Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** alfalfa is the third most widely…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** alfalfa is the third most widely produced crop in the U.S. And IT can provide many environmental benefits, such as improving soil health, fixing atmospheric nitrogen, and enhancing biodiversity. Alfalfa is a broadly adapted crop that can be grown in hot desert environments to cold winter areas. However, alfalfa is prone to winter injury. The loss of forage and high cost of replacing alfalfa stands, up to $450 per HA, is cited as one of the major reasons for producers to select other forage crops. Following the particularly harsh winter of 2012-2013, more than 303,750 HA of alfalfa in minnesota and 405,000 HA in wisconsin were lost to winter injury. The proposed research will identify factors contributing to persistence of alfalfa and strategies to mitigate the losses of alfalfa stands, particularly in cold environments (alaska, north dakota, and minnesota). This will allow the future development of more persistent cultivars and strategies to increase alfalfa production, resulting in improved profitability for farmers. The objectives of the project include: 1) characterize alfalfa lines from the germplasm bank for winter hardiness, root architecture, and symbiotic N2 fixation capacity in northern climates; 2) quantify forage yield and nutritive value of alfalfa and the potential ecosystem services associated with an increase in alfalfa acreage in the targeted regions (AK, ND, and MN), and 3) assess the sustainability and environmental impact of the integration of alfalfa into the current crop and through outreach provide recommendations to producers on alfalfa varieties and management adapted to that region.