Alfalfa variety reviews · 2026.
Independent alfalfa variety performance reviews across 3 regions. Variety choice for alfalfa has outsized impact on farm-level outcomes — these reviews translate university trial data and documented agronomic principles into regional fit guidance.
Alfalfa variety highlights
- Corn Belt North · Fall Dormancy 4Seed Company Data
Fall dormancy 4 is the standard winter-hardy choice for the Northern Corn Belt — these varieties go dormant early enough to harden off for winter without sacrificing yield potential during the growing season. Stand persistence in MN, WI, MI commonly exceeds 4 years on well-drained soils.
- Upper Southeast · Fall Dormancy 6Seed Company Data
Fall dormancy 6 is the right balance for the transition zone — enough late-season growth to capture the long Upper Southeast growing season, with enough winter dormancy to survive a typical Kentucky / Tennessee winter. Strong Phytophthora package is essential here given humidity and rainfall.
- California · Fall Dormancy 9Seed Company Data
Fall dormancy 9 is appropriate for the Central Valley and Southern California where winter rest is short and stand life is driven by total cuttings per year. UC Davis runs an active alfalfa variety trial program that publishes head-to-head data including FD 8–11 entries.
Browse Alfalfa reviews by region
- New EnglandLimited Data
- Mid-Atlantic NorthLimited Data
- Mid-Atlantic SouthLimited Data
- Upper Southeast1 review
- Deep SouthLimited Data
- Gulf Coast / FloridaLimited Data
- Corn Belt North1 review
- Corn Belt CoreLimited Data
- Corn Belt SouthLimited Data
- Southern PlainsLimited Data
- TexasLimited Data
- Northern RockiesLimited Data
- Southern RockiesLimited Data
- Pacific NorthwestLimited Data
- California1 review