Gold could not always be found with pick and shovel, it could without fail be found by alfalfa roots" --Coburn, 1908, describing the early history of alfalfa during the gold rush THE IMPORTANCE OF WESTERN ALFALFA PRODUCTION (original) (raw)

About 40% of the alfalfa hay in the United States is produced in the 11 western US states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. This region also supplies the vast majority of the seed for the nation's alfalfa plantings, and it contributes significantly to exports of alfalfa hay and seed. Western states played a crucial historical role during the development of alfalfa in the United States, as alfalfa moved from West to East in the latter half of the 19th Century. A present-day survey of western states showed a wide variety of production practices in these states, ranging from 2 to 10 cuts/year, from very dormant to very non- dormant varieties grown on soils from heavy clays to beach sands. Respondents reported water and irrigation management as key limiting factors. All but one state reported that the importance of alfalfa was increasing in their state. Alfalfa is likely to remain a key crop or increase in i...