Agronomy and Forage

2009 Alfalfa Quality Information

Goal Relative Feed Quality (RFV) of 150

Quality measurements on 5/29/09 indicate what you probably already know. Harvest alfalfa as soon as possible for high quality dairy forage. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. Plant development ranges from early bud to bud stage. Scissor Cut RFVs and PEAQ RFVs are about 15 RFVs higher than forage coming out of storage. On average we lose roughly 3-5 RFV points per day.

These will be the last quality measurements for the season. For more information contact Mike Ballweg at (920) 459-5904.

Thanks to our sponsors: Sheboygan County Forage Council, Adell Coop, Kettle Lakes Coop, and Rock River Labs.
Take time to be safe.

Quality measurements on 5/26/09 indicate harvest should begin soon. Plant development ranges from late vegetative to early bud. Look for opportunities to begin harvesting within the next several days, especially away from the lake. Scissor Cut RFVs and PEAQ RFVs are about 15 RFVs higher than forage coming out of storage. On average we lose roughly 3-5 RFV points per day.

Quality measurements will be taken again on 5/29/09. Future results will be posted on our website: http://sheboygan.uwex.edu. For more information contact Mike Ballweg at (920) 459-5904.

Thanks to our sponsors: Sheboygan County Forage Council, Adell Coop, Kettle Lakes Coop, and Rock River Labs. Take time to be safe.

Despite what may have seemed like cooler than normal temperatures, Growing Degree Days are actually running slightly ahead of long-term averages. As a result, alfalfa plant development on 5/20/09 is progressing quickly.

Scissor cut RFVs and PEAQ RFVs are about 15 RFV points higher than forage coming out of storage. On average we lose roughly 3-5 RFV points per day. Fields sampled are 2nd production year alfalfa fields. Evaluate alfalfa fields on a field-by-field basis. There are growth differences as a result of soil fertility, variety, fall management, and age of stand.

Quality measurements will be taken again on Tuesday, May 26th.

For more information call Mike Ballweg at (920) 459-5904.

Location	Sample date	PEAQ RFV	Plant Ht (inches)	ADF	NDF	CP	Estimate Harvest Date
Haven	5/20/09	205	21				May 29-30
Sheb. Falls-H	5/20/09	205	21				May 29-30
Sheb. Falls-M	5/20/09	195	23				May 27-28
Glenbeulah	5/20/09	185	25				May 25-26
Beechwood	5/20/09	195	23				May 27-28
Waldo	5/21/09	198	22				May 29-30
Sheb. Falls-J	5/21/09	198	22				May 29-30

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