Research Programs

The National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance was instrumental in securing funding for two research programs and implementing the first ever checkoff supporting the alfalfa industry:

• Alfalfa Pollinator Research Initiative (APRI)
• Alfalfa Seed & Alfalfa Forage Systems Research Program (ASAFS)
• Alfalfa Checkoff (USAFRI)

The APRI, administered through USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS), is devoted to ensuring the availability of healthy non-Apis pollinator populations essential for alfalfa seed production. APRI research focuses on pollinator management, production, safety, epidemiology and disease management, and genetics and demographics.

The ASAFS, administered through USDA's National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), supports integrated, collaborative research and technology transfer to improve the efficiency and sustainability of conventional and organic forage production systems. The program is devoted to improving alfalfa forage and seed yield, improving persistence, improving alfalfa forage and seed harvesting and storage systems, improving estimates of alfalfa forage quality, and breeding.

The Alfalfa Checkoff, also known as the U.S. Alfalfa Farmer Research Initiative (USAFRI), is a farmer-funded investment in alfalfa-related research to help drive innovation and profitability in the alfalfa industry. Implemented voluntarily by seed brand, the Checkoff is assessed at the rate of $1/bag of alfalfa seed. One-hundred percent of the checkoff funds are used to support public research into alfalfa and alfalfa forage systems.

Find information by entering one or more of the drop-down search options: Keyword Researcher Please Select Adjesiwor, AlbertBarbour, JimBeck, LeslieBerti, MarisolBrummer, E. CharlesBrunet, JohanneCaldeira Rocateli, AlexCane, JamesCassida, KimCherney, DebbieCherney, JerryClements, JustinCoblentz, WayneCombs, DaveCox-Foster, DianaDias, JoseDigman, MattDvorak, JosephFerreira, GonzaloGamble, JoshuaGeddes, BarneyGrabber, JohnGraham, KelseyGrant, RickGreenlee, KendraHageman, KimberlyHancock, DennisHeuschele, JoIrish, BrianIslam, AnowarJennings, JohnJha, AguilarKapheim, KarenKeshavarz Afshar, RezaKim, Youngmi; Digman, MattKisekka, IsayaKlinger, EllenKoch, JonathanLa Guardia Nave, RenetaLamp, WilliamLemus, RockyLollato, RomuloLuck, BrianMartinson, Krishona; Sheaffer, CraigMcCabe, LindsieMcCabe, Lindsie; Pitts-Singer, TheresaMcFrederick, QuinnMeccage, EmilyMichel, AndrewMin, DoohongMoore, VirginiaMostafa, AymanNave Oakes, RenataNorberg, SteveNorberg, StevenO'Neill, KevinPedreira, BrunoPicasso, ValentinPittelkow, CameronPitts-Singer, TheresaPitts-Singer, Theresa; Cox-Foster, DianaPutnam, DanRamirez, RicardoRenz, MarkRiday, HeathcliffeRobbins, KellyRomero, JuanRoulston, T'aiRushing, J. BrettSamac, DeborahSchlautman, BrandonSheaffer, CraigShinners, Kevin; Digman, MattSmith, RaySyed, ZainulabeuddinTallekson, JoelTaugtes, NicoleTeutsch, ChrisTucker, JenniferUndersander, DanWalsh, DougWanner, KevinWenninger, ErikWise, KierstenYost, MattYu, Long XiZhang, ZhiwuZhang, Zhou University/Entity Please Select Colorado State UniversityCornell UniversityIdaho State UniversityKansas State UniversityMichael Fields Agricultural InstituteMichigan State UniversityMississippi State UniversityMontana State UniversityNew Mexico State UniversityNorth Dakota State UniversityOhio State UniversityOklahoma State UniversityThe Land InstituteUniversity of ArizonaUniversity of ArkansasUniversity of California - DavisUniversity of California - RiversideUniversity of California Cooperative ExtensionUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of IdahoUniversity of KentuckyUniversity of MaineUniversity of MarylandUniversity of MinnesotaUniversity of Notre DameUniversity of TennesseeUniversity of VirginiaUniversity of WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin - River FallsUniversity of WyomingUSDA-ARSUSDA-ARS PGITRUUSDA-ARS PIRUUSDA-ARS USDFRCUtah State UniversityVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVirginia TechWashington State UniversityWilliam H Miner Agricultural Research Institute Year Please Select 2023202220212020201920182017201620152014 Categories Please Select BreedingDisease ManagementFertilityForage managementForage qualityHarvesting and storage systemsMarketingPersistencePest ManagementPollinator demographicsPollinator disease managementPollinator epidemiologyPollinator geneticsPollinator managementPollinator productionPollinator safetySustainabilityUtilizationYield Research Program Please Select APRIASAFSCheckoff    Reports Project Objectives Program Priorities RFA