Re: Alfalfa Seed Harvest?????

Posted by nballen on May 25, 2007 at 07:20:08 from (198.246.171.252):

In Reply to: Alfalfa Seed Harvest????? posted by IaGary on May 25, 2007 at 04:25:55:

A lot of alfalfa seed is grown in the Snake River plain of Southern Idaho & Eastern Oregon.

I can't speak to other parts of the country, though.

How detailed do you want me to get?

Alfalfa seed is usually planted as a row crop & grown in dedicated fields. It can be cultivated (especially the first year) to aid weed control. Although honey bees will occasionally work alfalfa seed, Leaf Cutter bees are primarily used for alfalfa pollination.

Weed control is critical for growing certified seed. Hand hoeing is often required (this is from pre-RR (R) days), all clovers are the biggest problem, as the seed sizes / density are very close.

Here, we usually don't get frost until ~October 1st, so the seed fields are chemically defoliated in mid-August after (most of) the seed has matured. Its a balance between maturing seed, and the early-set seeds becoming too dry and shattering ahead of the combine.

Special screens are used, and the combines are caulked (i.e. around lift augers, etc) to ensure no gaps that seed may fall through. My neighbor (growing up) used (IIRC) an IH 1460 (and a JD 6620?) for many years.

Seed is hauled in specially constructed (and covered) boxes, off-loaded with a forklift at the seed company warehouse.

I couldn't find any good pictures with a few minutes of 'net searching...I will pull a few together tonight and over the weekend.

Nathaniel
IPM bug-collector in Alfalfa seed - summer '96

• Company I worked for

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