTTING,THEN MOW FREQENTLY TO CONTROL WEEDS.IF YOU SPRAY IT, DON'T SELL TO HORSE PEOPLE,SELL TO CATTLE OWNERS; WHEN IT'S WEED FREE SELL FOR HORSE FEED.MARK.
 
Hey Ed,

What horse guy wants pure alfalfa anyway? Most horse people around hare want a grass/alfalfa mix. I'd seed a popular horse grass (no clue on what kind, I'm not a horse person) directly into the alfalfa.

Foxtail is a warm season annual grass. Your weak stand is what allowed it to grow. As long as you tough out this year and get a good stand next year, the foxtail will be out-competed and won't come back.

Some current shemicals that kill grass in alfalfa - Selectmax, Assure II, Intensity, Intensity One.
 
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