Drought stress can reduce alfalfa establishment, growth, and productivity, creating challenges for dairy producers who rely on high-quality forage to support animal health and milk production. While previous research demonstrated that treating alfalfa seeds with the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) can improve drought tolerance, additional work was needed to better understand the biological mechanisms involved and identify affordable alternatives that could provide the same benefits.

Through Dairy Innovation Hub funding, UW–Platteville researchers expanded their work evaluating ABA seed priming and novel ABA-mimicking compounds that may improve drought tolerance in alfalfa. The project supports testing of promising compounds, analysis of drought-response genes and metabolites, and continued development of seed treatment strategies that could enhance forage quality and value under water-limited conditions. By helping produce more resilient, high-quality forage, this research has the potential to improve dairy cow health and productivity while supporting the profitability and sustainability of Wisconsin dairy farms.