Arctic farming?

[P.A.L]

I was wondering, when I read about yellow-flowered alfalfa, in how cold climate it survives?

Also What you northern Canadian ranchers seed for hay and pasture? are there varieties of legumes especially for north. Is there seed producers to ask more?

 

[Silver]

Peace is the most common alfalfa in this zone. Some are using Spreader (Spreader 4 is the latest I think). This far north Timothy and Brome are the tried and true grass hay varieties. There are climates / areas where Meadow Foxtail works very well for people, and it grows in climates where alfalfa doesn't do well. Around here it's an all or nothing approach though. If you wait until the alfalfa and other grasses are ready for cutting the foxtail is way past it's best and coarse as well.

You could try a page like this: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/forage/publications/PeaceRec.htm

 

[P.A.L]

Peace is the most common alfalfa in this zone. Some are using Spreader (Spreader 4 is the latest I think). This far north Timothy and Brome are the tried and true grass hay varieties. There are climates / areas where Meadow Foxtail works very well for people, and it grows in climates where alfalfa doesn't do well. Around here it's an all or nothing approach though. If you wait until the alfalfa and other grasses are ready for cutting the foxtail is way past it's best and coarse as well.

You could try a page like this: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/forage/publications/PeaceRec.htm

Thanks Silver,

does any one use clovers?

 

[Silver]

Peace is the most common alfalfa in this zone. Some are using Spreader (Spreader 4 is the latest I think). This far north Timothy and Brome are the tried and true grass hay varieties. There are climates / areas where Meadow Foxtail works very well for people, and it grows in climates where alfalfa doesn't do well. Around here it's an all or nothing approach though. If you wait until the alfalfa and other grasses are ready for cutting the foxtail is way past it's best and coarse as well.

You could try a page like this: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/forage/publications/PeaceRec.htm

Thanks Silver,

does any one use clovers?

We usually seed red clover with our alfalfa, it produces extremely well for a couple of years. By the time it slows down the alfalfa is generally well established.
We sometimes put sweet clover in with the oats the first year we work up hayland to rejeuvenate. Sweet clover is cheap and the results can be pretty dramatic. The next year no sweet clover is planted with the oats, just the hay mix we will want over the coming years and the oats serve as the cover crop.
Alsike clover is pretty much a one shot deal. If you really feel you want it around for the rest of days it need only be seeded once.