Prime alfalfa hay (greater than 151 RFV/RFQ) averaged $161/ton for large squares, $294/ton for small squares, and $116/ton for large rounds. Grade 1 hay (125-150 RFV/RFQ) priced at $123/ton for large squares, $123/ton for large rounds, and no price was given for small squares. Grade 2 hay (103-124 RFV/RFQ) averaged $93/ton for large rounds and no price was given for large squares or small squares. Click here for the complete article.
Take Advantage of MFA's "Members-Only" Research Database
As an MFA member, one of the most valuable resources at your
disposal is MFA's "Members-Only" Research Database,
a one-stop-shop for all of your forage research needs. MFA's
Research Database features every Clippings
and Forage Focus research article, as well as each
MFRP final report. You can also change and personalize your
password after signing in. Your
user name and password can be found on your MFA membership
card or by contacting the MFA office at
mfa@midwestforage.org.
Fond du Lac County Forage Council Dairy Forage Day & Annual Meeting
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Compeer Financial Fond du Lac, WI
Tour de Forage Meetings
Tuesday-Thursday, January 20-22, 2026 Northeast: The Event Center, Floodwood, MN Central: Morrison County Government Center, Little Falls, MN Southeast: Aune Hall, Rochester, MN
NAFA News As an MFA farmer member, you are automatically a member of the National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance. MFA partners with NAFA to heighten awareness of the alfalfa industry.
Mark Your Calendar – 16th Annual D.C. Fly-In February 2-5
Be sure to mark your calendar for NAFA's 16th Annual D.C. Fly-In scheduled February 2-5. This event has been very successful in garnering recognition and research funding for our industry. Due to this exposure, the Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage Systems Research Program (ASAFS) has received over $33 million in funding since 2014. For fiscal year 2025, NAFA was successful in securing another $4 million for the ASAFS, which, when added to increases in ARS funding, brings NAFA's total research funding impact to over $67 million. We are striving to increase ASAFS funding to the $5 million level and ARS funding to the $20 million level.
In addition to meeting with members of the House and Senate Ag and Ag Appropriations Committees, NAFA will also be securing meetings with agency personnel, such as USDA's Risk Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the U.S. Trade Representative as necessary.
NAFA is building a list of growers interested in joining this effort. If you'd like to be on the list, please email us your contact information. Mark your calendars now to join us and add your voice to NAFA’s effort to support the alfalfa industry in our nation's capital.
NAFA's Alfalfa Intensive Training Seminar (AITS) Rescheduled for February 17 & 18
Due to the government shutdown, NAFA’s 2025 Alfalfa Intensive Training Seminar (AITS) has been rescheduled to coincide with the 2026 Midwest Forage Association Symposium, on February 17-18, 2026 in Wisconsin Dells, WI. AITS is a must for anyone working with alfalfa, including agronomists, seed dealers, crop advisors, nutritionists, extension agents, and alfalfa farmers. AITS features national leading experts in the fields of alfalfa production and management.
A partial list of topics to be covered includes: the role of alfalfa in the ruminant diet; pest management; genetics, seed and seed production; growth and development; irrigation and water use; and much, much more. Registration and an updated agenda will be available here in December.
The National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance (NAFA) has released the 2026 edition of its popular “Alfalfa Variety Ratings - Winter Survival, Fall Dormancy & Pest Resistant Ratings for Alfalfa Varieties” - a useful tool for hay and dairy farmers, extension specialists, or anyone involved in the production of alfalfa.
NAFA’s Alfalfa Variety Ratings is a publication unlike any other in providing an extensive listing of alfalfa varieties and their corresponding ratings for fall dormancy, winter survival, bacterial wilt, aphanomyces, leafhopper, and a host of other pests. The publication also includes grazing tolerance, salt tolerance, and standability, to provide you the information you need to make better informed decisions about the varieties which will perform best in a given environment.
Looking for a variety with specific attributes? Use NAFA’s searchable database to search for varieties using up to 23 different parameters. With this tool, NAFA has made finding the perfect variety as effortless as possible.
NAFA’s Alfalfa Variety Ratings publication is available in the November issue of Hay & Forage Grower magazine or by visiting NAFA’s website. Be sure to get yours today!
