Alfalfa Harvest Alert for May 24

Taylor Herbert, UMN Extension educator-crops, Wright, McLeod, and Meeker Counties.
therbert@umn.edu or (612)-394-5229

Estimating alfalfa quality using the
PEAQ stick at the bud stage.

The Alfalfa Harvest Alert Project/ Scissor Cut project is wrapping up the third week of sampling. While harvest might be delayed for some by recent weather, the adage “make hay while the sun shines” still rings true. Adequate drying after cutting helps maintain forage quality and is integral for safe storage. For more information, check out this previous article on managing risk at the first alfalfa harvest. 

Relative Feed Value (RFV) and Relative Feed Quality (RFQ) are used by dairy and other livestock producers to determine harvest timing to fit their needs. The Predictive Equation for Alfalfa Quality (PEAQ) uses the stage of maturity and height of the tallest stems to estimate Relative Feed Value (RFV). Quality is lost in harvest, wilting, and storage of forage, so it is recommended to harvest around 15 to 25 RFV points higher than what is desired for feeding.

As a reminder, the goal of this project is not to try and name the exact day of harvest. 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.

How to get harvest alert data

The May 24 Alfalfa Harvest Alert data is available as a pdf. However, there's also a tool that contains this year’s data and all of the data from every county and farm that has participated in the Alfalfa Harvest Alert Program since 1977. Go to z.umn.edu/AlfalfaHarvestAlert to view the data. You can also get the most recent information through email by signing up at z.umn.edu/quadcountysignup and clicking the "Hay Auction and Scissor Cut/Alfalfa Harvest Alert Information" box.