Habitat and Geography
Varieties of alfalfa are grown at the equator and grow as far North as 60 degrees N. However, it grows best around 38 to 40 degrees due to the decrease in diseases and parasites. Alfalfa will flourish in deep well drained soil that has a sandy-clay subsoil. The soil in general should contain no acid (it can even be slightly alkaline) and contains an abundant supply of potassium and phosphorus. Alfalfa readily adapts to temperature changes, but it does need a generous amount of moisture. Also, alfalfa needs plenty of available sunlight to grow, so large open grasslands are best. The largest alfalfa regions in the world include North America, South America, Australia, and Southeastern Europe. In America, the leading alfalfa-growing states are California, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa.
The map above shows where alfalfa is prevalent in the United States. The map below shows where alfalfa is grown in Wisconsin. As you can see, alfalfa is an extremely important crop to our nation and is grown in literally every state.
