Alternative Forage Crops

Farmers this year have two reasons for asking about alternate crops. The first is for use as an emergency forage when stands or new seedings of perennial forages fail and the second is as a long term alternative to alfalfa. Before beginning this paper, we should put things into perspective by stating that alfalfa is still the best choice, in most cases, for long term production of high quality, high tonnage harvested forage. We also expect to see increased use of corn silage, where topography and farm plans permit in dairy rations, in the alfalfa-based rations