Each year four varieties with three levels of hard seed were planted at the three sites. Most of the seed geminate within the first month after seeding with very little germination later months, regardless of hard seed level. This also tells us that, when farmers ask about hard seed filling in a thin alfalfa stand, the answer is that it will not because very few seeds germinate after the first month. As shown in the table below, hard seed had no effect on yield in either the seeding year or the year after. The following was taken from the introduction of Dr. Carl Hoveland's November Georgia Cattleman article.
Dependability is an important factor in forage production.
Many years ago, Dr. Glenn Burton asked me what I thought was the most important characteristic of a desirable forage grass or legume for a cattle producer. Over the years as I have observed new forage varieties that have come and gone, the wisdom of Dr. Burton's words have continued to impress me. Cattle producers are often willing to accept less yield and lower nutritive quality as long as that forage plant is dependable when subjected to drought, heat, cold, or flooding along with periods of low fertility or overgrazing. The 19 th Kentucky Alfalfa Conference will be held at the Cave City Convention Center on March 4, 1999.