May 26, 2015 Alfalfa Harvest Alert / Scissors-Cut Information

5/27 9:30 p.m.

Central Minnesota Forage Council, U of M Extension, Farm and Business Cooperators Chart starts with all farms for most recent test - followed by all tests for individual farms. Farms are listed somewhat from south to north. Watch 3-4 samples for trend line. "Hgt" is height of tallest stems in 2 foot square sample area. * Last Data from a Previous Date. "Mat" is Maturity of most mature stem 1=Veg 2=Bud 3=Flower Date Farm County Town Hgt Mat PEAQ RFV RFQ ADF NDF NDFd CP 5/26 Dreier Carver Norwood 26 Bud 173 206 26.6 30.8 28.4 5/26 Hoen Carver Bongard 28 Bud 165 203 25.6 31.6 26.7 *5/21 Wandersee Carver Watertown 23 Bud 185 225 23.5 29.2 26.4 5/26 Kreinke McLeod Lester Prairie 26 Veg 190 166 183 30.7 36.4 48.5 23.3 5/26 Rickeman McLeod Hutchinson 24.5 Bud 179 189 221 26.6 33.6 54.5 24.8 5/26 Fisher Meeker Forest City 23 Bud 186 167 195 28.7 37 52.1 20 5/26 Poppler Wright Howard Lake 26 Veg 185 182 218 27.6 34.5 55.6 25.2 5/26 Krause Wright W Buffalo 23.5 Bud 180 187 226 24.3 34.9 66 29.8 5/26 Gathje 5/26 Maus 5/26 Frericks

Stearns Stearns Stearns

Eden Valley S Freeport N Melrose

26 20.5 20

V/B Veg Veg

180 208 211

186 201 189

210 230 230

24.1 35 23.7 32.5 23.6 34.7

61 59 34.7

28.9 27.6 31.1

5/26 Schneider 5/26 Scapanski 5/26 O & S Dairy

Benton Benton Benton

E Duelm NE Sauk Rapids

24 21 20.5

Bud 1.7 1.8

182 202 210

182 178 208

212 191 239

27.2 34.6 27.8 35.2 25.1 31.0

53.3 47 52.9

24.2 23.3 26.9

5/21 Roerick

Morrison

SW of Upsala

19

Veg

219

222

269

23.2 29.6

65

31.5

E Rice

*Data from previous sampling date yet as noted on pages below. Key Points: For scissors-cut sampling the goal is to have at least 3 tests that are 3-4 days apart to establish a trend that is more reliable than an one-time sample. Hay or Haylage in the feed bunk can be expected to have an RFV that is 15 to 25 points lower than the fresh-cut sample test or what the PEAQ stick or chart indicates because of harvest and storage loss. Harvest might start when a fresh-cut sample or PEAQ RFV numbers are 15 to 25 points higher than the feed target. The PEAQ RFV number indicates what we could expect to see in a fresh-cut lab test. NDF might be 3 to 6 points higher for harvested feed. Harvest might start with fresh-cut samples or PEAQ NDF is 3-6 points lower than feed targets. When alflafa gets to be 22 to 24 to 26 inches tall, buds are likely to start to form and dairy producers might watch for a good weather window to harvest. Livestock producers will have different quality targets based on the type of animals, other ration ingredients, and past experience with harvest and feeding of hay products. It can be useful for livestock producers who work with nutrition advisor to talk with their nutrition advisor about harvest targets and strategies. As the new crop grows, we might expect old residue to be a smaller share of sample, and less significant There is seldom a reason to remove old crop residue in the spring. Weeds can be an issue too. SEE CURRENT COMMENTS AFTER INDIVIDUAL FARM RECORDS

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Dreier - Carver Co - Norwood Date Height Mat 5/11 15 Veg 5/14 19 Veg 5/18 21 Bud 5/21 22 Bud 5/26 26 Bud

