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By CATHY DYSON
DMMcm stair Writer
For many years, a successful stand of alfalfa has eluded many northern Virginia farmers. But at a regional forage conference at the Middleburg Community Center last week, a group of agronomists dispelled falsehoods about alfalfa’s fragility in talks to Fauquier, Loudoun, Clarke, Rappahannock and other area farmers.
While alfalfa is a very strong and vigorous plant, it easily can be weakened by insects, weeds, low fertility and improper cutting, said Harlan E. White, forage specialist with the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service.
Soil fertility is extremely important to maintain the plants and enable them to be vigorous and productive.
Fertilization often is overlooked, Mr. White said, and a high soil pH is essential in alfalfa fields — “we’re shooting for a 6.5 pH.”
“It’s a crying shame to put money into seeds, insecticides and sprays and then skimp on the fertilizer —you have got to keep track of your fertility rate with soil
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