Oecerflber 1963

CHAM6ES iN ALFALFA SEED PIlOOUCTiOH FRCH 195» TO 1963V«m L, Marbtft, Ext«islon Agronomlit, U, C,, Davis

Th« alfalfa saad buslnass Is dynanic, with scad supptlas, pricas and dcisandfluctuating Y9*r by yaar« Bafora dlsctMsIng production ciiangas I think It wouldba wall for us to axanliKi savaral Intarastlng bits of Inforwatlono Thasa relateto the dapandanca of tha California cartlfiad seed grower upon the Hidwastarnalfalfa hay producer.

U. S, Planted Acreage of Alfalfa Hay I93R

year Acraage

1939 13,000,00019^ 20,000,0001957 22,000,0001958 27,000.0001959 25,000,0001960 28,000,0001961 28«000,0001962 27,500,0001963 32,000,000

This acreage Is divided according to tha following four geographic areass

Area 1962 Prodyctlon -» 1000 A % of TotalNwrthaastarn states 2,665.0 8North Central area 21,171.5 "" ^Southern states area 1,756.5 °Western states 6,366,2

^ ^ \(Of California) <1.200^ C*9 western states)Wa can further break down our acreage distribution so that we can saa what

percent of tha total acreage Is occupied by different varieties. This Is done InTable 1.

Table 1. Percentage Olstrlburton by Varieties.. I9S8:?)562VaHeSX

lUegerConeonCriNMBuffaloVernalLadakDuPultsLahontanMoepeHarragansettAtlanticBlends

12^ 1961■wtmmmfnrn

36.6 36.6 28.6 28.1 26.326.1 20.8 20.0 17.8 17.28.8 6.7 5.6 5.2 6.18.5 3.8 8.6 9.6 8.57.3 12.0 12.0 17.1 18.62.6 6,5 6.1 6.1 3.82.6 2.7 3.6 2,3 3.30,8 IcO 1.8 2.0 1.9Trace 0.6 2.3 2,1 1.81,6 1,6 1.6 1.9 2.11.6 1.6 1.20.7 *.aeso 5.b k.9 5.7

1

ilf you look at Table I carefully you will rsote Cl>ai there luiv<: been soee sJls*tlnct In Che verietle& planted Itn the United States during the pest fouryearSc Ranger af?id Co^nmon have declined while Vernal, C'UPuitSr Lehonten ead Hoep-thave risen sharply, Mote thnt the older varieties Ranger, C<o<nBonia Grlnn, and Ruffalocorstltuted 86, 72, 72, 63, 61 and percent of the total acreage In I95&« I95>9? 19^3,1961 nnd 1962 respect!vely. This decline has been accteepanled by an Incraaso InVernal fross 7,91 of the total acreage In I9S8 to I8,k% In 1962, The acrtoige plantedto bleTids has increased from less than (% (0,7%) to 5,7% during the seme aerlod. Thisdecline In acreage planted to older, more established varieties has also been dusto the Increase In row varieties that have been developed to fit specific areas. This|ji illustrated In the fact that In 1958 "Trends in forage Crop Varieties'* listed Zkalfalfa varieties while the 1962 edition listed 36, We ere seeing en Increasing »n»r=ber of alfalfa varieties each year and the trend appears to be for more to cone In thsfuture, this increase In varieties means a greater spc-claiItetlon by geographic srees,thus litsreasing the nur«b«r of varieties available for certification by our Californiagrowers. One can easily see that the bulk of our varieties grown In California haveto be adapted for conditions In the East and Midwest, We do have quite a sIgnlfScancoerket In the West, particulerTy Ceiifornca, but we also have a lot of seed producedin these western states (both certified efid ur.certlfied) that Is In direct competitionwith California for these markets,

California seed producers have adjusted to the new laarket situation. Table 1Indicates the change in the variety totals as the percentage of the total Californiacertified alfalfa acreage. Note the nind^er of new varieties grown since 1961, Manyof those are "private" varieties and contracts are necessary with the controllingcompany

Note that Ranger has decreased frcro 62.8 percent of our acreage In 195^ to alow of kSo6 In 1961. £t Is now up to 51,2%, Four varieties thst wore not even aroundIn 195^, aanely Cody, OuPults, iahontan and Moapa, now constitute miarly one third ofour total acreage. Vernal has had an Interesting history, lit began rather slowlyjD the early 1950®Sg finally building up in 1959 to 23,3 percent of our acreage andsubsequoiiitly decilnlr^ to 2,36, Atlantic and Narragansett follow a similar trend. ItIs Interesting to note that Vernel, darragansett and Atlantic are low seed ylaldarsand under our present price structure they have becoroe ur^rof'Stable for our growers toproduce. Other varieties such as Africa, Callverde arwi Ca! Ccmiaoni k9e have reachedtheir zenith and are nov-; rapidly passing Into the past. Varieties such as Rai«bier andCulver have proven to be low seed ylelders and are also on their vray out. We fullye^ect sunora to replace about 50- 70% of the Moapa acreage.

