The past weekend’s warm temperatures could cause some people to be concerned about alfalfa coming out of dormancy too early, but a long-time state forage researcher said it will be a while before that’s likely to happen.
University of Wisconsin-Madison forage specialist emeritus Dan Undersander said it would take a few days of above-average March temperatures to move the state’s alfalfa crop out of dormancy. That’s especially the case in areas where snow still covers the crop, he said.
“It does raise concerns,” Undersander said. “I guess I’m confident that it doesn’t mean winter-kill, but there is some potential for that.”
The biggest concerns rise when several 60- or 70-degree days are strung together.
“That string of days is what’s important,” Undersander said. “One 70-degree day does nothing.”
Little will happen where dormancy is concerned if the temperature stays below 60 degrees, he added.
Undersander said having the alfalfa breaking dormancy also isn’t a problem if it happens and the temperature stays relatively warm. If the crop happens to start its spring growth and there is some freezing, it also doesn’t mean a disaster for the crop — alfalfa generally can handle one or two growth re-starts, he added.
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