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Hi Van, we have tried with rye a few times. Seems like Success rate depends on rainfall after planting and how thin the alfalfa stand is. Last fall was not conducive but some came through. 4 years ago was a great catch and response and seems like alfalfa is actually thicker now which may be partly why this years rye was maybe choked out as well as drought stress We typically did 30#/acre timing variable, I’m leaning toward earlier is better depending on alfalfa stage
We did a trail of this a couple years ago with rye in an old alfalfa stand. Seemed to work pretty well and wished I would have done the whole field. We didn't do anything special just went in and drilled it at a lower rate.
Van, I have not done what you are wanting to do, but I do drill winter wheat as a cover crop late into the fall, one year was mid-December. I plant about a half rate or 50 to 60 lbs. If planted too early, it might compete for moisture with the alfalfa. If planted late it will come up in the spring with little competition. I am assuming it's for haying or grazing. Just a thought Jim
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I guess I should have read better before posting. Are you planning on killing the alfalfa this fall? When killing alfalfa we usually follow with spring wheat. We try killing the alfalfa right around the first light frost to try and get the best kill on alfalfa and grasses. If you plan on killing the alfalfa the planting the winter cereal, in our area rye would be the most likely to survive. It would be getting pretty late for winter wheat but you are in a different climate so may have different results.
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