Fond du Lac County Alfalfa Quality Watch
2008 Scissors-cut Program
Alfalfa scissors-cut samples are taken from two fields.  Two samples are taken per field and the results presented here are laboratory result averages. These samples are pure alfalfa. Stands that contain grasses or weeds will likely be lower in quality than the results below indicate. Additionally, these results do not account for respiration or harvest losses in quality. Actual harvested feed may be 20 to 30 points lower in RFV than the standing forage at the time of cutting. PEAQ measurements are also taken on the scissor-cut samples and are presented here as a benchmark to compare individual producer fields.  PEAQ results from around the county are included as a base for comparison. 

Fond du Lac Co. Alfalfa Scissors-cut\PEAQ Results
Recent heavy rains have lodged alfalfa severely.  Quality results from June 9 dropped significantly, but I suspect that alfalfa still being harvested will be higher in quality than these results show.  This is because samples are taken at a 1-inch stubble height, which will be nearly impossible to achieve with harvest machinery.  In fact, the lodged forage will likely result in more stem being left in the field than is usually the case.
Date/Location Scissors Cut Analysis Field PEAQ Estimate
  CP ADF NDF RFV Maturity Max. Ht. RFV
  % % %     (in)  
June 16              
  Malone 17.9 40.0 47.8 112 Flower    
  Byron (07 seeding) 16.8 35.5 41.9 135 Flower    
               
June 9              
  Malone 19.7 39.4 45.6 118 Bud    
  Byron (07 seeding) 18.6 36.8 43.6 128 Flower    
               
June 2              
  Malone 20.7 33.2 38.9 150 Bud 33 145
  Byron (07 seeding) 19.5 32.6 38.3 154 Bud 29 160
               
May 29              
  Malone         Veg 28 171
  Byron (07 seeding)         Bud 27 168
  Fond du Lac         Bud 27 168
               
May 27              
  Malone 22.4 29.9 36.0 169 Veg 27 175
  Byron (07 seeding) 20.9 29.3 34.5 177 Veg/Bud 26 180
  Fond du Lac         Veg 26 180
               
May 22              
  Malone 24.0 25.3 29.8 215 Veg 25 185
  Byron (07 seeding) 22.9 22.8 27.6 238 Veg 23 195
  Fond du Lac         Veg 23 195
               
               
May 19              
  Malone 25.9 25.6 29.7 215 Veg 23 195
  Byron (07 seeding) 25.2 24.5 28.7 226 Veg 22 200
  Fond du Lac         Veg 21 205
               
               

For more information contact Mike Rankin

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