Source: Tyler Rice, Extension Educator, Crops - Stearns, Benton, Morrison, & Sherburne Counties, (320) 968-5077, rice0416@umn.edu
FOLEY, Minn. (05/23/2023) — The Alfalfa Scissor-cut Harvest Alert is being updated regularly as alfalfa growth accelerates. The goal of this project is to alert alfalfa growers to start first crop harvest when the crop is at a level of quality that matches animal nutrition goals without undercutting yield potential. The alfalfa scissor-cut harvest alert program is not a prescription for any particular harvest date but can be a go-to decision tool for those alfalfa producers that are busy managing other crops in the rotation during one of the busiest seasons on the farm.
Fresh cut samples of alfalfa are collected when the height of the stand reaches between 14 and 16 inches tall. Project cooperators are sampling at least twice a week usually Monday and Thursday until harvest. These samples are submitted to our lab partner, Dairyland lab, to analyze according to standard forage quality parameters. Quality and maturity will also be estimated through an equation called the “Predictive Equation for Alfalfa Quality” (PEAQ). This process uses the stage of maturity and height of the tallest stems to estimate relative forage value (RFV).
May 18, 2023 sample results
| County | Location | Height (inches) | PEAQ | RFQ | RFV | CP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicollet | Annexstad Dairy near Norseland | 21.25 | 204.4 | 225.69 | 199.61 | 27.95 |
| Sibley | Dieball Dairy near Green Isle | 22.3 | 198.6 | 237.97 | 203.99 | 26.9 |
| Carver | Dreier Farm near Norwood | 23 | 195 | 223.74 | 194.89 | 26.35 |
| McLeod | Kurthkine Dairy near Buffalo Lake | 17.2 | 229.5 | 292.89 | 252.67 | 28.23 |
| Wright | Krause near Buffalo | 20.1 | 200.2 | 287.64 | 252.03 | 27.89 |
| Stearns | Maus newr Freeport | 17 | 230 | 252.27 | 216.03 | 31.20 |
The Dreier Farm field near Norwood in Carver County was harvested on May 22.
The Kurthkine Dairy field near Buffalo Lake in McLeod County was harvested on May 24.
May 19, 2023 sample results
| County | Location | Height (inches) | PEAQ | RFQ | RFV | CP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLeod | Krienke near Lester Prairie | 23 | 200 | 251.5 | 230.01 | 27.69 |
| Wright | Poppler near Howard Lake | 21 | 220 | 287.17 | 228.28 | 26.84 |
May 22, 2023 sample results
| County | Location | Height (inches) | PEAQ | RFQ | RFV | CP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton | Skapanski near Sauk Rapids | 24.5 | 178.6 | 249.25 | 213.18 | 24.86 |
| Benton | Skroch near Rice | 19.5 | 214.5 | 258.39 | 232.85 | 21.82 |
| Benton | O&S Dairy near Rice | 24.25 | 178.3 | 238.37 | 219.52 | 25.75 |
| Morrison | Kahl near Buckman | 19.67 | 210 | 275 | 238.96 | 25.21 |
You can find more detailed reports on the Minnesota Extension Crop News page or by checking the up-to-date alfalfa scissor-cut data.
Thanks to our sponsors including; Barry Visser at Vita Plus, Greg Lefebrve with Nelson Dairy Consultants, Anez Consulting of Little Falls, UFC, Sunrise Ag Cooperative – Buckman, Farmers and Merchants State Bank – Pierz, Heim Milling Company, Helena Agri-Enterprises, Munson Lakes Nutrition, Dohrmann Enterprises, Paynesville Coop, Luxemborg Feed Services, Centra-Sota Cooperative, Magnifi Financial Credit Union, Legacy Seeds – Tim Schmitt, Byron Seed – Rick Tamm, Dairyland Laboratory at Sauk Rapids, KASM 1150 AM Albany, KTLF 960 AM Little Falls, WJON 1240 AM St. Cloud, WVAL 800 AM and 102.3 FM Sauk Rapids, St. Cloud, and the Central Minnesota Forage Council.
Local Extension contacts
Stearns, Benton, Morrison and Sherburne counties
Tyler Rice, Extension Educator, Crops
rice0416@umn.edu or 320-968-5081
Scott and Carver counties
Colleen Carlson, Extension ag educator
traxl042@umn.edu or 507-521-3640
Wright, McLeod and Meeker counties
Taylor Herbert, Extension Educator, Crops
therbert@umn.edu or 612-394-5229
Karen Johnson, Extension Educator, Livestock
ande9495@umn.edu or 320-693-5275