Alfalfa, the oldest cultivated forage crops, originated in southwestern Asia with Iran as the geographic center of origin. Alfalfa was first introduced to the Americas by Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors. With great growing conditions in South America, and spread through Mexico Peru, Chile, Argentina, and finally to Uruguay by 1775. Alfalfa was then brought to Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California. Many areas were producing alfalfa in the southwestern USA by 1836. However, it was the introduction of the it to California during the days of the gold rush that proved to be of major importance. Cultivating alfalfa turned out to be a better paying enterprise than panning for gold.…
