A successful harvest depends not only on crop conditions but also on properly functioning equipment. While you can’t eliminate all harvest losses, you can identify the source and adjust harvest equipment for optimum performance.

Maximizing yield starts with correct planting, and correct planting starts with adjusting the planter to the proper settings. Carefully check planting equipment before you hit the field this spring.

When a spring alfalfa seeding has failed due to wet soils, weather, disease problems or unexpected herbicide carryovers, or when an older stand is deemed unproductive, late summer planting allows a grower to establish alfalfa fields with a good chance for success, sometimes with better odds than spring seeding.

Since the adoption of corn hybrids with biotechnology traits, growers have continued to see more consistent 200-bushel-plus corn crops in past seasons. However, increased yields have created the challenge of dealing with increased levels of residue when planting next year’s crop.

Each year, alfalfa stands risk being injured or killed by cold temperatures, ice sheets or heaving. Evaluating alfalfa stands for winter injury is crucial to crop rotation decisions.

As alfalfa stands age and thin, production can drop. Typically fields begin to decline in their third year of production. Field evaluation helps identify less profitable fields that need to be targeted for replacement.

Soil acidity is one of the primary fertility issues that can limit crop growth. High levels of acid can reduce nutrient availability, restrict root growth and increase the toxicity of some elements. Soil acidification occurs naturally as the result of rainfall, plant growth, breakdown of organic matter and the application of ammonia fertilizers. Applying lime reduces soil acidity and is a source of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg).

In Midwest alfalfa fields, potato leafhoppers can cause significant problems for alfalfa growers by reducing yield, quality and stand longevity. Scouting alfalfa stands for these pests is crucial to alleviating future headaches.

Weed control is a bigger challenge in mixed forage crops than in monoculture. Overcome the challenge with proper stand establishment and aggressive management.