From GREEN to Gold

In the more than 80 years since Ferguson Feemster began dairy farming just outside Springfield, Mo., technology has changed, markets have changed and even cattle genetics have changed. 

Growing alfalfa, however, has been one constant throughout much of the farm’s history. Ferguson’s son, Jordan, and grandsons, Dalis and Colten, now operate the dairy, marking three generations of dairymen who have counted on alfalfa as a valuable, nutrient-rich forage that helps to add extra production and profit to the farm’s bottom line.

“It’s hard for me to imagine not raising alfalfa on this farm,” Jordan said. “The cows are healthier. It makes more milk—better milk. They eat it well, and it’s a great winter feed. It’s a good product.”

Indeed, alfalfa is a top choice for dairy cattle because it’s high in protein, fiber, energy and minerals. Studies have shown that dairy cows fed with alfalfa produce more milk with higher butterfat content compared to those fed solely with other forages. The high digestibility of alfalfa ensures that cows can efficiently convert the feed into energy, leading to increased milk yield potential.

The Feemsters typically milk around 100 head of Holsteins twice daily on their farm, which has earned “Gold Standard” status from Dairy Farmers of America. To support that production, Jordan raises 110 acres of pure alfalfa along with an alfalfa mix that includes orchardgrass and crabgrass as well as some grass-only stands. 

He also plants cereal rye for rotational grazing in the spring, typically turning cattle out onto the paddocks in late March. The rye will last around three months, after which the cattle graze summer annuals such as sorghum-sudan or millet. When grazing season ebbs in the fall, Feemster places round bales of grass-mix hay in the pastures before moving to the pure alfalfa hay in early winter. 

“When we started feeding our alfalfa this year, we saw production jump 20% over a three-week period, compared to when we were feeding our grass hay,” Jordan said. “We start with the grass because it’s easier to get a cow to graduate to a better hay than the other way around.”

In addition to forage, the cows are fed a custom ration that includes farm-raised corn and soybeans, MFA Super Cow 32 Supplement, Ricochet Hi-Mag Mineral and salt.

“We mix our own feed so we can control it day to day,” Jordan said. “If the hay changes, we can drop protein or raise it accordingly.” 

Jordan credits his father, who died in 2017, for the farm’s focus on high-quality alfalfa production. His mother, Shirley, still helps keep the farm’s books at age 92. At one point, the father-son duo produced more than 300 acres of alfalfa and harvested 25,000 to 30,000 square bales each year.

“We fed it to our cattle, but most of our alfalfa production then was for the commercial market,” Jordan said. “We shipped out almost all our square bales. We had two or three dairies that we had deals with, but we probably sold 80% to horse owners.”

Jordan reduced alfalfa acreage after his father’s death and currently puts up all the farm’s forage in round bales and wrapped silage, nearly all of which is used to feed the dairy cows. The Feemsters have been no-tilling their alfalfa fields since the early 1980s, when Ferguson began experimenting with a prototype drill.

“Dad hated erosion, so we started no-tilling alfalfa,” Jordan said. “People said it couldn’t be done, but we’ve never planted alfalfa conventionally since then. It works for us.”

Generations of cooperation 

Like alfalfa, MFA has also been a constant presence on the Feemster farm. Ferguson relied on MFA for products and services, a tradition that Jordan continues today. In particular, he works closely with Jordon Miller, manager of MFA Agri Services in Ash Grove, and David Moore, MFA Incorporated range and pasture specialist, to help solve challenges that arise and provide recommendations for improved forage production. 

“My dad’s theory was that we had enough things to watch. Let MFA tell us what we need,” Jordan said. “He trusted them, and so do I. He would always say, ‘If they’re trying to cheat you, they won’t be around very long.’”

To that end, the Feemsters have MFA pull soil samples every two years to ensure proper nutrient and pH levels in their existing alfalfa acreage and fields where they’re planning to establish new stands.

“Fertility is the No. 1 concern in raising alfalfa,” David said. “I’ve been preaching and preaching that. If the pH is low, alfalfa will come up, but then it will slowly begin to die off. If your potassium isn’t right, it just won’t come up. If phosphorus is too low, it won’t root very well and won’t be very hardy.”

For establishment, David said pH needs to be over 6.5, phosphorus levels over 25 parts per million and potassium over 125 parts per million. 

“If you don’t see that on a soil test, you’re not there,” he said. “Do your homework and get that soil right before you plant because alfalfa’s not cheap.”

Jordan nodded in agreement. “We waited three years to get our latest field planted because we couldn’t get the specs right,” he said.

