Forage Quality Information
Available on FREELINE
and World Wide Web

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Alfalfa scissor cut forage quality information will again be made available to area farmers through the FREELINE phone system this spring. New this year, we will also make the information available on the world wide web at the following address: www.uwex.edu/ces/crops/scicut97.htm

The alfalfa scissor cut program is sponsored by the Fond du Lac County Forage Council and involves the cutting and lab analysis of fresh samples of alfalfa from several area fields. The information from the forage quality analysis can then be used to help gauge the optimum time for harvest.

In addition to the forage quality analysis results, estimated forage quality from the scissor cutting samples using Predictive Equations for Alfalfa Quality (PEAQ) will also be reported. Producers are reminded that scissor cutting forage quality results will generally over estimate the true quality of forage harvested "on farm" because the samples represent no grass or weed contamination, plant respiration losses, or mechanical harvest losses. Nevertheless, experience from past years has shown the results to be a reliable indicator of the current quality status of the crop.

To access the Freeline, dial 922-9600. After being prompted for a four digit code, dial 7-9-6-6 to receive the recorded message. The information can be accessed anytime day or night and forage quality information will be updated as soon as it is received from the forage testing lab.