DeLange Seed

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    VNS Alfalfa (variety not stated) is locally harvested alfalfa, suited for the growing conditions of Kansas. Seed is cleaned and tagged 85% pure, with a 90% germination. VNS alfala seed is not pre-inoculated. Alfalfa appropriate inoculant is available for sale.

    In the past, there was a distinct strain of Kansas Common Alfalfa. Today, there is no such "common" strain. It has been replaced by VNS alfalfa. As alfalfa varieties have been improved over the years, more and more farmers planted varieties as opposed to local strains. Most alfalfa varieties have been accorded the protection of PVPA (Plant Variety Protection Act) which prohibits the seed increase and resale of these materials by variety name without the permission of the breeder or owner of the genetics. Therefore, whenever alfalfa seed is harvested in Kansas, it is brought in to a conditioning plant without any variety designation. So VNS alfalfa may be a blend of common strains, older varieties and newer varieties. Some lots may be superior in performance while another lot may be average or below average.

    DeLange Seed makes every attempt to determine the origin and history of each lot of VNS alfalfa seed we offer for sale. When purchasing VNS alfalfa, producers should look first to the origin of the seed. Alfalfa seed grown in Kansas or the immediately surrounding states will most likely perform better than seed produced in northern regions of the United States or Canada. This is due to the fall dormancy of the northern cultivars. In the more northern regions, alfalfa varieties generally have a fall dormancy rating of 2 or lower, while in Kansas generally the varieties planted are rated a 4 dormancy. A fall dormancy of 2 means that the alfalfa will green up later in the spring and quit sooner in the fall. This greater dormancy generally results in lower total production.