Eclipse

Description

Fall Dormancy: 4.4
Winter Survival: 1.6
Disease Index Rating: 35/35
Eclipse alfalfa is an industry leader when it comes to disease resistance. It has excellent forage yield and forage quality potential.

Key Features

Industry leading disease package offering enhanced multi-race protection againstAphanomyces* and Anthracnose**
Excellent disease resistance
Excellent forage yield
Improved forage quality
Very high multifoliate leaf expression

ForageMax® by DLF offers a range of high-performance forage grasses and legumes tested for palatability, yield, persistency, and quality in North American climates. Our science-based approach ensures superior nutrition and economic benefits for milk and livestock production.

DLF Fiber Energy™ varieties feature enriched fiber digestibility, focusing on improving cell wall components to boost feed efficiency. These forages offer up to a 2% increase in digestibility, translating to more milk or meat production and reduced methane emissions.

General Characteristics

Segment Forage

Species Alfalfa

Sci. Name Medicago sativa

Plant Characteristics

Days to Flowering 35

Stem Thickness Medium

Early Spring Growth (CM) 34

Average Multifoliate Expression 3.1

Multifoliate (MF) Leaf Expression Frequency Very High > 76%

Cutting System 3-5

Emergence (Days) 7

Growth Habit, Spring Erect

Plant Height, Spring (CM) 104

Fall Regrowth (CM) 31

Root Characteristics

Root Type Tap

Forage Quality Characteristics

Seeding Information

Approx. Seeds/Lb. 227,000

Approx. Seeds/Kg. 500000

Seeding Rate - Alone/New (Kg./Hectare) 17-23

Seeding Rate - Alone/New (Lbs./Acre) 15-20

Seeding Rate - Mixes (Kg./Hectare) 7-15

Seeding Rate - Mixes (Lbs./Acre) 6-12

Pest and Disease Resistance

Bacterial Wilt Highly Resistant

Fusarium Wilt Highly Resistant

Verticillium Wilt Highly Resistant

Anthracnose (Race 1) Highly Resistant

Anthracnose (Race 5) Highly Resistant

Phytopthora Root Rot Highly Resistant

Aphanomyces Root Rot (Race 1) Highly Resistant

Aphanomyces Root Rot (Race 2) Highly Resistant

Aphanomyces Root Rot (Enhanced) Highly Resistant

Pea Aphid Resistant

Blue Alfalfa Aphid Not Tested

Cowpea Aphid Not Tested

Spotted Alfalfa Aphid Resistant

Potato Leafhopper Not Tested

Stem Nematode Resistant

Northern Root Knot Nematode Not Tested

DLF YIELD COMPARISONS
Variety	Years	Total Yield	Yield Index	Total Cuts	Number of
Variety	Years	(kg/ha)	(%)	Total Cuts	Station Years
Eclipse	2018-'24	12227.2	101	133	38
Vision	2018-'24	11929.3	98	133	38
Eclipse	2021-'24	12441.7	101	90	24
Catalyst	2019-'23	12134.1	101	120	35
PICKSEED 2065MF	2019-'23	11844.1	98	120	35

DLF YIELD SUMMARY
Variety	Years	Total Yield	Yield Index	Total Cuts	Number of
Variety	Years	(kg/ha)	(%)	Total Cuts	Station Years
Eclipse	2018-'24	12227.2	101	133	38

% Resistant Plants	Resistance Class	Class Abbreviation
> 50 %	High Resistance	HR
31 – 50 %	Resistant	R
15 – 30 %	Moderate Resistance	MR
6 – 14 %	Low Resistance	LR
< 5 %	Susceptible	S

StandFast FastGrowth ratings are calculated from weekly measurements of varieties grown side‑by‑side from green‑up to harvest through the growing season. Expressed as average centimeters of growth per day.

Average cm / day	Growth Rating
> 2.20	Very Fast
> 2.00	Fast
> 1.80	Average
> 1.60	Slow
< 1.60