The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1918-04-11
. ALFALFA IN STEARNS.

There are several reasons why ev-
cry farmer in Stearns county should
have a certain acreage of alfalfa. The
following six might be listed among
the most important advantages of
this crop:
Frst,it is profitable crop. Second,
! it increases farm values. Third, it ex-
cells every other crop in yield per acre,
in feeding value, as drouth resister
and as a soil enricher. Fourth, its
frequent cuttings destroys weeds.
Fifth, it balances the corn ration.
Sixth, it leads to live stock.
A ton of alfalfa contains the same
amount of digestible protein as a ton
of wheat bran. Wheat bran at the
present time is costing the farmers
of Stearns county at least four times
as much as it would cost them to pro-
duce ton f alfalfa. It is rdinarily
figured that alfalfa can be grown at
$500 per ton. Some Stearns county
alfalfa growers have reported returns
of as high as seven tons per arcre Sc
cured in three cuttings. This figured
at as low as S15 per ton feeding value
would make an acre return of $105
for alfalfa.
With present feed prices there is no
other crop which can compete with al
falfa so far as economy in obtaining
protein is concerned. With a good
grade of alfalfa hay and corn silage
the dairymen's bill for concentrates
can be kept to a minimum. Alfalfa
and corn silage together with small
allowance of farm concentrates will
form well balanced ration when given
in proper amounts to cows of any pro-
duction. 1t is possible to feed herd
on nothing but alfalfa and corn silage
and bring them through the winter in
better condition than herds given
more expensive feeds which do not
consist of heterogeneous roughage such
as alfalfa, or succulent such as corn
silage. In brief in order for our farm
ers to economic to the limit of their
possibilities in feeding their dairy
herds a certain percentage of alfalfa
or red clover, preferably alfalfa,
along with silo filled with succulent
corn silage shoNld be found on every
dairy farm.
There are several different methods
used in the seeding of alfalfa such as
spring seeding without nurse crop, |
spring seeding with a nurse crop and
June seeding. Perhaps the most de-
slrable results in this section can be
obtained from late June seeding. For
June seeding the ground should be
MANFRED and plowed in the fall and
in the spring kept cultivated or disced
through April, May and the first part
Of June in order to kill weeds, or in
case the ground is not fall plawed It'll
should be nanured, disced, plowed
and again disced in the spring as early
as possible and then kept fallowed I'M
IL the last of June when the seed is
5oWn. This enables the grower to get
] crop for hog pasture or for hay the
irst year. The advantages Of this
method are: the use of the land is not
ost the. first year and it insures a
strong system and lessons the chance
II winter killing. The only disadvant-
age is that the weeds have a chance
% develop which might in some cases
smoother ut the alfalfa.
Plan now if you have not already
put in an acreage of alfalfa to make
your first start in June. Your county
agent will be glad to help in securing
desirable seed and giving any further
nfrmation on fafalfa culture.
P. w. Huntemeyer,
County Agent.