By Scout Nelson
The Alfalfa Harvest Alert Project, also known as Scissor Cut, continues its mission to help producers decide the best time for harvesting alfalfa. The latest samples were collected on May 15th from various fields across central Minnesota.
This week’s weather brought continued warmth followed by rain across the region on Thursday and Friday. While some sample collection was delayed due to wet conditions, most of the data has now been received. Encouragingly, no signs of alfalfa weevil feeding or plant disease were reported in the collected samples.
One field has already been harvested, and two new fields submitted their first samples for this season. The primary goal of the project is to give timely information that supports strategic hay harvest planning.
For producers managing milking dairy herds, the ideal Relative Feed Value (RFV) is 150. However, this target can differ slightly depending on a farm’s specific feeding program. Since RFV tends to drop 15 to 25 points between cutting and storage, fields intended for high-quality dairy feed should be cut around 165 to 175 RFV. For animals like dairy heifers, stockers, or lactating beef cows, a slightly lower RFV between 120 and 130 is sufficient.
The project does not aim to name the exact day for harvest. Instead, it serves as a helpful reminder and tool for growers who are busy managing other spring crops. The goal is to help them plan the first alfalfa cut to achieve both quality and yield goals.
"Rather the goal is to encourage growers who are busy with management of other crops to be more strategic with hay crop harvest as it relates to their needs."
Overall, the Scissor Cut results offer a useful snapshot of field conditions, helping producers make informed decisions.
Photo Credit:-gettyimages-0shut0
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, Alfalfa