This could be a tough winter for alfalfa in Kansas, especially
newly seeded stands on fields where there was no snow cover,
says Jim Shroyer, Kansas State University Extension crop
production specialist. “If the plants are damaged by winterkill,
the taproot will turn soft and mushy,” says Shroyer. “Producers
should check for bud and new shoot vigor. Look for delayed
green-up, lopsided crowns and uneven shoot growth. If you see
any of these symptoms, check the taproots for firmness. Some
plants may even begin to green up and then die. But plants that
put out second leaves are probably fine.” If some plants are
injured and stands have been thinned, producers may wonder about
thickening the stands. Shroyer advises caution. “Interseeding
alfalfa to thicken an alfalfa stand will generally not work. If
the stand is one year or less old, new seedlings will generally
come up and then be outcompeted by the survivors from last year.
If large areas of a one-year-old field have been killed, those
areas can be disked and