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Study shows alfalfa damage from field traffic

A University of Wisconsin study shows that 49% of alfalfa plants are run over by machinery tires over the course of three harvests.   

Biological Systems Engineering professor Brian Luck tells Brownfield driving equipment through the field is necessary, but adjusting when and how to drive through the fields can help preserve the alfalfa stand and its yield.  “Depending on when you run that alfalfa over, if it’s right after cutting, it may not be as bad as if you run it over a couple of days later , say, picking up hay bales or after you’ve let that alfalfa lay and it’s starting to regrow.” 

Luck says they’re working on ways producers and harvesters can maintain in-field roads to minimize plant damage.  “Can you keep those transport vehicles, trucks, tractors, etc., moving material away from the chopper on infield roads? I guarantee you will damage those plants where they are, but we’re not applying traffic to the rest of the field.” 

And, Luck says loading alongside the chopper increases the number of plants affected by tire traffic.  “I think you’re better behind (the chopper) but you’re not able to load it as full, and that’s soret of a problem, so maybe a whole new chopper box that we come up with someday can accommodate that.” 

Luck says the research is continuing using different types of tires, and he says wagons with ag tires without lugs are easier on the alfalfa plants than trucks with highway tires.