by M. Samantha Wells, forage agronomist Assessing alfalfa Healthy alfalfa taproot on the left and damaged taproots on the right A number of factors can contribute to winter damage of an alfalfa stand. These are all important to consider as spring assessments are made. The following elements may all play a role in winter survivability. As management options are considered, remember that injured alfalfa stands can exhibit delayed regrowth, but may be capable of recovering. Be careful not to rush into alternative options if the stand can be maintained for acceptable production. Alfalfa winter injury assessment and management Emergency forages: Warm season grasses Emergency forages at Rosemount, 2014. In an effort to maximize forage production during the relatively short growing seasons of the upper Midwest, semi-dormant alfalfa varieties have been heavily promoted and widely adopted, which can increase the chance of winter injury and winterkill. During the 2012-2013 winter