Alfalfa Can Provide Irrigation Flexibility Wednesday Jun 2nd, 2021 News Reporter With California Ag Today, I’m Tim Hammerich. Over the past several years alfalfa production has really declined in California, replaced by other crops, especially tree crops. However, in dry years like this one, it has an advantage of being flexible, says UC Davis agricultural economist Dr. Dan Sumner. Sumner… “One of the positive things about alfalfa is that you can adjust how much you water it. And it's sort of like mowing your lawn. If you put less water on it, it doesn't grow as fast. So unlike an annual crop, say processing tomatoes, where you're not going to cut back on the water use of the tomatoes, with alfalfa you can, and remember the alfalfa stand will last four years, so you don't want it to die. Let's say you've got a second year stand of alfalfa. But if you have a bad drought year, you can save that water. And often use it on your own almonds or pistachios or for that matter, sell it to your next door neighbor.”