Agronomy and Forage

2005 Alfalfa Quality Information

Alfalfa Scissor Cutting Project - Goal Relative Feed Value (RFV) of 150

Quality reports show alfalfa throughout the tri-county area is ready for harvest. In fact, some fields have already dropped below prime quality. PEAQ measurements are an excellent predictor of forage quality. It is the height of the alfalfa plant that mostly determines forage quality. Don't be mislead by the slow bud development. Cooler temperatures have slowed bud development. Scissor cut RFVs and PEAQ RFVs are about 20 RFV points higher than forage coming out of storage. On average we lose roughly 3-4 RFV points per day.

Lastly, while you will probably not be making changes to your harvest equipment during 1st cut, think about wider swaths to decrease drying time and increase the forage TDN.

This will be the last quality report this season.

Thanks to our sponsors: Sheboygan County Forage Council, Adell Coop, Kettle Lakes Coop, Rock River Labs, and to Farmers Inc. for samples taken from Washington County. For more information, call Mike Ballweg at (920) 467-5742.

Take time to be safe.

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Alfalfa Scissor Cutting Project - Goal Relative Feed Value (RFV) of 150

As the PEAQ RFVs indicate, there has been rapid alfalfa growth and development since Monday, May 23rd. Many fields away from Lake Michigan are now in the bud stage and harvest should start without delay for high quality forage. I will take PEAQ measurements and scissor cut samples again on May 31st.

Take time to be safe.

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Alfalfa Scissor Cutting Project - Goal Relative Feed Value (RFV) of 150

In areas away from Lake Michigan, harvest should begin around Memorial Day Weekend for high quality dairy forage. Fields sampled are 2nd production year alfalfa fields with the exception of the West Bend site. Scissor cut RFVs are running high - I feel the PEAQ RFVs are a better predictor of forage quality in this case. Scissor cut RFVs and PEAQ RFVs are about 20 RFV points higher than forage coming out of storage. On average we lose roughly 3-4 RFV points per day.

PEAQ readings taken on May 26, and samples taken on May 31, will be available on our web site at www.sheboygan.uwex.edu. Click on: Agronomy/Forage Alfalfa Quality, or call InfoSource at 1-800-441-4636, #933.

Thanks to our sponsors: Sheboygan County Forage Council, Adell Coop, Kettle Lakes Coop, Rock River Labs, and Farmers Inc. for samples taken in Washington County. For more information, call Mike Ballweg at (920) 467-5742. Take time to be safe.

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