I wanted to make everyone with an interest in alfalfa aware of a small project myself, Kathy Lee, Roberta Osborne, Phil Kaatz, and Mike Allen are taking on to help producers determine when to cut first cutting alfalfa this year. Alfalfa
quality is unknown due to abnormal weather conditions this year. Many producers are planning to cut several weeks ahead of schedule, predicting that quality is low. However if quality is high, then producers
may end up with very low NDF forage that could be difficult to use in livestock rations, and would be better off waiting until there is more yield and appropriate NDF.
We are starting to take samples in several areas across the state this week and will do so weekly until 1st cutting is done.
If you would like to receive the weekly updates of alfalfa NDF, and the NDF correlations with GDD and PEAQ, please reply by email.
Faith Cullens
MSU Extension
Dairy Educator
100 E. State Street Suite G100
St Johns, MI 48879
989-224-5249 (office)
517-388-1078 (mobile)
989-224-5244 (fax)