ASAFS Awards Nearly $4 Million to Alfalfa Research Projects – Leveraged by the Alfalfa Checkoff
Thanks to NAFA’s work in D.C., USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced nearly $4 million in funding awarded to five research projects through the Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage Systems Research Program (ASAFS). ASAFS was initiated through NAFA’s persistence in working with congress to secure alfalfa research funding. Now in its 12th year, ASAFS continues to demonstrate the importance of public funding for alfalfa research, but more importantly, the recognition of lawmakers that ASAFS funds work in concert with Alfalfa Checkoff funding the industry brings to the table – it’s important we have skin in the game. Click here for the complete article.
Disaster Relief Now Available for Forage & Alfalfa Farmers
The American Relief Act of 2025 provides new USDA assistance for losses experienced in 2023 and 2024, including programs that apply directly to alfalfa and forage farmers. The most relevant option for hay and forage farmers is Stage 2 of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP). This stage covers uninsured, shallow, and quality-only losses, including reduced RFV, RFQ, TDN, or drought or smoke-related declines in forage value.
What’s Covered
Quality loss (e.g., lower RFV/TDN from drought, rain damage)
Yield loss from missing cuttings, winterkill, drought, or extreme weather
Losses tied to qualifying disaster events in 2023–2024
Key Points for Forage Farmers
Insurance is not required to apply for Stage 2
Payments will require farmers to obtain crop insurance or NAP for the next two crop years
Strong documentation, especially forage tests, is critical
Application Window is November 24, 2025 – April 30, 2026
While we heard there might be some glitches, the best advice at this time is contact your local FSA office to see if you qualify. Learn More:
2026 Forage Seed Supply Outlook Patrick Reed, DLF VP, Distribution Sales, NA
Forage seed supply for spring plantings looks to be in generally good shape for spring 2026 demand.
After a year of somewhat tighter availability of certain key alfalfa varieties, 2026 will bring a better supply of alfalfa overall. In essence, production now is in a better position to meet demand. One area to monitor is the supply of economy, VNS alfalfas, as production was challenged this year. Seed prices are expected to be slightly higher, as the cost of production continues to increase. As always, it will be important for farmers to plan ahead to ensure that they can access the alfalfa varieties they desire. Click here for the complete article.
Navigating Biological Seed Treatments in Alfalfa: Key Factors in Efficacy & Longevity Novonesis North America
In the expansive alfalfa market, where sustainable forage production underpins dairy and livestock industries, biological seed treatments have emerged as a cornerstone of modern agronomy. These treatments, primarily microbial inoculants such as Rhizobium bacteria, enhance nitrogen fixation, combat soilborne pathogens, and promote robust seedling establishment. Unlike synthetic chemicals, biologicals align with regenerative agriculture goals, reducing environmental footprints while boosting yields. However, their success hinges on precise metrics like colony-forming units (CFU) per seed, rates of microbial decline, on-seed stability, and overall shelf life. This article explores these elements, drawing on agronomic research to provide farmers with actionable insights for optimizing alfalfa performance. Click here for the complete article.
NRCS Releases Fact Sheet on Conservation Crop Rotation Options
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has released its Conservation Crop Rotation Options for Optimizing Live Plant Cover Fact Sheet, highlighting practices that improve nutrient and water use, protect air and water quality, and enhance soil health. The Fact Sheet also details how adding forage crops and short-term perennials to rotations can increase crop diversity and extend the time live plants cover the soil.
NAFA has been actively involved in this effort for several years, encouraging Congress and NRCS to incentivize the use of alfalfa in conservation programs and highlight the unique environmental benefits it provides.
3 Questions to Ask Before Purchasing Alfalfa Seed W-L Alfalfas
There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing the right alfalfa for your operations.
Choosing alfalfa seed may seem less complicated than selecting corn or soybean genetics because there are fewer options and trait packages, but it’s a decision that has longer term impacts and a greater commitment requirement. Here are three questions to consider to help guide alfalfa seed purchase decisions in the coming year. Click here for the complete article.
