Many producers are still busy cutting and baling hay.  But it is time to plant or get ready to plant cool-season forage crops including forage legumes.
      Interest continues to grow in cool-season legumes for a number of reasons.  They can improve forage quality and animal performance, extend the growing season, and increase total yield as well as fix nitrogen.
      Legumes, however, require more management than do forage grasses. It’s important to plant legumes in areas well suited for them.  Otherwise, you may be disappointed with the results.
     Clovers are the most popular cool-season legumes grown in Alabama.  Check with us here at the county Extension office about the best choice of clovers to plant for your situation.
      If you are planning to establish legumes in existing warm-season perennial grass fields, you must remove the grass residue to enhance stand establishment.  If there is excessive summer grass growth or a thick thatch, it can be reduced by tillage, trampling and heave livestock grazing or by using herbicides.
      Another crucial element of cool-season legume establishment is proper planting.  That means planting at the proper time as well as using the proper seeding rate and depth.  These vary by legume species and your location.  In north Alabama, some species can be planted as early as late August.  Others may be planted as late as November in south Alabama.  Contact us about planting times as well as rate and depth information.
SOURCE: Dr. Don Ball, Extension Agronomist