Ladak II Dryland alfalfa is a top dryland performer. It is an excellent choice for inclusion in dryland pasture mix and is commonly used in grass mixes for improved pasture applications. We often recommend Ladak II for specialized use on rangeland and dryland pastures anywhere from the northern plains to the winterhardy intermountain areas of the west, depending on where rainfall is limited for extended periods of time. Furthermore, it performs very well in harsh soils and adverse conditions. It is drought tolerant and has an edge over Ranger in arid conditions.  It has a deep tap root. Also, it demonstrates very good winter hardiness with a fall dormancy 3. Because of this, we recommend Ladak II Alfalfa for dryland applications.

The original USDA public Ladak strain has long been a favorite of farmers and ranchers in the intermountain west for arid sites. Because of this it is widely used at the Utah Great Basin Research Station in range seeding, and by the BLM Boise Regional Seed Warehouse. But the original strain was slow to recover between cuttings. Ladak II alfalfa for dryland applications is an improvement on the original strain. In fact, it was developed from plants selected out of a 27 year old stand in eastern Washington. As a result, Ladak II has the drought tolerance of Ladak with improved disease and nematode resistance for increased persistence and adaption to a wider range of soil conditions.

Our Certified Ladak II for dryland applications is an improvement on the original.

*Based on the Wisconsin Disease Rating Index. This is a 1 to 5 ranking with 5 being the best.