Presently tte are In a declSnlfsg situation as far as total aci-'eage of centffledalfalfa Is concerned. Table 3 gives the certified alfalfa acreage for I95l» to 1963by varieties as ivell as total acreage certified. Since that tlise w© have beer decliningat a rate appro>{?ni9tely ec,u«l to 9 percent per year until 1961 when we declined 20percent from our I960 acreage, 1962 %»t a 30% decllrie and 1963 a 13% to a total ofk9(,86o acreasc or just 39% on peak acreage In 1957.

This sharp cut-back In acreage (as noted In Table 3) has resulted in sharpdoc^ir^e!^ In our total amount of seed certified. Since the decline has been principallyIn Range seed production, the burdenscn-? surplus of Ranger seed available to fanrersat a low price has beer, largely eliminated. This has resultetd In the 1961 market priceshilling a vharp Increase over i960 price. This good price situation held through thespring of I963, Ranger currently has declined substaratlally through the fall of I963.

3-

Not oir.ly Mft CaHfornia production declined during the test six seasonsbut the totcl UoSo eupply of certified and non-certified alfalfa seed declined^ forail but the *est season to a point where the seed in excess of supply was at a varylow figore in thn fail of 1962. Table 6 indicates the supply end disappearance ofalfalfa seed supplies for the period t9S^ through 1963c Our current excess supplysituation appv^^s to be tiie lowest we have had In our recent history, with pro¬duction finally matching our dcimsstlc dlsappearance In 9963 the U«S. alfalfa seedcrop ircraMtir^ 3^-7> This was accoapanied by an increasa in California of 9%Coacacn production In California was down 26%, but cart!fled production t^as up |l|% on13% less arre<aige Khan 1962. Callfort«ia has also found a ready market for seed pro-dueec' for i^ipvrt only, increasing 7§3» In 1963 over 1962.

This total supply of alfalfa seed in the U.S. can shift dramatically yearby 'rsar. This Is m»^ possible because of the smhy alfalfa hay growers in theHidn^sst that can sliift to seed production If it looks like a profitable ventureand the moisture conditions are satisfactory. This production is, of course,subject to variola weather conditions which make the total supply rether unpre¬dictable. Hewever, In 1963 e ccmbloation of plentiful rain In the spring andearly si«M»r, than produced en abundance of forage. Induced many midwestem hayproducars to make a eedtf crop. Usually, fall reins make this a risky business,but an abnorsMilW dry fall ellcMUd a treawndaus acreage to be harvested for se^.Mo<t of this wee of the hardy Northern Common type that competes directly withouf Rangjr crap. Table k contains Information on acreage harvested, productionami yte1d/at.r« ^or all alfalfa seed production in the U.S. fn 1962 and 1963. Kotesuch startling ificreaeas as Itontana -« 520,000 pounds In 1962 Increased to I0.i»00,000pounds in 1963?! South Oekote 1,760,000 pounds In 1962 raised to 10,890,000 poundsin t963!i >\tout i/k of the b0,<k90»000 pounds Increase ovar 1962 can be found inufr.srtified ci^odt«tlan In the Oekotes, Nebraska, Kansas, Dklahoam and Hontana.

Ttvik other third represents Increased certified acreage In Ut^, Nevada,Orwq*«i, Idaiv/, VinsKlngton end Celifomle.

Ik Incnsased acrea >e and production from the faclfic IHorthwest in rec¬ent mars. Ttm ilgt ;>roducth>e am been largely made possible by the use of solitarynsscing, wiJ' txt/s. loth toe Af-aill bee and the more versetlle leef cutter bee areeirr.silent In^ttors where tsey are adapted. Two of our poorest yielding varieties,Vsrtiol and ;i^rr«« ianeect are mkl ig excellent yields in these states, while our acre¬age hnii dUnppssred. tsbie ^ gives production and acreage by state for allal'aSfa se? I f«r».:«u»ilnt scatar,

Wa •'M.ii '.'tnnraily divide .he varieties chat ere certified in California Intothrne yleU rrAi -Si

I

i-" I* h. T hrdX 38

'".s.vTer',ti* Ivwrd s

:i'.s ,»

»' J.' il ts•'I i;ItweSurghi'l fUoi/I o-y-iTtt.

