How much money does alfalfa make per acre?
Over a three-year average, alfalfa returns a profit of $98.82/acre compared to a $44.77/acre return for corn and $39.68/acre for soybeans, Miller estimated using information from Midwestern farms compiled through the FINBIN database.
Is it profitable to grow alfalfa?
Alfalfa is a major profit center on most dairy farms. Annual yield has the largest impact on its profitability because inputs, including harvesting costs, change little as yield increases.
What is the biggest use of alfalfa in the US?
Alfalfa is a highly nutritious, perennial legume that contains high concentrations of vitamins B, C, D, and E. Most of the alfalfa grown in the United States is used as feed, particularly for dairy cattle.
How long does alfalfa live for?
Alfalfa can remain productive in stands from four to ten years or more, but as plant population declines renovation eventually becomes necessary.
How much alfalfa will 10 acres produce?
The average total yield is 20-35 tons per hectare (or 8-14 tons per acre) per year (distributed in 5-6 cuts). Top yields (intensive farming) can exceed 40 tons per hectare or 16 tons per acre per year.
How much does it cost to seed 1 acre of alfalfa?
Alfalfa has to be planted at around 25 pounds per acre if I remember correctly. A 50 pound bag of seed is around $200 last I heard a few years back, so $100 an acre just for seed. Probably $120-150 per acre including tillage costs.
What state has the best alfalfa hay?
Alfalfa is California’s highest acreage crop, and California is currently the leading producer of alfalfa hay in the United States (Fig. 1.9).
Why is alfalfa popular in Utah?
Alfalfa is the state’s largest agricultural crop. 82% of Utah’s water is used for agriculture, and 50% of Utah’s agricultural water is used in growing alfalfa (KSL.com). “In 2020, Utah alone exported alfalfa hay valued at $124 million” (USDA Foreign agricultural Services and USDA Agricultural Census).
Is alfalfa more profitable than corn?
As you can see below, using USDA & extension averages along with current market data, alfalfa may be up to $100 more profitable per acre than corn and even more so when compared to soybeans. Enter your own yield and related expenses to help determine your profitability.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/31jJoip6F6M