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Variety performance review

WL Alfalfa Fall Dormancy 4 in Corn Belt North.

Performance Review 2026
AlfalfaFall Dormancy 4commercialSeed Company Data
Editorial independence

This review is based on independent university trial data and public extension publications, not seed-company marketing materials. Trial source for this review: University of Wisconsin Extension Forage Variety Trials, University of Minnesota Forage Trials.

Bield: Farm has no seed-company sponsorship. We do not earn affiliate commissions on seed sales.

Performance scorecard

Variety performance scorecard

WL Alfalfa Fall Dormancy 4

Alfalfa·Corn Belt North·GMO
GoodSeed Company Data

Yield in Corn Belt North

Yield not republished — see trial source for verified data.
Trial sourceUniversity of Wisconsin Extension Forage Variety Trials, University of Minnesota Forage Trialsfyi.extension.wisc.edu/forage ↗

Disease resistance — relevant to Corn Belt North

  • Bacterial wiltGood
  • Verticillium wiltGood
  • AnthracnoseGood
  • Aphanomyces root rotGood

Agronomic ratings

  • Drought tolerance
    Good
  • Standability
    Good
  • Emergence
    Good
  • Winter hardiness
    Excellent

Regional strengths

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.

Regional weaknesses

FD 4 in extremely cold winters (sub-zero with no snow cover) can still suffer winter injury — for the coldest pockets of northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, FD 2 or FD 3 with very high winter survival ratings is a safer pick. On poorly-drained soils, Aphanomyces and Phytophthora can shorten stand life regardless of FD.

Recommended for

  • dairy and beef forage acres
  • well-drained Mollisol soils
  • 4-cut systems

Not recommended for

  • poorly-drained heavy clay
  • extreme north (consider FD 2–3 with elite winter survival)
Seeding rate
15–20 lb/acre pure stand; 12–15 lb/acre with companion grass
Best soil types
well-drained silt loam, loam, loess

Where this data comes from

Alfalfa variety trials in Corn Belt North

Independent · Public University

These 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.

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 — Corn Belt North

Best soil types
well-drained silt loam, loam, loess
Maturity rating
Fall Dormancy 4
Seeding rate
15–20 lb/acre pure stand; 12–15 lb/acre with companion grass
Region growing season
145 days · 22–36" precip

Humid continental with cold winters, short-to-moderate growing seasons, and high summer temperature swings. RM matching is the dominant variety decision.

Trait package & sourcing

GMO statusGMO (genetically modified)
Organic-approvedNo
Seed companyForage Genetics International (WL)
Trait package
  • HarvXtra (in some lines)
  • Roundup Ready (in some lines)
Seed company product page (reference only) ↗
Data freshness
2024Last reviewed

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

Alfalfa planting in Corn Belt North
All Alfalfa varieties in Corn Belt North →WL Alfalfa Fall Dormancy 4 across all regions →Full variety review directory →

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