Potential Uses Of Annual Medics

	1. Pastures (Ley Farming and Permanent Pasture)
	Areas in the U. S. with Mediterranean-like climates may be able to adapt the ley farming system utilized in Australia. Annual medics can be over-seeded onto pastures immediately following snow melt, the freezing and thawing of the soil will help to incorporate the seed. Incorporation by animal impact can also be used . Medics can be cut for hay with yields between 1 - 3 tons/acre with a single cut taken at 60 - 70 days after planting. Because medics tend to lodge and may be difficult to cut and bale, grazing may be a suitable alternative, if grazed high with some stems remaining some regrowth may occur. Medics have forage quality potential similar to alfalfa (this is influenced by stage of maturity), they will cause bloat and need to be introduced slowly as part of a total ration or mixed with grasses. Medic residue (following leaf loss and death) will not cause bloat, although quality will be lower than in living plants, the seed pods when grazed are a form of energy and are palatable. Medics can be used as wild life feed for deer or migrating water fowl, i.e. geese.
	2. Green Fallow/Cover Crops - Green Manure
	Medics have been shown to produce up to 200 pounds of nitrogen per acre provided effective inoculant is used. Some of the nitrogen may be available the first year of growth, but the majority will be available the following year. Annual medics should be inoculated with appropriate Rhizobium inoculate. A 50 - 50 mixture of the standard Medicago "A" inoculate for alfalfa and Medicago "Special #1" inoculate from Liphatech, Inc. 3101 West Custer Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53209 Phone (414) 462-7600 has been used with good results. Research in Montana by Dr. Jim Sims has shown that spring wheat yields have been higher following a crop of black medic (Medicago lupulina var George). Black medic is a biannual as opposed to a true annual medic. Dryland agriculture in Montana yielded 46.1 bu/acre of spring wheat after medic compared to 31.8 bu/acre with bare ground fallow.
	3. Companion Crops -Smother Crop/Living Mulch
	The goal of using annual medics as a companion crop is to control weeds, add organic matter, lower soil temperatures, and provide fall residue after crop removal.
	Corn and Soybeans
	Annual medics have been evaluated as interseeded smother crops in Minnesota by Dr. Craig Sheaffer in corn and soybean production systems. In these systems, medics were seeded over newly planted corn and soybeans, or broadcast following the last cultivation. While medics can sometimes suppress certain annual weeds such as foxtail, pigweed or lambsquarter, they often reduce corn and soybean yields. Annual medics can also be broadcast over soybeans at leaf drop. Successful establishment is dependent on having adequate moisture available for medic germination and growth.
	Small Grains (Spring seeded wheat, barley and oats)
	Annual medics have been successfully established in the spring with small grains. Following small grain removal, medics have regrown and provided forage in the fall. Medics have also been successfully seeded into small grain stubble following small grain removal in mid-July.
	Sunflower, Squash, and Herbs.
	Medics have been grown as living mulches to provide weed control, reduce soil temperatures, and provide ground cover for squashed to prevent contact with soil moisture and organisms.
	Alleyways in Vineyards and Orchards.
	Medics have been planted in alleyways in grape, wine and raisin vineyards as well as almond, apricot, and stone fruits to provide ground cover for soil erosion and ground cover for equipment to drive over.

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