Fertilizing Alfalfa & Grass Hay

2024 has ended, and we turn the page to 2025 and plans for spring. Last year was a good year for pasture and hay ground. In my area there was a good crop that helped us build hay piles that had been depleted in past years. Remember though, good hay yields pull off a lot of fertilizer. If we want to ensure we get similar results this year, we need to make sure we have what we need out there for the fields to produce.

Corn and soybeans typically get the spotlight for fertilizer in my area. But did you know the average hayfield removes as much or more fertilizer than the highest producing corn or soybean field? Forages remove a lot of P&K, mainly because unlike crop fields we leave little to no residue after harvesting. Hayfields lack the nutrient cycle like we have in corn when the stalks break down. To maintain high forage output, we need to watch yield levels and manage fertility accordingly.

The good news is that whether you have alfalfa, grass, or a combination of the two, hay ground typically responds very well to fertilizer. Unless dry conditions cut yields, rarely do I have anyone come back to me and say that fertilizer didn’t pay on those acres. If you would like to talk more about forage fertility or have some hay ground to get fertilized this spring, give your local SFG agronomist a call. We are happy to help!