One crucial fact about alfalfa is that it will tolerate temperatures as low as -12°C.  Once below this temperature, water left within the alfalfa taproot cells will freeze and form ice crystals that may puncture the cell membranes.  When the alfalfa roots thaw, the plant dies because water and cell contents leak from damaged cells.  Generally freezing rain and thawing in late winter can be particularly lethal to alfalfa.
 
When looking at factors that affect alfalfa winterkill consider snow cover and ice sheeting.  Temperature fluctuations and risk of heaving occur much less under snow cover, resulting in less freezing damage to cells and fewer plant deaths.  Snow cover insulates the soil and also reduces winter injury to alfalfa crowns.
 
Ice sheeting is one of the more risky factors affecting alfalfa winterkill.  In the winter or early spring, rainfall or the fast melting of snow followed by cold temperatures can result in ice sheeting that smothers alfalfa stands.  Ice sheeting also freezes alfalfa due to the poor insulating property of ice.
 
Winterkill should be assessed in the spring when the alfalfa breaks dormancy.  At this time, alfalfa roots that are dead or injured will show signs of root discoloration (brown) and rot.  Slow and uneven growth of the alfalfa plant is a sign of winter injury as well.
 
Improving winter injured stands can include seeding more alfalfa into the stand if the alfalfa was planted the year before.  For older stands, seeding a grass and/or another legume is recommended over existing alfalfa.  This is because well-established alfalfa plants release a compound that is toxic to new alfalfa seedlings. 
 
The best option to help reduce the chance of winterkill is to select a variety of alfalfa that has been tested in Western Canada for persistence and winter survival.
 
For more information contact: 

 

                                           Terry Scott

  Director of Western Sales

  Pickseed

  Phone (204) 633-0088

                                            tscott@pickseed.com

 

 

 

Commonalities certainly exist between the forage industry industry in Saskatchewan and in other provinces.  For example, the project being lead by the Saskatchewan Forage Council to assess the value of the forage industry in the province is being looked at by neighbour Alberta.  In Saskatchewan this project is being conducted to highlight the impact of forages on the economy as well as look at opportunities for growth and development of this diverse industry.  The newly formed Alberta Forage Industry Network (AFIN) has expressed interest in conducting a similar project to value the forage industry in that province.
 
As in Saskatchewan, gaps in forage industry representation in Alberta had some concerned about the ability of the industry to move forward and flourish in changing times.  A stakeholder meeting was held in November of 2007 to discuss the potential of a forage network in Alberta.  At this meeting it was decided to go ahead with a phase one project to gauge interest and potential involvement in such a group.  After more than a year of meeting with key forage industry stakeholders and collaborating with producers, the Alberta Forage Industry Network (AFIN) has now been established to represent the estimated 30, 000 individuals involved with forages in Alberta. 
 
The goal of the AFIN is to bring issues of importance regarding economic and environmental impact on forages to the attention of funding bodies and policy makers throughout the province.  During its inaugural Annual General Meeting in February 2009, stakeholders gathered to discuss topics of concern to the industry and to elect the network's first board of directors.  Leading the team as chair is Doug Wray, a rancher from southern Alberta who has long been behind the charge to give forages the profile he feels they need and deserve. 
"The forage industry has a significant impact on the economy in Alberta.  Forage producers in this province manage more than eleven million hectares of land in forage, managed range and bush," said Wray.  "It is our goal to bring together representatives from across a very diverse industry, and create awareness of the importance of forages for producers and consumers alike."

The recently launched website www.albertaforages.ca will be the hub for AFIN members and is a development priority for the group.  The website will include information on forage news and events, will host a discussion board that gives members an opportunity to discuss and collaborate on emerging issues, and will provide links to organizations providing leading-edge forage research and extension.  Membership in AFIN is open to anyone involved in forages - producers, industry representatives, post-secondary institutions and local agricultural/forage associations.

"By coming together under one banner, we can elevate the profile of forages in Alberta and bring attention to the need for expanded research and extension," said Wray.  "It is time for the forage industry to be heard."

Many of the comments and concerns brought forward by the AFIN have been heard in the Saskatchewan forage industry as well.  There will likely be opportunity in the future for groups on both sides of the border to work together on the common goal of advancement of this industry.

Congratulations to the AFIN on formation of this important group and good luck in your future efforts!

For more information on the AFIN, visit their website or contact:

Doug Wray                or                 Grant Lastiwka
Chair                                             Forage Program Manager
Alberta Forage Industry Network      Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta
Ph: (403) 935-4642                         Ph: (403) 227-6392
dlwray@hotmail.com                      lastiwka@areca.ab.ca