[JD105404T]

Hey guys,

I have been wondering lately about trying to raise alfalfa for seed production. I have read where guys have done this by planting 2-3 pounds per acre on 30 to 40 inch rows so they could culivate in between the rows and I have read that it also makes the Alfalfa seed produce more seed than forage. I have a John Deere 7000 6 row planter on 30 inch rows. It uses the Kinze seed plates. I was wondering if anybody knew if Kinze or any other companys made seed plates for Alfalfa seed that would plant down in this 2-3 pound range? Also anybody that has had any experience with raising alfalfa for seed, I would highly appreciate any advice. Your time and help is highly appreciated.

Thanks Again,
JD105404T

 

[BoSoT]

Search the forum for canola seed plates. Might find some answers there.

 

[csfi]

Only way to plant Alfalfa seed with a plate is to have it pelletized and use a suger beet plate. I've done it, don't like it very well. I plant raw A. seed with gandy boxes to get down to 2lbs to the acre on 22" rows.

 

[wetfarmer]

There was some work done with beet planters in Mb years ago . You can get the same results with a valmar by directing the hoses down to the ground. In the end the yields are better for a year or two and then you lose the row stands to perennial weeds. I say solid stands and try to keep them thin with the use of a salford or similar tool. I am out of seed now but had almost 1500 acres for many years. Water chased me out of the business. Glad I'm not holding 30,000,000 bees right now waiting to put them out into islands of land between lakes. with quads. No fun. If you have specific questions about seed production PM me.

 

[skgrain]

Wow wet farmer you will have seen it all in the alfalfa seed business. I am a tiny grower and yes we are hoping for a hot July(starting July 1) My favorite way to establish alfalfa is with 1 lb going down every 3rd run seedhawk(10 inch) and wheat down other 2. This makes for a clean crop and spacing is about right. Some people spray roundup between rows but I don't have technology or square land to do this.

I just sprayed headline, lorsban, pardner, and assure in one tank mix and it looks like I killed the alfalfa. I think it is just the leaves burnt but it sure looks bad. May consider 2 apps next year and split it up a bit!

I welcome you to the industry. Don't view it as another crop. View it as another enterprise like going into poultry or hogs.

 

[csfi]

I raise A. seed in the states so everything now is RR which was a welcome change here. The old saying of everything goes to seed in a seed field is true and we have been raising seed since the 50's. Everything is on 22" rows and most of it we cross thin with 24" thinners leaving about 6" between.

Have had bee's out for 2 weeks now been warm on and off, this week is suppose to be in the mid to high 90's so they should get some work done now. Raising about 900 acres, just going into the first bee flight spray for bugs. Putting down Dibrom and Beleaf at night of course.

 

[wetfarmer]

Wow wet farmer you will have seen it all in the alfalfa seed business. I am a tiny grower and yes we are hoping for a hot July(starting July 1) My favorite way to establish alfalfa is with 1 lb going down every 3rd run seedhawk(10 inch) and wheat down other 2. This makes for a clean crop and spacing is about right. Some people spray roundup between rows but I don't have technology or square land to do this.

I just sprayed headline, lorsban, pardner, and assure in one tank mix and it looks like I killed the alfalfa. I think it is just the leaves burnt but it sure looks bad. May consider 2 apps next year and split it up a bit!

I welcome you to the industry. Don't view it as another crop. View it as another enterprise like going into poultry or hogs.

The only insecticide that doesn't affect herbicide safety and efficacy in a tank mix is matador. Don't ever spray Oddysey(spelling?) and Cygon. It can go terribly wrong sometimes. Ya I have seen a lot of good and bad from the alfalfa seed industry. Just couldn't fight the water anymore . I really liked working with the bees and miss it. skip row seeding is a great way to establish alfalfa. We did that with flax and wheat .

 

[skgrain]

cfsi sounds like you put on quite a few apps for insecticide? I do one about 6 days before bee release. Too scared to spray when bees are out plus the pressure is usually not high.

To the original question here in canada people dont worry about individual seed spacing like you would with corn. In fact the best yield ever apparently was from a field that was just scattered quite heavy.

 

[csfi]

cfsi sounds like you put on quite a few apps for insecticide? I do one about 6 days before bee release. Too scared to spray when bees are out plus the pressure is usually not high.

To the original question here in canada people dont worry about individual seed spacing like you would with corn. In fact the best yield ever apparently was from a field that was just scattered quite heavy.

Oh yes, we probably average between 3 and 5 apps on a light bug year and 5 to 7 on a bad one during bee flight. That season is just starting, all spraying done at night, have to be out of the field by 11: 30 pm for the insecticide to dissipate by morning.

 

[deetwocat]

Hey Csfi you are showing are age a lot of the young guys have never heard of a Gandy box we had them on the back of many planters in the 60s and 70s .

 

[csfi]

Hey Csfi you are showing are age a lot of the young guys have never heard of a Gandy box we had them on the back of many planters in the 60s and 70s .

Ha! Not only that I don't even use a "positive displacement" Gandy for planting A. seed....lol. Still running the old paddle wiper with the V hole.

I use a 1730 Deere planter and take the Deere boxes off and just mounted Gandy boxes up high off the lead bar and run the hoses down the seed tube. Work pretty good.