PEAQ RFV 245 217 195 190 173

RFV 231 222 233 240 206

RFQ 257 248

Hoen - Carver Co - Bongard Date Height Mat 5/11 21 Veg 5/14 21 Bud 5/18 24 Bud 5/26 28 Bud

PEAQ RFV 205 195 175 165

RFV 186 185 176 203

Wandersee- Carver Co - Watertown Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/11 16 Veg 240 5/14 19 Veg 220 5/18 22 Veg 200 5/21 23 Bud 185

ADF 23.3 22.9 23.2 22.5 26.6

NDF NDFd CP GDD 28.4 55.5 29.9 29.8 54.6 29 28.2 29.6 27.9 53.7 26.9 30.8 28.4

Notes

RFQ 207 212

ADF 27.1 26.8 28.9 25.6

NDF NDFd CP GDD 34 53.2 25.6 34.3 55 25.7 35.1 23.6 31.6 26.7

Notes

RFV 200 212 209 225

RFQ 219 243

ADF 24.7 23.4 24.6 23.5

NDF NDFd CP GDD 32.4 53.3 26.3 30.9 56.3 26.9 31.1 26.9 29.2 26.4

Notes

Kreinke - McLeod - Near Lester Prairie Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/14 18 Bud 225 5/18 21 Veg 210 5/21 24 Veg 190 5/26 26 Veg 190

RFV 208 194 205 166

RFQ

NDF NDFd CP GDD 31.1 28.2 32.6 53.6 27.1 31.3 53.9 25.2 36.4 48.5 23.3

Notes

230 230 183

ADF 25 26.7 25.4 30.7

Rickeman - McLeod - South of Hutchinson Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/19 20.2 Veg 207 5/22 20.6 1.7 200 5/26 24.5 Bud 179

RFV 240 225 189

RFQ 279 249 221

ADF 22.3 24.1 26.6

NDF NDFd CP GDD 27.8 55.7 25.3 29 51.4 24.7 33.6 54.5 24.8

Notes

Rickeman - McLeod - Late Summer Seeding 2015 - EXTRA Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV RFV RFQ 5/26 25.5 Bud 174 182 216

ADF 28.1

NDF NDFd CP GDD 28.1 53.7 24.4

Notes

Tony Fisher - Meeker - Forest City Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/19 17.5 Veg 227 5/22 17.5 1.5 215 5/26 23 Bud 186

ADF 21.7 25.6 28.7

NDF NDFd CP GDD 27.1 55.9 23.1 31.1 50.5 20.5 37 52.1 20

Notes

RFV 247 206 167

269

RFQ 287 230 195

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Poppler - Wright - Howard Lake Date Height Mat 5/18 21 Veg 5/21 25 ? 5/26 26 Veg

PEAQ RFV 210 190 185

RFV 224 214 182

RFQ 264 242 218

ADF 24.3 24.7 27.6

NDF NDFd CP GDD 29.1 55.3 27.3 30.2 54.0 25.1 34.5 55.6 25.2

Notes

Krause - Wright Co - west of Buffalo Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/18 18.5 Veg 220 5/26 23.5 Bud 180

RFV 213 187

RFQ 251 226

ADF 22.0 24.3

NDF NDFd CP GDD 31.4 65 30.4 34.9 66 29.8

Notes

Gathje - Stearns Co- northeast of Eden Valley Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/18 17-18 Veg 215 5/21 20.5 Veg 208 5/26 26 V/B 180

RFV 225 208 186

RFQ 245 237 210

ADF 22.9 23.4 24.1

NDF NDFd CP GDD 29.4 57 30.8 31.7 61 28.7 35 61 28.9

Notes

Maus - Stearns Co - south of Freeport Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/18 17 Veg 230 5/21 18 Veg 224 5/26 20.5 Veg 208

RFV 251 227 201

RFQ

NDF NDFd CP GDD 26.3 26.9 29.7 57 26.7 32.5 59 27.6

Notes

244 230

ADF 23 21.1 23.7

Frericks - Stearns Co 4 miles - north of Melrose Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/21 16 Veg 237 5/26 20 Veg 211

