The importance of alfalfa cannot be understated, especially considering how the current conflict in the Middle East is affecting the availability of fertilizer.
Despite the weather so far this spring, growers may plan to reseed for next month if they can get two consecutive dry days.
Aside from the weather, there is another issue with reseeding this spring, such as current Fuel prices It will directly affect the cost of reseeding during the time when milk is already being produced with the cost of production.
But with all that being said, investing in a lawn through reseeding or over-seeding is still always a safe bet, as it is an essential part of the process.
Clover
Teagasc recently held a webinar to highlight the key benefits and new innovations of white clover in turf production systems called “Clover: The Move is On”.
During the symposium, it was highlighted that total nitrogen (N) use averaged 313,424 tons over the past three years, representing a 17% decrease from the previous three years.
During the same time frame, white clover use increased to an average of 353 tons of seed, representing a 40% increase over the previous three years.
In 2024, a lot of farms lost confidence in clover because the weather caused problems such as peeling, but farmers who stuck with it in 2025 had great success, with lower fertilizer bills coupled with improved animal performance.
According to studies, a 23% clover plant can fix approximately 70 kg of nitrogen/ha, while increasing milk solids/cow by 10-40 kg.
White clover is mixed with grass seed in most products, but post-management is often where clover establishment fails.
Strict management in terms of soil fertility, pasture selection and grazing protocols is needed to ensure plant success.
Choose the right product
Choosing the most suitable grass and white clover varieties for your farm is essential to ensuring crop success.
Trials conducted in Moorpark, Cork have shown that clover content can range between 21-29%, with the highest content found in the most grazing efficient varieties of perennial ryegrass.
This is why farmers should take the time to look at the Pasture Profit Index (PPI) to choose a suitable variety, before moving on to selecting the right clover seed.
Dr. Sarah Walsh, a grassland researcher at Teagasc, told the audience how the Clover Profit Index (CPI) is in the works, which will function the same as the Producer Price Index, making the clover selection process an easier task.
In the current situation, farmers can refer to the list of recommended varieties below:
| Variety name | Total return | Paper size | Alfalfa % | Year mentioned for the first time | jam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brianna | 100.4 | Very big | 47.9 | 2024 | Delph |
| green | 101.5 | Very big | 53.0 | 2024 | GTL/limagrine |
| Clodagh | 106.8 | big | 52.8 | 2025 | teaching |
| Barblanca | 104.7 | big | 49.2 | 2009 | Barenbrugg |
| also | 101.2 | big | 45.9 | 2020 | Delph |
| Alice | 100.0 | big | 49.0 | 1995 | Barenbrugg |
| Dublin | 101.8 | big | 49.0 | 2018 | teaching |
| Chaos | 105.2 | Mediation | 50.3 | 2026 | teaching |
| Dongloo | 102.6 | Mediation | 49.7 | 2025 | teaching |
| leader | 97.2 | Mediation | 44.7 | 2005 | teaching |
| Ibersuan | 94.3 | Mediation | 49.1 | 2022 | Iber |
| owner | 98.4 | Mediation | 46.1 | 2015 | teaching |
| Iona | 95.4 | Mediation | 42.0 | 2014 | teaching |
| crusader | 96.4 | Mediation | 45.3 | 2009 | Barenbrugg |
| Aberherald | 97.7 | Mediation | 44.8 | 2003 | Iber |
| Colvin | 103.8 | small | 46.3 | 2017 | teaching |
| Aberperl | 99.6 | small | 44.7 | 2022 | Iber |
| deviation | 95.1 | small | 32.8 | 2016 | Iber |
Choosing the right variety will enhance pasture performance and allow grazing at levels as low as 0.5cm.
Clover Foundation
Before planting begins, the soil in the pasture must be tested to ensure that its fertility is sufficient for proper establishment.
You should aim for pastures with a minimum soil pH of 6.5, with an index of 3-4 for phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).
Aim to plant clover during April because the days will be longer and drier – however, waiting past April will result in conditions being too dry, and the plant will not be able to grow successfully.
Once you have ideal conditions and fertile pastures, the sowing process can begin, moving to pastures that have been tightly grazed (less than 4cm).
Farmers looking to plant alfalfa in 2026 should use a “two-pronged approach” to create optimal alfalfa, using reseeding and overseeding in conjunction for the best result.
