About ASCA

The Alfalfa Seed Commission (Alberta) is a farmer directed progressive organization headquartered in Brooks, Alberta and serving primarily Southern Alberta. Our main purpose is to initiate and promote activities that enhance the viability of the alfalfa seed and leafcutter bee industries in the area. The commission operates under the authority of the Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council.

Why Alfalfa? Alfalfa is a plant of the pea family grown primarily for forage, especially as hay. It is one of the most useful and widely grown crops in the world. Because of its high protein content, alfalfa is used as a food for almost all farm animals as hay, as silage, or as a temporary pasture crop. Because of its nitrogen-fixing properties, it is used in crop rotation to improve soil for other crops. When planted in combination with grasses, it helps prevent soil erosion. Alfalfa is also grown commercially for seed in arid or semiarid regions. Dehydrated alfalfa is ground into meal and used in feeding poultry and livestock. 

To ensure that the hay industry has seed stocks of highly quality varieties, our growers take on seed production contracts from various seed companies. With the help of irrigation and healthy alfalfa leafcutting bee populations, Alberta is one of the most successful alfalfa seed production areas in the world.