What is alfalfa known for?

What is alfalfa known for?

Alfalfa, (Medicago sativa), also called lucerne or purple medic, perennial, cloverlike, leguminous plant of the pea family (Fabaceae), widely grown primarily for hay, pasturage, and silage. Alfalfa is known for its tolerance of drought, heat, and cold and for the remarkable productivity and quality of its herbage.

What are three major uses of alfalfa hay?

Alfalfa hay is used primarily as animal feed for dairy cows but also for horses, beef cattle, sheep, chickens, turkeys and other farm animals. The value of milk, meat, wool and all other animal products is $132 billion, thus the total value of animal products plus the value of hay reach the $145 billion level.

Why do farmers use alfalfa?

Farmers admire alfalfa for its high yield, wide adaptation, disease resistance, and excellent feeding quality to a variety of livestock. Acreage and value of producfion of the top six U.S. crops in 2018. Alfalfa hay and haylage was the third most valuable crop, behind corn and soybean.

Is an alfalfa a producer?

Alfalfa is one of the most important forage crops, providing high energy and protein for dairy cows as well as other types of livestock, including beef cattle, horses, goats, and sheep. California is currently the leading producer of alfalfa hay in the United States, with over one million acres grown.

Is alfalfa good for liver?

Alfalfa causes reduction in cholesterol synthesis by saponins, and it can reform membrane of liver cells, thus, inhibiting leaking of liver enzymes. High dose of manganese in alfalfa and increased insulin resulted to decrease of blood glucose.

How do you eat alfalfa?

Another way to add alfalfa to your diet is by eating it as sprouts. You can add alfalfa sprouts to your diet in many ways, such as in a sandwich or mixed into a salad. You can buy them at health food stores or sprout them at home.

What are the side effects of alfalfa?

Possible Side Effects. Alfalfa sprouts are considered safe and nutritious but may cause side effects in some people. Due to its high fiber content, consuming raw alfalfa can cause gas, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea.

How do I get rid of alfalfa?

Most labels recommend at least four inches of regrowth to maximize control. While many herbicides are available to remove alfalfa, the most popular active ingredients include glyphosate, 2,4-D, and/or dicamba. While glyphosate has no plant-back restrictions for other crops, 2,4-D and dicamba do.

What crops can be planted after alfalfa?

The best rotational crops following alfalfa are cereal crops and annual forage grasses. Small grains can benefit from nitrogen released after alfalfa is plowed. Corn and sorghum could also follow alfalfa in those areas where rainfall is adequate or where irrigation is available.

Does alfalfa make you gain weight?

Alfalfa is higher in calories and protein than grass hays, which makes it an excellent choice to help to add weight to a thin horse. If your horse tends to be wasteful with his hay, he may eat more when offered alfalfa hay cubes or pellets.

What state grows the most alfalfa?

Arizona
Arizona is the highest-yielding state, with an average of about 7.9 tons/acre. Arizona grows mostly non-dormant varieties under irrigation, and alfalfa is harvested 8-10 times per year.

Is alfalfa toxic to humans?

Alfalfa sprouts are considered safe and nutritious but may cause side effects in some people. Due to its high fiber content, consuming raw alfalfa can cause gas, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea.

What kind of supplement is made from alfalfa?

Nature’s Answer Alfalfa is an alfalfa dietary supplement made from naturally grown alfalfa herb. The raw herb goes through a controlled manufacturing process that ensures the final products have a holistic balance.

What’s the best thing to do with alfalfa?

The seed is commonly used as a sprouted seed which is added to salads, used in sandwiches, added to soups or eaten as is. Alfalfa seeds can also be ground into a powder and mixed with cereal flours for making nutritionally improved breads and other baked goods.

How is alfalfa grown in the United States?

Alfalfa is a highly nutritious, perennial legume that contains high concentrations of vitamins B, C, D, and E. Most of the alfalfa grown in the United States is used as feed, particularly for dairy cattle. In 2013, approximately 18 million acres of alfalfa—with a production value of $10.7 billion—were harvested in the United States.

What kind of flowers do alfalfa plants have?

The flowers are in a short and somewhat one-sided cluster. Each cluster contains from ten to twenty purple flowers of the ordinary leguminous shape. Fields of Nutrition has medicinal benefits and vitamin/mineral content of Alfalfa. The leaves, which are alternate and scattered along the stem, consist of three leaflets like those of clover.