Weed Control in Alfalfa — Present & Future

To achieve maximum alfalfa production and maintain excellent stands and forage quality for a number of years, producers need to start including weed control in their management program. Unfortunately good stands are not being established because of early weed competition where herbicides are not used. Alfalfa stands tend to play out before achieving their maximum number of years of production unless maintenance herbicides are used. Fortunately there are now herbicides registered to meet most every phase of alfalfa production. This paper will deal primarily with the herbicides that are currently labeled for use on alfalfa. Several herbicides that are not registered but show excellent promise for use postemergence on established alfalfa for the control of annual and perennial grasses will be presented. It is important to remember that it is illegal to apply a pesticide to a crop for which it is not registered