Alfalfa Budgets

(Table 1.12-7)

• Receipts: For the sample budgets, yields of 2.5 tons of hay in the establishment year and 3.75 tons of hay and 2.5 tons of haylage (equal to 5.0 tons of dry hay per acre) for production years are used. Alfalfa hay is valued at $240 per ton and alfalfa haylage at $100 per ton.
• Variable costs: A seeding rate of 18 pounds per acre for conventional tillage and 15 pounds per acre for no-till is used in the establishment budgets. Planting of alfalfa traditional varieties is assumed; use of glyphosate resistant hybrids would cost around $2.50 per pound of seed more. Labor is charged at $15.00 per hour. Off-road diesel fuel is budgeted at $3.50 per gallon. Fertilizer applied is 0-50-150 for establishment and 0-100-300 for production. An application of 2 tons per acre of lime is assumed in the establishment budgets.

The weed management program consists of one postemergence application of herbicide in the establishment year only for both conventional tillage and no-till and the addition of a burndown application of glyphosate for no-till. The insect management program consists of one insecticide application the establishment year and once every production year. The pesticides used for developing cost estimates are for example purposes only; see Part 2.6: Forages Pest Management for a complete listing of recommended materials.