Navigating Winter Injury in Alfalfa Stands: Assessment, Management, and Interseeding Strategies
High February temperatures have prompted many alfalfa fields across the state to initiate greening up over the past couple of weeks (Figure 1). However, temperatures then plummeted (9°F) earlier this week, likely resulting in the demise of the new growth. But the more pressing question is whether this has led to stand damage or crown injury. Furthermore, this winter has witnessed numerous warm and extremely cold days. As spring approaches, evaluating your alfalfa stand for winter injury and potential yields becomes crucial to inform rotation and interseeding decisions.