Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), the queen of the forage crops, is one of the most developed and researched forage and pasture crops in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world where it is well adapted. It’s normally considered to be productive for three to five years throughout much of the Midwest and follows a regular stand decline pattern of 20 to 50 or more plants per square foot at establishment to less than 10 plants per square foot at the end of its productive life span.