Alfalfa Harvest Alert: May 18th

Nathan Drewitz, Local Extension Educator - Crops, Stearns, Benton, and Morrison Counties

The Alfalfa Harvest Alert Program is now underway. This project aims to provide timely alerts on the current conditions of alfalfa throughout the participating areas and help identify the current quality and yield potential of those stands. Farmers should make decisions on their own farms based on their specific feed and market needs and field observations.

Sampling starts when alfalfa is 14 - 16 inches tall and continues until the first cutting. Currently, we have cooperators in Sibley, Nicollet, Carver, McLeod, Wright, Stearns, Benton, Morrison, and Yellow Medicine counties. We have Wright and Carver counties reporting in with stands between 14 and 16 inches tall. Most of the remaining cooperators will begin sampling next Monday.

Alfalfa Harvest Report from May 16th and 18th:
Alfalfa Harvest Report May 18th

You can also compare the different counties, and farms that have participated in the Alfalfa Harvest Alert Program since 1997. Go to z.umn.edu/AlfalfaHarvestAlert to view that data. You can also get the most recent information through email by signing up at z.umn.edu/tricountysignup and looking for the "Hay Auction and Scissor Cut/Alfalfa Harvest Alert Information" box.