Tin MirI ;tIrs in the lew ylaldfng group are ranked with decreasing yieldingabiiity. I jiivt) csss <)«rraginiet? will ordinarily produce between 60 to 80 per centof llw In fit high ylsMing group. Varieties In category Hi are generallylaifr 3'Sad f v,.{ 'jn, chat Is, thsy wIlS produce tnost of their seed In late July to;9».r(y 5>}pis-V wf, TKIs must U? f wie^iitwmd If these mfn groar^ to insure the proper

, fift ■:r IS l^n I 'iii^ *at . LahtiMa i 3c t(MirM»rAti,»r(t.al jinri ,;*n n#r«n n3t/* j» rut*>A cMAri

nHadiiuro yinldlng

Uibonder.

3ieLow fieiding

At lenticCulverVernalNarragansettNomadRamOler

Some C^tlfomSa growers have coneUtently produced good ySelds, whUeothers on similar soil and under simitar conditions have only made fair orpoor yields. From the sixty or so Ranger growers In one of our seed producingareas I have taken ten as examples of the problem. This Information is foundin table 7. Note that one has averaged 800 lbs./A for eight years. Anott^rover 830 for six years, white one grower falls Into the 3S0 lb, range for sixyears, and still another about 225 lbs, for six years.

While there are many factors of production to consider, and admittedlyno set of rules can be devised to cover every situation, our successful growershave found that attention to correct scheduling of Irrigation, proper polllna'-tion, and adequate insect control are absolutely essential for high seedproduction.

ric Varle^iJa-s «i-i, f^r'cant of Total California Certified Alfalfa Acire^t-

Vari««y 13S&, i25i i5g8 1252 1960 i2^ 1962 1963

1, R«ng«r 62.3 68.6 61.6 56 .A A3.1 AU.9 A7.A A1.6 A1.8 51.2

2. Vernal 5.2 7A 10.0 1A.5 22.1 23.3 21.2 H.I 5.7 2.3

3. Buffalo Il».3 7.9 5,3 5.8 5.6 A.7 2.0 1.7 2,0 2.2

kt Atlantic So6 6.9 9,5 7.1 A.6 1.3 0,7 0,8 0.8 0.9

So Narragansett 2c% 3.3 2.8 2,0 3.8 3.9 2.« 2,7 1,2 mmm

6a Africa 0.1 0.1 OcA 0,6 0.3 Del —, — «>«raa mmm

7o Callvarda 8.9 1».0 3.2 2.7 0.9 aKsaa 0.1 0.2 0,3 O.A

8, Cal Coomon l>9 0.2 0.1 aac»aa mmm — aenqa aa««aa aac»{.i»

9, wniiaaMburg 0.6 0.5 O.A 0.6 Oc8 1.3 1.8 2,3 3,1 3.2

10a ftarabler Aceai 0.1 0.1 0.8 0.7 1,0 0,2

Ho Oul'ults — 1.5 3.6 5.7 5-.A 9.0 9.A 10,3 9.3 3.3

12. r.D. 100 — — cMioa mmm ZcO 2,A 2,7

13. Cody mmm mmm p>ar^ — mmm mmm 2.6 5.9 7o6Ilie laji«ontan Tr. Tr. 3.2 A.6 9.A 7.5 8.1 12.3 I2c0 A.I

15. Moapa lata «crK» 3.7 A.O 5.9 11.7 11,3 10.0

16, ionora «a«a« aaeaoj ^«e<aa9 «« caoacs 2,2

17. Charokaa mmm «... — «a«» — uaaeaa 0.1 0.5

18. Culvar taaoQ comm — mmm aaaacn mmm mmm 2.0 1.6

19. licocHid — mmm — — mmm «aaaa mmm — 0,3 0,3

20. S25 qacpcp mmm 0.7 1.2

21, 21a <i»«. <»«• aaman •aaona mmtC9 0.2 0,2

22« frogfttsft OoS

3^), VL 202 mmm mmm ^mm mmm mmm w^mm ««»«• e«>o O^t

Tabia 3. C^rtiftad Alfalfa Seed Acreago ano r I- tlO"'.

