Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Dairy Forage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #427564
Research Project: Developing Sustainable Forage and Cover Crop Systems for Dairy Farms

Location: Dairy Forage Research

Title: Three lessons from 30 years of alfalfa variety trials

Author
item Tilhou, Neal
item Riday, Heathcliffe

Submitted to: Forage Focus
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/2025
Publication Date: 8/15/2025
Citation: Tilhou, N.W., Riday, H. 2025. Three lessons from 30 years of alfalfa variety trials. Forage Focus. https://www.midwestforage.org/pdf/1830.pdf.pdf.

Interpretive Summary: Researchers at the USDA: ARS Dairy Forage Research Center recently analyzed a large dataset called the Forage Data Hub, which contains variety trial results from 1988 to 2017. We are reporting three main lessons from our analysis. First, alfalfa variety trial results are useful across wide geographic areas Second, alfalfa variety results are the most reliable when a variety has been tested in multiple trials. Last, there was breeding progress (+0.63% per year) for forage yield of new alfalfa cultivars during this time period.

Technical Abstract: Researchers at the USDA: ARS Dairy Forage Research Center recently analyzed a large dataset called the Forage Data Hub, which contains variety trial results from 1988 to 2017. We are reporting three main lessons from our analysis. First, alfalfa variety trial results are useful across wide geographic areas Second, alfalfa variety results are the most reliable when a variety has been tested in multiple trials. Last, there was breeding progress (+0.63% per year) for forage yield of new alfalfa cultivars during this time period.