WL Alfalfa Fall Dormancy 9 in California.
This review is based on independent university trial data and public extension publications, not seed-company marketing materials. Trial source for this review: UC Davis Alfalfa Variety Trials, UC ANR Alfalfa Workgroup.
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Performance scorecard
WL Alfalfa Fall Dormancy 9
Yield in California
Disease resistance — relevant to California
- Bacterial wiltGood
- Phytophthora root rotGood
- Stem nematodeGood
- Pea aphidFair
Agronomic ratings
- Drought toleranceFair
- StandabilityGood
- EmergenceGood
- Winter hardinessFair
Regional strengths
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.
Regional weaknesses
FD 9 cannot be moved into cold-winter regions — winter kill is essentially guaranteed in any region with sustained sub-freezing temperatures. Salinity tolerance is variety-specific and not all FD 9 lines are appropriate for west-side Central Valley fields with elevated soil salinity.
Recommended for
- Central Valley irrigated alfalfa
- Imperial Valley year-round cutting systems
Not recommended for
- any region with cold winters (consider FD 4–6)
- high-salinity fields without verifying salinity tolerance
Where this data comes from
Alfalfa variety trials in California
Independent · Public UniversityThese results come from independent university variety trials — not seed company marketing materials. Variety entries, planting dates, and harvest measurements are controlled by the trial program. Land-grant universities publish full results annually.
- UC Davis Small Grains Variety Trialssmallgrains.ucdavis.edu ↗
- UC ANR Cooperative Extensionucanr.edu ↗
Trial reports are typically released in January–March of the year following harvest. For Alfalfavariety selection, the most recent year’s report is the most relevant data source.
Agronomic fit — California
Mediterranean climate with dry summers and wet winters. Highly diverse — from Central Valley row crops to coastal vegetables and desert irrigated alfalfa.
Trait package & sourcing
Variety performance data changes as new genetics enter the market. Always consult your local extension service for the most current trial data — this is especially important for corn and soybean entries, where trait packages and disease ratings shift annually.
Related
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