Evaluating the Economic Potential of Alfalfa Adoption in the Deep South
Applied Research
Christopher Prevatt
State Specialized Agent
UF/IFAS
Ona
Abstract
Many soils throughout the United States have been eroded and degraded from continuous crop production. Despite the widespread recognition of crop rotations as a means for increasing soil health by reducing soil erosion, nutrient loss, and pest cycles, many row crop producers have not yet implemented a crop rotation of more than two crops in their operation. One common perspective from producers is that while a crop rotation has benefits, their confidence in adopting and making another crop work is lacking due to economics and implementation. While the long-term benefits to the land from implementing a longer crop rotation is difficult to determine, we can begin to calculate the short-run costs and benefits for producers who choose to evaluate adoption themselves. During 2020 and 2021, alfalfa production data were collected from a row crop producer in Florida. An Excel spreadsheet was developed to analyze the revenue, cost, production, and net returns for planting alfalfa and marketing square bales to the local legume hay market. The spreadsheet helped the producer determine if alfalfa could be an economically viable crop to be implemented on their operation. The economic factors included in the spreadsheet were a) forage yield, b) cost of production, c) price per square bale, and d) net returns above total specified costs. Additional economic variables that were evaluated were projected breakeven levels for cost of production, forage yield, and price per square bale. For the seven fields that were evaluated the forage yield ranged from 2.1 to 3.4 tons/acre, the cost of production ranged from $413 to $657 per acre, and the net returns above total specified costs ranged from -$22 to $215 per acre.
Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
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Authors: Christopher Prevatt, Jennifer Tucker, Kim Mullenix, Liliane Silva, Marcelo Wallau
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Prevatt, C. State Specialized Agent, University of Florida, Florida, 33865
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Tucker, J. Associate Professor, University of Georgia, Georgia, 31794
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Mullenix, K. Associate Professor, Auburn University, Alabama, 36849
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Silva, L. Assistant Professor, Clemson University, South Carolina, 29817
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Wallau, M. Assistant Professor, University of Florida, Florida, 32608