MV Alfalfa Blend
A NEW KIND OF ALFALFA SEED?
For 2007 we are re-introducing an old approach that has
fallen by the wayside in recent years. Instead of using a single
pedigreed line when choosing your alfalfa seed, we are offering an
interesting blend of varieties and calling it MV Blend. The blend
which has been around for a number of years already was created by
former Department of Agriculture Agriculturalist, Tom Seaborn from
Rocky Mountain House. He was looking for a stand of alfalfa that
would perform consistently in the inconsistent climate we live in.
In his blend, 22% of the varieties are Flemish by volume, with the
balance being standard or variegated. From the data I have looked at
I think it would really perform in southern Alberta.
Testimonials:
Barry Johnson - Wynyard Sask.(306) 554-3152 100+cow/calf herd.
"Grows like crazy! I have the nicest hay stand I've ever seen. Some
plants tall, some short, leaves top to bottom, yield is
unbelievable. 240ac. - 950 5x6 bales @ 2000 lbs. 4 years running 4
ton/ac. I wouldn't seed any other kind of alfalfa but MV."
Len Claeys - Virden Man.(204)748-3508 cow/calf herd. "The MV Alfalfa
seed I bought from Greg was delivered to Russell @ no charge. I
seeded a 1/4 section in 2002 a very dry year for us, and had
excellent germination/establishment. In the past 3 years I've had
way better than average yield. The field is located between Virden
and Reston and is talked about, my stand is idolized by my
neighbors. Since purchasing the MV from Greg, I've seeded a
competitor's blend and it just doesn't compare. I'm very happy with
the MV.
John Rea - Foam Lake Sask.(306)272-4729 Organic producer. "This is
what I like about the MV Alfalfa seed I bought from Greg, It grows
everywhere! What I like about the blend is the different varieties
do adapt to different soil conditions. Yield 2 years running 175ac.
800 5x6 bales 4.2 ton/ac. I've found the best Alfalfa blend there
is."
Fred Magnusson - Wynyard Sask.(306)554-4115 250 cow/calf herd. "The
MV Alfalfa I bought from Greg was very easy to establish, early
growth in the spring, fine stemmed, lots of leaves top to bottom.
Have 270ac. Plan on another 100ac. Spring'06. 4 year old stand
120ac. 500 5x6 bales 4+ bales/ac. Compared to other varieties I've
grown in the past, MV definitely is the one to grow."
A Message from the Developer of MV
Tom Seaborn, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. 100 head purebred
Shorthorns and Angus herd. Grower/processor of forage and native
seeds. 15 years employed by Department of Agriculture as an
Agriculturist.
"We realized we needed a good alfalfa for our area. The soils in the
area are Grey Wooded with low pH and usually excessive moisture. We
took dozens of alfalfa varieties and put them through long term
yield and survival tests. Out of these dozens of varieties, we
selected the top 5 and this is what went into the MV Alfalfa Blend.
Of the 5 varieties selected 22% of them were flemish by volume, the
rest being standard or variegated. We believe this was good in that
the Flemish gives high yields for a short time, the variegated or
standards are in it for the long run. These alfalfas were then
crossed through successive generations. All of them possessed some
unique traits which seemed to have given good heterosis or hybrid
vigor in producing excellent quality, high yielding, long surviving,
and easily established alfalfa that can produce well in a multitude
of situations.
We have seen our producers here and in the interior of B.C. take off
up to 5 crops in one year. Most of our producers like a single cut
or 2 cuts growing with a good orchard grass or more complicated
blends depending upon their end desires. Although there are several
fields of MV that were planted close to 2 decades ago and still in
production, MV has been upgraded over the years by putting into this
genetic combination some newer multi leaf genetics in an effort to
increase leaf to stem ratio.
Fifteen to twenty years ago, we were supplying to our customers a
dozen different kinds of alfalfa. Today this is not the case and our
customers that have used MV in the past only request MV for the
future."