Agriculture

• Increased soil fertility (especially when legumes are used)
• Improved soil quality and structure
• Enhanced water infiltration and internal drainage
• Reduced root and foliar diseases in cereals
• Lower weed populations and herbicide requirements
• Increased yield and profitability in subsequent grain crops
• Greater carbon sequestration from deep-rooted systems
• Reduced nitrogen fertilizer requirements

• Alfalfa contributes ~45 lb N/ac annually, up to 107 lb/ac under optimum conditions.
• After two years of alfalfa, soils have accumulated ~130 lb N/ac.
• N benefits can last up to 7 years, with the first two years providing the greatest impact.
• Cereals following alfalfa require little or no supplemental N the following year.
• No-till termination results in slower, more efficient N release, benefiting protein levels in wheat.

• A 3-year perennial forage stand returns twice as much organic matter to soil as annual crops.
• Higher organic matter enhances:
• Soil structure
• Water-holding capacity
• Resistance to compaction and erosion
• Microbial activity

• High-organic-matter soils reduce surface crusting—critical for small-seeded crops.

• Deep forage roots open soil channels, improving infiltration and subsoil drainage.
• Benefits persist at least two years after stand termination.
• Particularly beneficial on clay soils and in wet spring conditions.

• Alfalfa roots extend 3–9 ft deep, reducing water logging and improving subsequent crop performance.

• Forages break disease cycles by removing annual host crops from the rotation.
• Studies show lower common root rot in cereals following 3-year forage stands.

• Deep-rooted forages lower water tables and intercept salts before they reach the surface.
• Alfalfa effectively reduces salinity in the crop rooting zone.

• Perennial cover protects soil from wind and water erosion.
• Enhanced soil structure further stabilizes soil particles.

• Forages capture leached nitrogen and phosphorus from deeper soil layers.
• Alfalfa can recover nutrients from up to 9 ft deep by year four.

• 71% of surveyed producers observed increased cereal yields after forages.
• No-till termination improves subsequent crop yields, especially in dry years.
• An 8-year Manitoba study:
• Wheat after alfalfa yielded an additional18 bu/ac the first year.
• Average an additional 9 bu/ac benefits over five years.
• Wheat protein increased 1–2% for up to 5 years after termination.
• Long-term ND/MB/SK/AB studies show:
• Wheat yields 50% higher on land previously cropped to 3-year alfalfa stands vs. non-legumes.

• Lower annual weed densities, including:
• Wild oats, Green foxtail and Canada thistle
• Reduced reliance on herbicides → slows herbicide resistance development.
• No-till forages suppress weeds longer than tilled systems (e.g., foxtail reduced 98%).

• No-till seeding improves moisture use and seed-to-soil contact.
• Use less competitive companion crops; reduce seeding rate if used.
• Mow companion crops early if needed.

• Herbicide termination (glyphosate + 2,4-D or Banvel) is often more efficient than tillage.
• Better nitrogen release pattern for subsequent crops.
• Apply when forage has ≥8 inches of regrowth.

• For maximum N benefit, terminate stand after 2–3 years.

• Rotations including alfalfa reduce input and fuel costs.
• Income varies less across price fluctuations compared to continuous annual cropping.
• Improved yields and lower inputs make rotations with forages more profitable long-term.

• U.S. Midwest dairy markets (high digestibility forage advantage)
• Local beef backgrounding operations
• Forage seed production (alfalfa, trefoil, tall fescue, ryegrass)
• Markets for health-focused forage-fed meats (Omega-3, CLA benefits)