The alfalfa plant (Medicago sativa L.) is reported as the third most valuable crop in the United States (next to corn and soybean), and is widely used as animal feed. Sometimes referred to as the "Queen of Forages", alfalfa is "the preferred feed for thoroughbred horses, dairy cows and other livestock". The plant is armed with an ability to produce its own nitrogen fertilizer which is a result of its symbiotic relationship with a soil bacterium. Benefits of growing alfalfa include: (1) improved soil/water quality, and (2) reduced soil erosion/increased soil organic matter. Scientists from the United States Department of Energy, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) think that the alfalfa plant might become a "dual-purpose biofuel plant": the stems could be utilized as lignocellulosic feedstocks for bioethanol production, while the leaves can be used as feed and other products. USDA-ARS dairy scientist, Hans Jung and his team, are studying the potential for raising alfalfa as a bioenergy crop. They are doing research for breeding new types of alfalfa and for the development of a modified management system for the production of biofuels from alfalfa. An experimental variety, which can be grown for longer periods of time between harvest to accumulate more cellulose, has been bred. (A higher cellulose content means a higher ethanol yield potential). Jung says, that in addition to harvesting later and less frequently, the scientists adjusted the management scheme for alfalfa and found that planting fewer plants per square foot provided more space for each plant to grow and to produce more biomass. The results of their research will soon be reported in a scientific journal.