By Fae Holin
Alfalfa growers can expect slightly higher prices and adequate supplies of proprietary seed for the 2015 season. So say representatives of the three major alfalfa-breeding companies.
“In general, the early seed crop was in really good condition,” says Matt Fanta, Forage Genetics International president. Drought affected a few seed fields in the Southwest, but not enough to hurt production, he explains.
Non-dormant seed is in good supply, reports Ron Cornish, Alforex Seeds’ general manager.
“The dormants and semi-dormants are at a comfortable level,” he says. “We have good supply of our major varieties. As long as we don’t have any unusual weather events like a major winterkill, we’re going to be in a good position.”
But the companies are still trying to shore up their seed inventories after responding to the intense demand caused by 2013 alfalfa winterkill in the Upper Midwest. As of late October, Alforex was working as quickly as possible to fill its warehouses, says Cornish.
“Over the course of the last two years, we’ve been ramping up our alfalfa production. Our sales have been going up, and we’ve been trying to meet the demand,” he says.
“We’ve put in more seed acres,” adds Robin Newell, DuPont Pioneer senior business manager for forages. “We’re trying to build back our stocks. There is less Pioneer inventory of older varieties than in some prior years. But we’re producing pretty much what we believe the market wants in terms of a variety mix.”
He also reports average yields as alfalfa seed is conditioned, and “quality appears to be good.”
Growers shouldn’t expect to see an abundance of common or variety-not-specified (VNS) seed this year, Newell says.
“There are probably bargains out there, but folks are going to have to search longer to find them.”
Cornish believes much of the VNS seed crop, from South Dakota and into Canada, was harvested as hay when hay prices continued to stay high.
A “moderate increase” in seed prices is likely, Fanta says. “That will vary depending on the product and the location.”
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