Year Aeras Appllad For Acres Passed

195^ 78,628 70,299

1955 131,922 119,*109

1956 m,855 113,137

1957 139,70<» 128,678

1958 126,63! 116,667

1959 121,956 112,611^

I960 108,220 102,28(»

1961 8«>.950 81,7*»1

1962 59>98 57.390

1963 52,799 *»9,B63

Founds Certtf lad (1000) Avara^ia

35,969 512

59.112 695

51.335 656

63.150 691

'*7,5^9 '♦08

A2,5B2 377

60.512 396

31.306 383

20.655 356

23.500'^ 671^

^Estlnuitad for 1963

AUALfA SOD: ACREABi MARVCSfeO, YICL0 PER ACRE, AMI PRODUCTION•

^ V - -- . • •

: AcrMg* H«rv«st«d ■ iscat*

••

•

Avaraga1957-61

f !a a

* !

Ind.1963

'fV " ' •

;1962

i ISO: :Avaraga ]1957-61 ;

1962 ! Ind.: 1963•

Aeraa Acrat Aeraa Pai{r>Js Pounds PtfUi^ 1^. ^ORto

11.580 3.500 4.900 > 90 78 175 2258,hD0 8,000 9.000 .?.f55 58, : 60 475

.464 540

VlMomln i 6,300 4,000 7.000 ; 64y

75 \:75:; 428 300 525NlnnHPU 11,600 2.500 10,000 67 50 ! 60 ' 810 125 600N. DaMta 35.000 16,000 40,jOiDO 47 30 43: 1,642 480 1.720S. tetoti/: .. It9,<i00 44,000 198,1900 56 40

• ^.

6.361 1.760 10.890UabrMka *'•' 76.200 63,000 82,000 75 75 90 5.642 4,725 7.380Kansas 67.600 $4,000 116,000• • t 91 85 6,329 7,990 11,020OklilKMH

, h2,600 48,000 73.IBOO 136 100 125;: 5,923 4,800 9,125Ta^ 10,880 5,000 4,51» 156 no I6i0 < 1,690 550 720Nontans 51,200 13.000 30,ptK) 90 40 1-3^:; 4,693 520 10,400

35,200 52,000 66,0|D0 295 400 m 10,117 20,800 19.600tfyaalog lh,600 3.500 4.500 91 40 125 .

•' f •1,412 140 562

Colorado r lh,200 . 16^000 16,000 137 ISO 140 1.944 2,400 2,240N.Naxieo 5.700 4,600 4,500 252 180 24j0 1.452 828 1,080Arlaana 20,700 20,000 20,000 190 190 190 3.933 3,800 3.800Utah 48,200 40,000 44,000 190 »>5 220 9.129 6,200 9.680fia^^s I.TOoi^ 5.500 7.500 303^^ 200 400 514^^ 1,100 3.000

Washingtoii 22,600 25,000 31,000 447 450 400 10,091 11,250 12,400Oragon 10,800 18,000 24,000 451 590 500 5.096 10,620 12,000California 157.200 115.000 99,000 396 350 425 62,710 40.250 42,075

United Statas 761,480 600,600 940,500 185 199 170 140,263 119,277 159.782

'^Stiort*tlM Bveraga.

Tafela 5. Alfalfa Se^wl SMPpHat - 1000 poundt

1^555 1557 1953 1959 I960 1961 1962 1963

Production I61»i70 213.656 *63,065 160,865 152.130 129,268 136.658 122.275 119,277 159,782

Carry Over 59 56.766 76,033 59,627 61,366 56,055 61.887 38.068 29.632 27.720

)«port« 632 2 7 93 331 600 1.757 1,960 6.565 6,565Total Suptply 221,606 270,622 237.105 202,007 213.676 183.323 178,365 160.363 156.676 196,067Oottesttc Olfapp«^ranc« I5*»»237 181,070 162.768 160,661 159.752 162.756 133.200 132.000 130,000 122,502

Exeats of Supply 116,185 56,035 39.239 72,815 23.571 35,591 27.163 22,676 66.067

Exports 0 11.778 17.059 18.578 10.502 9,336 9,280 6.806 5,252

Estlmatad.

Tablei6 , Alfelfe S—d Yield I92<» to 1963

VCAK

Table 7. Avera^ Alfalfa Seed Yields, 5 to 8 Years in Rgngey Froductlcn,

1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 Ave»'

1 517 838 909 656 806 7652 567 883 636 206 508 228 318 678

3 523 562 275 kik 331 353 —a 616

h 526 660 601 SSI 550 579 625 — 528

5 83^ 1200 638 837 650 567 578 360 708

6 778 507 905 926 597 891 830 965 800

7 556 868 1686 867 725 625 — 8568 I31t 678 899 923 658 690 793

9 292 256 316 666 368 612 — mmim 366

10 — 289 367 213 153 112 mmm 227

Avoi A>1G/OMsrs 528 606 600 571 6181 676 635 6o6 505