Market Trends of north america alfalfa seed Industry
Rising cattle populations, growing demand from the processed forage industry and government support, are leading to an increase in the cultivation area
- Alfalfa is one of the major crops cultivated in countries such as the United States and Canada due to the high demand from the feed processing industry to feed livestock, especially cattle. To meet this high demand for alfalfa-based feed, the area cultivated for alfalfa was 11.5 million hectares in 2022, which increased by 5.5% during 2017-2022. The crop accounted for 30% of the area used for the cultivation of forage crops in the region in 2022.
- With an increase of 1.9% from 2017 to 2022 in North America's ruminant population, the number of buffaloes and cattle rose from 155.1 million to 158.6 million during the same period, which led to an increase in the demand for alfalfa and the area harvested in the region. Alfalfa is largely cultivated in Canada, with an area of 5 million ha in 2022, and the country had a regional area share of 93% in the same year. The area under alfalfa cultivation increased by 33% during 2017-2022 due to the increasing investments and support from the Canadian government to increase the production of feed for the livestock industry. The area cultivated increased by 1.4% in the United States during 2021-2022 due to increased demand for high protein in animal feed and its important role in biological nitrogen fixation and improving the soil content.
- Due to the increasing livestock population and rising demand for dairy products, the cultivation area has been increasing. Government support and its important role in a high-protein diet for animals are the factors that may increase the area under cultivation for alfalfa during the forecast period.
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The adoption of disease-resistant, insect-resistant, and drought-resistant alfalfa seeds for high yield during adverse climatic conditions is rising
- Alfalfa is a major forage crop cultivated in North America. The high-demand traits of alfalfa are disease resistance, insect resistance, and wider adaptability for improving the quality of the feed/silage for the livestock industry. Wider adaptability was the largest trait adopted by growers as there have been changes in weather conditions and demand for high yields with early maturity. Furthermore, other traits such as increasing protein content, growing throughout the seasons, and reducing lignin content are expected to gain popularity in the future, increasing forage quality.
- Popular traits of Alfalfa include disease resistance to wilts and root rots, wider adaptability to different seasons and soil conditions, drought tolerance, and resistance to insects and nematodes. For instance, major companies offering and marketing the traits of alfalfa varieties are Ampac Seed Company (Attention II), KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaG (HarvXtra, Standfast), Bayer Crop Science (Roundup-Ready), Syngenta AG (NEXGROW), and DLF (Fortune) for resistance to diseases such as Colletotrichum trifolii and Verticillium wilt.
- Drought tolerance is the second-most popular trait among growers, as states such as Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Oregon have been experiencing severe drought since 2022. About 12% of the land in these states was experiencing extreme drought in 2023. Therefore, the drought-tolerant trait is expected to gain popularity during the forecast period.
- Factors such as the increased demand for improving animal feed and a large number of benefits such as resistance to diseases and increasing yield are expected to drive the market's growth in the region.
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OTHER KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS COVERED IN THE REPORT
- Hybrid breeding dominates the market due to better yields and nutritional content
