PREPARATION

Start with a clean, weed-free planting area by spraying or tilling existing vegetation. Prepare a firm, smooth seedbed that provides excellent seed-to-soil contact. Alfalfa seed is small and should not be buried deeply.

SOIL TEST & FERTILITY

Conduct a soil test before planting whenever possible. Alfalfa performs best in fertile, well-drained soils with a soil pH of approximately 6.5–7.0. Correct low pH before establishment and apply phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, boron, and other nutrients according to
soil-test recommendations.

Avoid relying on heavy nitrogen applications. Properly nodulated alfalfa is a legume capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen.

PLANTING RATE

Broadcast (Prepared Seedbed): 20 lbs/acre
Broadcast (No-Till): 25 lbs/acre
Drill: 15 lbs/acre

When Used In Blends: Reduce the rate according to companion species
and desired alfalfa percentage.

PLANTING DEPTH

Plant approximately ¼–½ inch deep. On prepared seedbeds, broadcast onto firm soil and cultipack before and/or after planting to achieve excellent seed-to-soil contact without burying the seed.

TIMING

Plant during the recommended spring or late-summer/fall window for your region. For fall establishment, provide approximately 6–8 weeks of growth before the average first killing freeze. Spring plantings should establish before severe summer heat and drought.

MOISTURE

Plant into adequate soil moisture or immediately before dependable rainfall. Maintain adequate moisture during germination and early establishment, but avoid poorly drained locations where prolonged saturated conditions can damage alfalfa.

MANAGEMENT

Control weeds aggressively during establishment. Once mature, mowing can help manage weeds and stimulate fresh vegetative growth, but avoid repeatedly mowing or browsing the stand so aggressively that plants cannot replenish root reserves.

Allowing periods of recovery is important for maintaining stand persistence.

ADJUSTING FOR PLS & GERMINATION

Recommended planting rates assume 100% Pure Live Seed (PLS) and 100% germination. Actual seed quality varies by lot. To determine an adjusted planting rate, divide the recommended seeding rate by the PLS percentage multiplied by the germination percentage, both expressed as decimals. Adjusting for PLS and germination ensures proper stand density and maximum forage production.

Straight Shot™ Buckshot™ Alfalfa is a premium single-species alfalfa designed for hunters who want to establish a dedicated
alfalfa plot, enhance an existing perennial plot, or build their own high-protein food plot blend.

Alfalfa produces highly nutritious, highly palatable forage and is especially valuable during spring and summer when bucks are growing antlers, does are lactating, and deer have elevated nutritional demands.

Buckshot™ Alfalfa is a perennial legume. With proper establishment, fertility, drainage, and management, a healthy alfalfa stand can remain productive for multiple growing seasons.

Buckshot™ Alfalfa can be planted in spring or late summer/early fall. For fall establishment, target approximately 6–8 weeks before your area's average first killing freeze. Spring plantings should be
established early enough to develop a strong root system before severe summer
heat and drought.

Plant approximately ¼–½ inch deep. Alfalfa seed is small, and planting too deep is one of the most common causes of poor establishment. A firm seedbed with excellent seed-to-soil contact is critical.

Yes. It can be planted as a pure
alfalfa stand when maximum alfalfa production is the goal. It can also be
incorporated into compatible perennial blends.

Yes, particularly when establishing or renovating a perennial plot. For best results, reduce competition from existing vegetation
and ensure the alfalfa seed reaches the soil. Simply broadcasting seed over a
thick, established canopy will generally produce inconsistent results.

Buckshot™ Alfalfa pairs especially well with ladino clover, other perennial clovers, and chicory. These species can create a diverse
perennial plot with complementary growth characteristics, forage production,
and stress tolerance.

Alfalfa is widely recognized as a high-protein forage, but crude protein varies considerably with plant maturity, growing conditions, fertility, and plant portion. Rather than advertising a fixed percentage,
Buckshot™ should be positioned as premium high-protein perennial forage unless
Backwoods has forage-test data supporting a specific claim.

Yes. Alfalfa is a legume and can fix atmospheric nitrogen when its roots are properly nodulated by compatible Rhizobium bacteria. Proper inoculation is important when compatible bacteria aren't already established in the soil.

Yes, but established alfalfa generally does not require the same nitrogen-heavy fertility program as cereal grains or brassicas.
Phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, boron, soil pH, and other nutrients can be important to productivity and stand longevity. Follow a soil test whenever possible.

Absolutely. Alfalfa is less forgiving of acidic soils than many common food plot species. For best performance, target approximately
6.5–7.0 pH and correct acidic soil before planting whenever possible.

Alfalfa performs best on well-drained soils. Sites that remain saturated or routinely hold standing water are poor choices for an
alfalfa plot. If drainage is a major limitation, another food plot species will usually be a better option.

Once established, alfalfa develops a substantial taproot that can access moisture deeper in the soil profile, giving it very good
drought tolerance compared with many shallow-rooted forage species. Young
seedlings still require adequate moisture during establishment.

Established alfalfa has excellent regrowth potential, but even productive plants need recovery time. Extremely heavy, continuous browsing can weaken plants and reduce stand persistence, especially on small plots with high deer densities.

Mowing can help manage weeds and stimulate fresh vegetative growth, but it should be done strategically. Avoid repeatedly mowing extremely short or removing growth before plants have had adequate time to replenish root reserves.

There isn't a guaranteed number of years. Stand longevity depends heavily on soil pH, fertility, drainage, disease pressure, weeds,
weather, browsing intensity, and management. Properly managed alfalfa is
capable of providing multi-year production.

Alfalfa can sometimes establish through frost seeding under appropriate conditions, but results are less predictable than with species commonly used for frost seeding, such as certain clovers. For a new Buckshot™ stand, a properly prepared seedbed and controlled planting depth are the preferred approach.

Generally, don't use alfalfa to thicken an established mature alfalfa stand. Older alfalfa plants can release compounds that inhibit the establishment of new alfalfa seedlings, a phenomenon known as autotoxicity. Renovating with compatible species or properly rotating before re-establishing alfalfa is usually the better strategy.

It can be. Alfalfa generally demands better drainage, higher soil pH, stronger fertility management, and more attention to
establishment than many common clovers. When those requirements are met, however, it can produce exceptional perennial forage.

Buckshot™ Alfalfa gives you straight alfalfa, allowing complete control over your planting rate and blend composition. Alfalfa +
Clover™ provides a pre-designed multi-species perennial blend for hunters who
want the benefits of alfalfa combined with complementary clovers.

Straight Shot™ gives hunters individual food plot species in practical food-plot quantities. It lets you plant a smaller dedicated plot,
customize an existing perennial plot, or build your own blend without purchasing a large agricultural-size bag.