Selecting Alfalfa and Grass Varieties

The number one criterion to apply when selecting alfalfa varieties is to buy certified seed. There is no such thing as bargain seed. Using certified seed of recommended varieties assures a higher quality product that has good germination, is free of noxious weed seeds and is adapted to your particular area.

Using Canada No. 1 Common Seed does not guarantee the quality factors associated with certified seed of a recommended variety.

Three Categories of Alfalfa

Each Variety Must Earn its Recommendation

Each year, a publican entitled "Seed Manitoba ­ Variety Recommendations and Growers Directory" is published and distributed by the Manitoba Cooperator in conjunction with the Manitoba Seed Growers Association and Manitoba Agriculture. Listed in that publication are forage grasses and legumes recommended for Manitoba.

Making it to the list is not a matter of chance. Stringent evaluation of each forage variety takes place before being considered for recommendation.

The evaluation program is operated by the Manitoba Forage Seed Association. Management of the testing program is a cooperative "industry" approach. Producers, seed trade representatives, extension personnel and researchers are involved with the forage testing management committee.

Testing is coordinated at three main sites ­ Arborg, Brandon and Steinbach.

The program provides information to Manitoba forage and forage seed producers and industry partners on performance of forage cultivars under Manitoba conditions. The program measures dry matter yields under a three cut system over three production years. New varieties put to the test each year are compared to a standard. If all criteria taken into account are equal to or better than the standard in 66% of the tests, then the variety is eligible to be placed on the recommendation list.

Detailed trial results are published by the Manitoba Forage Seed Association including information on forage production and seed production. These reports are available from Agricultural Representatives and Regional Crops or Grassland Specialists, or the Manitoba Forage Seed Association.

IT'S A FACT

Forage acreage has grown dramatically in Manitoba in recent years.

Millions of Acres
Year	Tame Hay	Improved Pasture	Total
1986	1,435	.680	2.115
1991	1,725	.843	2.568
1992	1,950	.990	2,940

Grass Adaptation Guide

Many varieties of grasses are suitable for Manitoba. When choosing a grass variety, consider each variety and its characteristics as they relate to your particular needs.

Crop	Adaptation
	Plant Type	Longevity Under Average Manitoba Conditions	Winter Hardiness	Flood Tolerance	Drought Tolerance	Salinity Tolerance	Preferred Climate and Soil Type
Kentucky Bluegrass	Creeping, sod-forming	Long	Excellent	Medium	Good when plant is dormant	Poor	Cool, humid, 500-1250 mm (20-50 in.) precipitation. Will grow on almost any well-drained soil.
Smooth Brome grass	Creeping, sod-forming	Long	Excellent	Medium	Good when plant is dormant	Fair	Moist, well-drained soils
Creeping Red Fescue	Creeping	Long	Excellent	Medium	Fair to Good	Poor	Cool, humid areas. Will grow in wide range of soil types.
Meadow Fescue	Bunch	Medium	Good	High	Good	Fair	Soils with ample moisture and good drainage
Orchard grass	Bunch	Short	Fair (unless protected)	Low	Fair	Poor	Warm, moist areas with over 500 mm (20 in.) precipitation. Good drainage.
Reed Canary grass	Creeping, (short rhizomes)	Long	Good except where exposed	High	Fair	Fair	Moist, cool climate; poorly drained areas subject to temporary flooding.
Timothy	Bunch	Medium	Good	High	Poor	Poor	Cool, moist areas with good drainage.
Crested Wheat grass	Bunch	Long	Excellent	Low	Good	Fair	Light soils and areas deficient in moisture. Can be grown on most soils if they do not have high water table.
Slender Wheatgrass	Bunch	Short (4-5 years)	Excellent	High	Good	Good	Adapted to wide range of soils but prefers sandy loams.
Intermediate Wheatgrass	Creeping (short rhizomes)	Short (about 6 years)	Excellent	Medium	Good	Poor	Well-drained fertile soils with ample moisture.
Tall Wheatgrass	Bunch (short root-stocks)	Long	Excellent	High	Poor	Good	Adapted to saline and imperfectly drained alkali soils. Prefers soils with high water table. Survives flooding for 2 months I spring. Needs 375 mm (15 in.) minimum precipitation.
Russian Wild Ryegrass	Bunch basal leaves	Long	Excellent	Low	Good	Fair	Can be grown on a wide range of soils but is most productive on fertile loams.
Meadow Bromegrass	Bunch basal leaves	Unknown at present	Good	low	Good	Poor	Cool, moist areas with good drainage.