Once alfalfa has emerged, David said, controlling weeds should be the top concern. 

“We lose alfalfa to two things here: poor fertility or too many weeds,” he said. “If you allow a 10% stand of weeds, that’s 10% less alfalfa you’ll have. We might spray that field three times the first year to get them under control, but there should be zero tolerance for weeds.”

Using Roundup Ready alfalfa makes weed control simpler, said Jordan, who now exclusively plants these glyphosate- tolerant varieties.

“Crabgrasses are our main problem,” Jordan said. “That’s one of the main reasons I like the Roundup Ready varieties. I can control the crabgrass a lot better.”

Insects are also a threat, with alfalfa weevils and potato leafhoppers as the biggest problem pests for alfalfa in MFA territory. Weevils cause the most damage in the larval stage, typically during the months of March and April. Damage will be noticeable because they feed on the plant’s newest leaves and can seriously impact yield and quality of the first cutting. An early-season pass of insecticide can keep weevils at bay, David said.

Later in the season, from mid-May through summer, is when leafhoppers can be an issue. If infested, alfalfa stands can be greatly damaged and slow to recover until the leafhopper population drops sharply in late summer. An insecticide application may be warranted if numbers reach threatening thresholds, David advised.

Persistence pays

Once alfalfa is established, good management practices are necessary to ensure high yields and stand persistence. Replacing soil nutrients and controlling weeds continue to be the top priorities. 

“During hay production, alfalfa pulls so much out of the soil, you can really get behind the eight-ball before you realize it,” David said. “Remember, you are raising a premium forage crop, and these practices are crucial for your long-term success.”

When alfalfa is harvested, magnesium and sulfur are removed at the rate of about 5 pounds per ton of forage. For each ton of forage harvested, 15 pounds of phosphate and 60 pounds of potassium must be applied to replenish the soil. David also said 1 to 1.5 pounds of boron is recommended with the first fertilizer application on established stands each year.

Jordan said he usually gets four to five cuttings of alfalfa per year, with the last one around Sept. 15, but he’s more cautious with newly established fields.

“I really baby the new stands, maybe only cutting two or three times,” he said. “I like to cut mid-bloom, which means you lose some protein, but I’ve found alfalfa does so much better and lasts longer than if you keep cutting at the bud stage.”

The Feemsters typically maintain their pure alfalfa stands for about three years until they start to diminish. Then, they interseed orchardgrass to extend the stand’s life and improve yields.

“Orchardgrass does a good job, and the two forages actually feed each other,” Jordan said. “The alfalfa makes nitrogen, and the orchardgrass uses it. It’s a great combination.”

After an alfalfa stand is fully depleted, Feemster rotates to another crop such as wheat, corn or soybeans before coming back with a fresh planting of alfalfa after 12 to 18 months.

“A year after we establish alfalfa, it develops autotoxicity, producing a chemical that stops new alfalfa plants from growing,” David explained. “So, in a new stand you have 12 months to do any replanting necessary to fill in a stand. On the back side, after a stand is depleted, you need to change crops for at least 12 months, as Jordan said, to allow that autotoxicity to dissipate.”

 Feemster said he prefers fall planting to achieve better growth and higher yields in a stand’s first year. But if there isn’t adequate fall moisture, alfalfa can also be planted in the spring.

Business branches out

As profitability in the dairy business becomes increasingly difficult, Jordan said he’s considering switching to square bales and rebuilding a market for high-quality alfalfa hay to supplement income. Feemster Farms is one of the last dairies in the area, and the industry is trending toward larger, more modern operations. The Feemsters already grow sweet corn in the summer, and Jordan, his wife, Courtney, and sons Dalis and Colten started a corn maze in 2023. Activities at the maze include a jump pad, pumpkin patch, basketball wagon and petting zoo.

The Feemsters are also in the process of developing an on-site farmers market that will offer indoor booth space for local producers. Their location just outside Springfield makes the farm ideal for attracting visitors to such agritourism ventures.

“Don’t get me wrong. I love the dairy. But in reality, I’m not sure how long we can keep it going,” Jordan said. “We’re looking at these niche markets as an opportunity for the future.”

For more information on alfalfa production, visit with your MFA solutions provider or stop by your MFA retail location to pick up a free copy of our 2025 Agronomy Guide, which includes a comprehensive section on alfalfa and other forages. The guide can also be accessed online at mfa-inc.com/agronomyguide.   

Pick up a 2025 MFA Agronomy Guide at your nearby MFA Agri Services today.

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