1. Geographic Trends in Alfalfa Stand Age and Crops that Follow Alfalfa

To gain perspective on alfalfa-annual crop rotations in the upper Midwest, USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service cropland data layers and Soil Survey Geographic Database layers were combined for six states (North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin) and seven years (2006-2012). Soil texture and geographic location both significantly affected the length of the alfalfa phase (stand age), and alfalfa stand age, soil texture, and year all significantly affected the...