MONTE VISTA — The 2019 Southern Rocky Mountain Ag Conference has proven to be full of useful information. One of the notable presentations during the Tuesday afternoon session came from Dr. Joe Brummer, Associate Professor at Colorado State University on the topic of winterkill in alfalfa.

Dr. Brummer began with explaining that there are no easy answers when it comes to the subject of winterkill. He also pointed out some of the signs of winterkill, which include uneven coloring and asymmetrical growth. Winterkill can also be found in the alfalfa root when it is discolored and/or black. In addition some of the factors that contribute to winterkill in alfalfa include older stands, and shorter harvest intervals.

When it comes to the prevention of winterkill, Dr. Brummer suggested that using alfalfa varieties that have greater winter related hardiness and higher disease resistance can be helpful. He also stressed that farmers need to know the factors for their area that can have the potential to stress alfalfa crops. It has also been found that allowing the crop to have a longer maturation process can be very important. In some cases the solution for the problem is complete renovation of a crop and/or finding a different market.

Dr. Brummer has conducted extensive research on alfalfa on the Western Slope and continues his work to provide solutions for farmers.