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New National Alfalfa Checkoff Being Launched
USAgNet - 04/29/2016

A dearth of public dollars to support alfalfa research was the emphasis behind the National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance instituting a new alfalfa checkoff program. The checkoff will be assessed at the rate of $1 per bag of alfalfa seed sold, and participation will be voluntary by seed brand marketers, reports Hay & Forage Grower.

Alfalfa falls far behind other major crops in public dollars allocated for research. Whereas crops like corn and wheat garner nearly $50 million each year, alfalfa falls to something less than $5 million. Though there have been some recent successes in securing public research dollars such as the Alfalfa & Forage Research Program, more is needed if the country’s third most valuable crop is to see a bright future.

The NAFA board of directors met in Washington, D.C., in early February and unanimously voted to initiate the program. One of the producer members on the board told Hay & Forage Grower that he would have preferred an even higher checkoff assessment.

All of the dollars collected from the checkoff will be spent to support alfalfa public research. No fees will be charged by NAFA to administer the program. According to information provided by NAFA, checkoff dollars will be used in research areas such as yield improvement, water conservation, development of new storage and harvest systems, creation of new uses, and other efforts holding the potential to advance the alfalfa seed and forage industries.


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