For the past three years, ten alfalfa varieties have been grown and yields recorded. Yields in excess of 9 tons per acre were harvested in 1988 on 7 of the 10 varieties. Baron, a moderately nondormant variety, was the highest yielding variety for the three years, with an average yield of 8.9 tons per acre.

A new alfalfa variety trial was planted in the fall of 1987to replace the previous four-year trial. The top varieties from the previous trial were placed in the new trial, along with new, promising varieties. A single year's data is insufficient to judge the performance of a variety during its useful years of production. The data simply indicate performance in their first year. Pioneer 5929, the variety that had the best overall yield in the previous trial (1), performed well in this trial as well. However, Mecca, a new variety from Plant Genetics, Inc., had the highest yield.

The stand longevity of 13 alfalfa varieties was evaluated 3 years after planting. The number of crowns per acre ranged from 71,000 to 163,000.

Ten alfalfa varieties, ranging from very non- dormant to moderately dormant cultivars, have been grown and yields compared over a four year period No significant differences were noted in the yields for 1989; all varieties yielded over 8 tons per acre in 6 cuttings. Interesting changes are taking place, however, with the very non -dormant varieties continuing their productivity and the more dormant varieties productivity declining.

Yields by cutting are given for 22 varieties of alfalfa grown at the Safford Agricultural Center. Yields were good in 1989 with 9 of the varieties yielding over 10 tons per acre in 7 cuttings and the top variety yielding 12 tons per acre. Graphs are shown comparing yields by cutting between sister varieties of differing fall dormancy classes.

A test was conducted to evaluate the effect of two seed treatments on seven varieties of alfalfa. The treatments included Rhizocote, Rhizocote plus Apron plus Rovral and untreated seed. Significantly fewer seedlings emerged for the coated than the uncoated seed when planted on a pound for pound basis. First cutting alfalfa yields were neither increased nor decreased as a result of the seed treatments.