Sew in clover seeds
Teagasc designed a five-year blueprint as a guide for building an alfalfa facility on the farm.
5-10% of the farm area should be replanted every year, while another 10-15% of the farm should be replanted every year for five years.
What to do when reseeding;
- Spray old pasture with glyphosate.
- Prepare a good seed bed;
- Application of lime, P, and K;
- Sow perennial ryegrass at a rate of 27-34 kg/ha;
- Sow white clover at a rate of 6 kg/ha;
- Use a seeding depth of approx. 10-12 mm;
- Roll after sowing.
Sowing 10-12 mm deeper can lead to failure of germination, because the seed is too small.
When over-seeding pastures, you must also be aware of perennial ryegrass content and weed infestation levels, as the clover will have to fight for its place against an already established plant.
If you use the broadcast method (fertilizer spreader), know that you may have mixed success.
It can be difficult to get soil/seed contact when broadcasting since the spreader is already high off the ground and can fling seeds 6-7 meters into the air, which can be disturbed by windy conditions.
If using this method, Teagasc has advised not to use more than one hectare at a time, and to mix the seed through the fertilizer to avoid it sitting at the bottom of the spreader.
Sewing is one of the most common forms of sowing.
There are a variety of machines that can be used for this process and they all work equally well as long as the settings are adjusted to suit.
Fertilizer and post-planting management
When sowing alfalfa through whole seed, nitrogen should be applied at a rate of 40 kg N/ha at sowing.
This should be followed 4-6 weeks later by top dressings of 25kg N/ha to enhance the grass/alfalfa balance.
However, chemical N should be reduced slightly for 4-6 weeks in overgrown pastures to ensure that the newly established seed can compete with existing grass that is already actively growing.
The first grazing within over-seeded pastures should take place two weeks after over-seeding, or once the pasture reaches 800 kg DM/ha.
For the rest of the year, pastures should be grazed before the pre-grazing cover exceeds 1000-1200 kg DM/ha. Farmers should also continue to strive for a post-grazing residue of 4 cm.
If grazing levels are poor or covers become too strong, shading will occur and the plant will struggle to get light and grow.
The same principle applies to weed infestations. If weeds such as dockweed, chickweed, buttercup, or redstemwort are present, ProClova XL should be used.
Weed control is best when the weed plant is in the three-leaf stage, and when the three-leaf leaf appears on the clover plant. However, check the label to make sure you are spraying at the right time so it does not hinder installation.
When using any sprays, make sure you comply with the regulations set out in the Sustainable Use Directive.
Avoid cutting silage during the first 12 months of planting alfalfa.
Once entire farms have been reseeded, strategic seeding and targeted reseeding will be needed to maintain alfalfa levels.
Clover all over Ireland
In the past five years, its popularity has increased significantly, helping farms reduce nitrogen use while maintaining production.
The following statistics were collected from farms within the Clover 150 program managed by Teagasc:
| 2020 | 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Alfalfa area % | 10% | 75% | ↑ |
| Alfalfa content % | 8% | 19% | ↑ |
| Fertilizer N (kg N/ha) | 232 | 176 | ↓ |
| Dry matter productivity (kg N/ha) | 14.4 | 14.0 | – |
| Farm gate surplus N (kg N/ha) | 192 | 150 | ↓ |
One of the major setbacks for clover in Ireland is the fact that only 20% of farms have optimum soil fertility.
Suboptimal fertility levels will make it very difficult to grow alfalfa, but working to improve soil fertility will help increase nitrogen efficiency before using alfalfa.
Farmers may consider using legumes as a quick solution in 2026 given fertilizer prices, but the real impact will not appear until next spring.
Therefore, they should not plant it and stop spreading fertilizers, because it will only harm the weed production as happened in 2022 and 2023, which will ultimately cost farmers additional concentrate feed.
Growing clover can be a challenge for Irish dairy farmers who farm in heavy soils.
Dr Michael Egan, a grassland researcher at Teagasc, admitted it was much more difficult under these conditions, but said it was certainly possible to maintain a good clover content.
Another interesting topic discussed during the webinar was how clovergrass beds outperform multi-species over the long term, as persistence declines in multi-species beds.