To keep our members informed of recent legislative activities on Capitol Hill, here are a few newsworthy items of note:
• Government Shutdown Ends, Agriculture Appropriations Bill Passed – After a 43-day government shutdown, Congress cleared a funding package that fully reopened federal agencies and delivered a FY 2026 “mini-bus,” including the Agriculture–FDA bill, which provides $26.65 billion for USDA discretionary programs and extends remaining 2018 Farm Bill provisions through the applicable 2026 program years. The measure also restores the Commodity Credit Corporation’s $30 billion borrowing authority and directs USDA and the State Department to plan the transfer of the Food for Peace program to USDA. Senate Agriculture Appropriations Chair John Hoeven (R-ND) highlighted the bill’s support for producers – particularly access to credit and FSA services – as Congress works toward additional ag assistance and updated reference prices. Read more here and here.
"Member Spotlight" brings into focus NAFA's valuable supporters. NAFA is fortunate to have many dedicated members/supporters which make the work we do to support the alfalfa and forage industry possible, and Jones Twine & Net Wrap is one of them.
Founded in 1974, Jones Twine & Net Wrap has built a four generation legacy in the Midwest, supplying high quality hay baling products, parts, and support year round. Their mission is clear: they strive to keep their dealers supplied with the products and prices they need in order to set the pace in their own market area.
With more than 50 years of dedicated service, the company remains family owned and service oriented – rooted in local values yet equipped for nationwide reach.
In terms of its support for NAFA, Jones Twine & Net Wrap is a dedicated sponsor of NAFA and its efforts to serve the nation's forage farmers. Therefore, NAFA is pleased to spotlight Jones Twine & Net Wrap and is grateful for its support of NAFA and the alfalfa and forage community and farmers across the country.
Fuel the Future of Alfalfa with Every Seed Purchase – Support the Alfalfa Checkoff
When you choose alfalfa seed from participating brands, you’re not just investing in your fields, you’re investing in the Future of the Alfalfa Industry. The alfalfa checkoff channels $1.50 from each seed bag you purchase into vital research and promotion efforts that enhance alfalfa’s role in animal nutrition and as a regenerative crop, keeping alfalfa competitive with other crops and uniting industry voices to shape a resilient future for alfalfa. For more information about NAFA's Alfalfa Checkoff, click here.
Alfalfa Value-Added Characteristics: Screening Cultivars for Beneficial Biochemical Compounds
"New markets for alfalfa could expand acreage present in the United States that would assist with climate smart initiatives. Traditionally utilized for livestock feed, alfalfa has the potential as a food ingredient. Alfalfa contains high concentrations of leaf protein and is known for meeting the human daily requirement for some vitamins. In this study we compared alfalfa with soybean meal and herbage to determine unique properties of alfalfa herbage, leaves, and stems. Vitamin A, B1, C and E were greater in alfalfa herbage than soybean herbage. Vitamin B9, B12, and K were found within alfalfa in higher concentrations than soybean meal. The anti-nutrient saponin was high in leaf and herbage tissue, but stem concentrations were similar to soybean meal. Fifty genetically diverse high leaf protein genotypes where then screened for vitamin B9, B12, K and saponins. Significant diversity was found for vitamin B9, B12 and K, however little genetic diversity was found for saponin concentrations. Vitamin A, B1 and K were found to be concentrations higher than 10% of the human daily requirement. Values of 10% or greater of daily requirements have the potential to be used as fortifiers in foods without additional processing. Within the diverse population vitamin K and B9 concentration were significantly greater than the original commercial variety screened against soybean. These data can be used to inform breeding programs interested in increasing the concentrations of these vitamins for human use."
View the "quick read" 2-page summary here; full report here; Hay & Forage Grower summary here.
Alfalfa Research Reaching 51,000 Subscribers in Hay & Forage Grower Magazine Click here to see articles featuring research results.
All
CHECKOFF/ASAFS/APRI final reports and current project objectives can
be found on NAFA's website at https://alfalfa.org/research.php
in a convenient searchable database. Be sure to check out the "quick read" 2-page summaries.
Be sure to mark your calendar for NAFA's 16th Annual D.C. Fly-In scheduled February 2-5. This event has been very successful in garnering recognition and research funding for our industry. Due to this exposure, the Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage Systems Research Program (ASAFS) has received over $33 million in funding since 2014. For fiscal year 2025, NAFA was successful in securing another $4 million for the ASAFS, which, when added to increases in ARS funding, brings NAFA's total research funding impact to over $67 million. We are striving to increase ASAFS funding to the $5 million level and ARS funding to the $20 million level. 
