Three new AmeriStand varieties and two new AlfaGraze varieties are now available to producers from America’s Alfalfa® for the 2007 seeding season.

Conventional weed control (left); Roundup Ready® system (right)”

“With these alfalfa varieties, it is easier than ever to establish a weed-free stand and control weeds throughout the life of the stand,” says Bob O’Donnell, America’s Alfalfa brand manager. “This season growers will have access to three exciting new Traffic Tested® varieties, plus two new AlfaGraze Roundup Ready® varieties. By combining the best two technologies, Traffic Tested genetics and the Roundup Ready alfalfa system, America’s Alfalfa is delivering elite varieties that perform. 

 “The Roundup Ready alfalfa system provides our customer with an effective method for removal of both weeds and cover crops, for bigger yields of high quality forage,” says O’Donnell.  “America’s Alfalfa Roundup Ready varieties utilize unsurpassed weed control, minimize crop injury and provide a flexible herbicide application window throughout the life of the stand. These features enable growers to minimize the risk of seeding failures.”

The new alfalfa varieties from America’s Alfalfa include:

AmeriStand 405T RR is a very winterhardy 4 fall dormancy.  This variety produces outstanding yields in the Pacific Northwest to New York and into the southern states. Superior disease resistance and fast recovery make this an ideal variety for forage producers who want top yields of high quality alfalfa.

AmeriStand 815T RR (FD7.5) and AmeriStand 855T RR (FD8.5) are non-dormant varieties that will give growers from California to Florida the opportunity to enjoy excellent alfalfa hay production with the superior weed control of the Roundup Ready alfalfa system. Both varieties feature resistance to a broad spectrum of alfalfa pests (including nematodes), which allows growers to produce high yields over the service life of the stand.  

AlfaGraze 300 RR and AlfaGraze 600 RR are new dual-purpose haying and grazing varieties.  Both unique alfalfas were developed by Dr. Joe Bouton, former forage breeder at the University of Georgia and current director of the forage improvement division at the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. AlfaGraze 300 RR is rated a 3 fall dormancy for areas needing good winter survival; AlfaGraze 600 RR is a 6 fall dormancy variety for producers and grazers across the southern United States. Both varieties offer producers the ease of establishing a strong stand of alfalfa and the superior weed control of the Roundup Ready alfalfa system.  In 2006, several university forage Extension specialists established demonstrations interseeding AlfaGraze 300 RR and 600 RR into fescue and bermudagrass sod. This new management practice creates exciting opportunities for beef producers who want to improve their pastures and increase the animal daily rate of gain by minimizing the summer slump in grass pastures.

Traffic Tested alfalfa was developed by America’s Alfalfa over a span of more than 10 years through selection under traffic, manure and grazing stress.

Traffic Tested genetics are available exclusively from suppliers of America’s Alfalfa.

© 2006 America’s Alfalfa (logo), America’s Alfalfa, Traffic Tested (logo) and Traffic Tested are registered trademarks. Roundup Ready Alfalfa is for sale and planting only in the United States, and not for the production of sprouts or seed. Hay and hay products of Roundup Ready Alfalfa may only be exported to countries where regulatory approvals have been granted. Always Read and Follow Pesticide Label Directions. Roundup Ready crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup agricultural herbicides. Roundup agricultural herbicides will kill plants that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Roundup and Roundup Ready are registered trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. ©2006 Monsanto Company.