While winter is still several weeks away, much of the Great Plains recently received the first snowfall of the season. This is a great time to remember the benefits of snow cover to winter forages, especially alfalfa.
The most significant roles snow cover has in protecting winter forages is to provide insulation to and prevent evaporation from the soil. By trapping heat energy, snow cover limits the depth of the frost layer which protects forages from the damaging freeze-thaw cycle and mitigates winter kill.
The effectiveness of this protection is dependent on how early in the season the snow cover is established. Late fall and early winter snowstorms collect and insulate the ground before too much heat is lost from the soil.
Having some stubble at the end of the growing season is a great way to catch this much-needed snow. If a late season harvest is unavoidable, cut high to ensure snow trapping stubble can still function. In an ideal situation, this snow insulation, winter hardy variety selection, and giving forages the chance to properly winterize in the fall will keep winter kill to a minimum.
Snow is a great insulator and can help forages survive the winter. While snow may not always be a welcome sight, it can help to ensure your winter forage crop survives and thrives next season. — Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension
