Expanding Alfalfa Use for Non-Ruminant Feed and Fertilizer?

Why It Matters

If scalable, these feed and fertilizer pathways could create new, higher-value markets for alfalfa, lower livestock feed costs, and preserve soil- and erosion-beneficial acreage as the traditional ruminant market contracts. Wider adoption may also support nutrient recycling and on-farm renewable energy development.

Summary

Researchers at the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute are developing new markets for alfalfa beyond ruminant forage to arrest acreage decline driven by fewer dairies. AURI has focused on ensiling wet-cut alfalfa, mechanically separating a liquid fraction and spray-drying the solubles; that fraction tested at about 39.4% protein with lysine levels comparable to soybean meal and has been trialed as a replacement for costly spray-dried blood plasma in nursery pig diets. The institute also evaluates alfalfa for anaerobic digestion and fertilizer products, positioning the crop as a source of recycled nutrients and renewable energy. The work aims to commercialize processes in partnership with universities and industry to keep alfalfa on the landscape and add value for growers.

Original Description

Alan Doering, a senior scientist at the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute in Minnesota, joins us to discuss research AURI is doing to expand the opportunities for alfalfa, focusing primarily on non-ruminant feed opportunities and fertilizer. More at https://auri.org.

#fertilizer #AURI #agresearch #farming #agriculture #alfalfa