How to Properly Scout Alfalfa

Why It Matters

Accurate scouting of alfalfa stands enables growers to intervene early on weeds, pests, or low density, safeguarding the season’s yield and optimizing replanting costs.

Key Takeaways

• Inspect weed pressure at field borders and entry points.
• Monitor insect populations weekly, focusing on aphids before first cut.
• Use sweep net sampling to assess pest thresholds and need for spray.
• Evaluate plant health; green, uniform growth indicates no disease.
• Conduct 2‑ft square stand counts; aim for three plants per sq ft

Summary

The video walks through a systematic scouting routine for a five‑year‑old alfalfa stand, outlining four inspection categories—weed pressure, insect pressure, plant health, and stand density—to decide whether the field should be retained for the current season or replanted.

The scout first checks field borders for perennial weeds such as bromegrass, thistles and dandelions, noting that dandelions signal declining stand vigor. Insect surveillance uses a sweep‑net ten‑step sample; only a few aphids and one ladybug were found, well below treatment thresholds, but weekly monitoring is advised until the first cutting.

Plant health appears robust, with uniform green growth and no disease symptoms. Stand density is measured with a homemade 2‑ft square frame, targeting three plants per square foot for a fifth‑year stand—just meeting the minimum, whereas younger stands require higher counts (12 plants per sq ft in year 1).

These observations help the farmer decide whether to maintain the stand for another harvest or retire it, balancing weed encroachment, pest risk, and stand density against expected yield. Timely scouting thus protects tonnage and informs cost‑effective replanting decisions.

Original Description

In this video, Zach Hefty walks through how to properly scout an established alfalfa field early in the season. This stand is in year five and likely its final year, so Zach checks weed pressure, insect pressure, plant health, and alfalfa stand counts before first cutting.

He looks for perennial weeds like dandelions, checks field borders for weed pressure, uses a sweep net to scout for aphids and beneficial insects, evaluates overall alfalfa plant health, and uses a 17-by-17-inch square to count plants and determine whether the stand is still strong enough for another cutting season.

This alfalfa scouting video is designed to help farmers, agronomists, and anyone raising hay understand what to look for in an older alfalfa stand, how to scout alfalfa before first cutting, and why early season field scouting matters.