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MirageFlatter 10-22-2009 03:09:22 12.36.202.86 170358 Report to Moderator

Like others have said, a nurse crop helps keep the weeds down, that's what it's for. I like to use about fifty pounds per acre of whatever I use, that's a bushel and 1/2 of oats. I intend to use rye next spring, just because I have it on hand, and won't have to go looking for something else. My first choice is Jerry oats. It is a tall, stiff strawed, full season variety, and will make you a lot of good quality forage with your first cut. And if you cut it right before the flag leaf shows, you'll get some re-growth of the oats with your second cut, as well as the best feed quality from your oats hay. Jerry would also be a good choice for grain in your area, if you choose to go that route. But waiting to harvest the oats for grain can be tough on the new seeding of alfalfa. UNL recommends 5/1 and 8/1 as optimum seeding dates for alfalfa in Nebraska, and that's right on the money here in NW Nebraska, as far as minimizing freeze risk to alfalfa seedlings. In NE Nebraska, you can probably be earlier in the spring, or later in the fall, just try to plan for having three full tri-foliate leaves on the alfalfa seedlings before a late frost in the spring, or early frost in the fall. At any rate, you have plenty of time to get it all planned out. Good luck!! :wink: [Reply]   [No Email]