WL Alfalfa Fall Dormancy 6 in Upper Southeast.
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 Kentucky Forage Variety Trials, University of Tennessee Forage Trials.
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Performance scorecard
WL Alfalfa Fall Dormancy 6
Yield in Upper Southeast
Disease resistance — relevant to Upper Southeast
- Phytophthora root rotGood
- AnthracnoseGood
- Bacterial wiltGood
- Stem nematodeFair
Agronomic ratings
- Drought toleranceGood
- StandabilityGood
- EmergenceGood
- Winter hardinessGood
Regional strengths
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.
Regional weaknesses
FD 6 alfalfa in northern Tennessee and Kentucky in unusually cold winters (e.g., 2014, 2018 polar vortex events) can suffer winter injury — request the variety's specific winter survival score, which is independent of fall dormancy. Persistence in this region is typically 3–4 years vs. 5+ years in the upper Midwest.
Recommended for
- KY/TN dairy and horse hay acres
- 5-cut systems on well-drained limestone soils
Not recommended for
- wet bottoms (consider grass hay instead)
- extreme cold pockets at high elevation
Where this data comes from
Alfalfa variety trials in Upper Southeast
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.
- NC State Variety Trialsresearch-crops.ces.ncsu.edu ↗
- University of Tennessee UT Cropsutcrops.com ↗
- University of Kentucky Variety Trialsgraincrops.ca.uky.edu ↗
- University of Arkansas Cooperative Extensionwww.uaex.uada.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 — Upper Southeast
Humid subtropical with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Long growing season supports double-cropping winter wheat into soybeans across most of the region.
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.
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