effect of companion crops and herbicides on economic returns of alfalfa-bromegrass establishment

In moist regions and under irrigation in western Canada, there may be an economic advantage to using companion crops in forage establishment. Economic returns of establishing a mixture of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and bromegrass (Bromus spp.) were determined with and without a companion crop of barley grain and silage (Hordeum vulgare L.) and with and without post-emergence herbicides at Westlock, Alberta under dryland, and with and without a companion crop of soft white spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and with and without post emergence herbicides at Lethbridge, Alberta under irrigation conditions. The yearly economic benefit of companion crops was greater on irrigation than on dryland ($15 to $27 ha −1 ), higher for companion crops harvested for silage than for grain ($55 to $75 ha −1 ), and was dependent on the price of forage and grain. On dryland with medium product price levels, economic returns were 100% higher for a barley silage companion crop, and were 14% lower for a barley grain companion crop than without a companion crop. At high hay prices, returns for the barley silage companion crop were 5% higher than without a companion crop. On irrigation, the yearly economic returns with a companion crop were higher ($23 to $139 ha −1 ) than without a companion crop. The use of post-emergence herbicides had no long-term economic benefit for forage establishment and reduced yearly net returns $13 ha −1 on dryland and $41 ha −1 on irrigation. Key words: Companion crop, forage establishment, economics, herbicide