No it wasn't a stupid question I just had to put that out there because I have seen so may people think this way.
I dont know a thing about alfalfa other than it can bloat cows and kill them.
You can get a scythe or a sickle mower.
A good sharp scythe is a thing to behold.
I posted this video some years ago here.
Every thing these folks do is with a scythe and hay fork.
Worth
https://youtu.be/fIVAlV8YVF0