Quality Over Yield? California growers cater to dairy market by growing dormant alfalfas

摘要

Some California hay growers are trading yield for quality by planting dormant alfalfa varieties in what has been considered semi-dormant territory, says Dan Putnam, University of California alfalfa and forage extension specialist. "In the Sacramento Valley and the upper part of the San Joaquin Valley, they're growing some of the types of varieties being grown in Minnesota," he says. "Some of the seed companies are telling us that 60-70% of their seed sales are in those fall dormancy classes."