Aphanomyces Root Rot: The Race is on to Defend Alfalfa

Once thought of as a wet-soil disease, aphanomyces root rot is more widespread than many realize. It’s also one of the few alfalfa diseases to develop races — genetic variations of the pathogens that challenge established resistant varieties— making it doubly threatening to long-term alfalfa productivity. 

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8 Factors That Can Determine Alfalfa Success

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing alfalfa seed and fashioning your overall forage management plan, including yield potential, stand persistence/winterhardiness, disease resistance and forage quality. Following are tips for making sure you’re selecting the best seed for your specific fields and covering what is necessary from a systems management perspective to help maximize yield potential.

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Can Albion Perennial Ryegrass Survive an Indiana Summer?

In the spring of 2014, I put Albion perennial ryegrass out on our farm.  Most PRG varieties do well in cooler, wetter environments, but when faced with a  hot, dry Indiana summer they can go dormant or die.  Albion has been touted as being able to grow in the state of Missouri and well adapted to the “Fescue” belt.

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