RFV 247 189

RFQ 260 230

ADF 20.3 23.6

NDF NDFd CP GDD Notes 27.5 56 28.7 2014 Seeding 34.7 34.7 31.1

Schneider - Benton Co - east of Duelm - 2014 seeding Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV RFV 5/18 19 Veg 217 197 5/21 21 Veg 209 184 5/26 24 Bud 182 182

RFQ 218 202 212

ADF 26.5 26.9 27.2

NDF NDFd CP GDD 32.2 50 24.6 34.1 47.9 21.1 34.6 53.3 24.2

Schneider - Benton Co - Shorter areas of field - 2014 seeding - EXTRA Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV RFV RFQ ADF NDF NDFd CP GDD 5/21 15 Veg 245 202 227 25.4 31.9 50.5 21.8 5/26 19 1.7 214 173 189 28.9 35.7 35.7 22

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Notes

Notes

D Scapanski - Benton Co - Northeast of Sauk Rapids - 2011 Seeding Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV RFV RFQ ADF 5/18 15.5 Veg 240 238 268 22.5 5/21 14-16 Veg 240 222 247 23.9 5/26 21 1.7 202 178 191 27.8

NDF NDFd CP GDD 27.9 55.8 29.6 29.4 50.2 24.5 35.2 47 23.3

O & S Dairy - Benton Co - East of Rice 5/18 13 Veg 240+ 5/21 15 Veg 245 5/26 20.5 1.8 210

238 208

278 239

22.6 25.1

27.8 31.0

Roerick - Morrison Co - southwest of Upsala Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/19 18 Veg 224 5/21 19 Veg 219

RFV 213 222

RFQ 258 269

ADF 22.4 23.2

NDF NDFd CP GDD Notes 31.3 69 32.1 2014 Seeding 29.6 65 31.5

Sponsors and Cooperating Agri-Businesses Total Agri-Business Services - Jim Kastanek Feedstuff Bagging - Dennis Yager Byron Seeds - Rick Tamm Nelson Dairy Consultants KASM 1150 AM Albany Stearns County DHIA LAB I will add to this list as I learn of other sponsors

57.1 52.9

Notes

25.7 26.9

Vita Plus, Barry Visser and Jack Hales United Farmers Cooperative at Waconia Rich Shug & Bob Nelson Ag Star Financial Services KLTF 960 AM Little Falls Dairyland Lab at Sauk Rapids

Extension Educators Abby Neu, Carver / Scott Counties 952-466-5300 [email protected] Nathan Winter, McLeod / Meeker Counties 320-484-4334 [email protected] Dan Martens, Stearns / Benton / Morrison Counties 968-6450 or 1-800-964-4929 [email protected] Notes and Observations on Following Pages

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NOTES POTENTIAL WEATHER EFFECTS Typically cool weather results in Lower Fiber, Higher Digestibility, Lower Crude Protein. Cloudy weather may result in More Fiber and Lower Digestibility. Wet weather may result in Higher Leaf to Stem Ration and Lower Fiber accordinly. So you can think about the results of different combinations of these. It's not always a clear conclusion. Some Feed Reps tell me 1st cutting usuallyhas better fiber digestibility because it usually grows under cooler weather conditions. WINTER INJURY is SERIOUS through Stearns, Benton, Morrison, and Todd Counties and to the west and northwest. Some estimates are that half the crop could have been lost in Stearns, Benton and Morrison Counties. And field remain that are well below normal potential yield. Reports run west to the South Dakota border. Evaluation of alfalfa field will likely continue right through first crop harverst. Some field could show continued deterioration through the season.

5/11 Carver County Cooperators took first samples. From my vantage point a little later and dealing with a lot of winter injury, this is a WAKE UP CALL that where the crop is healthier, the crop is growing right along. Lisa Behnken at the Rochester Regional office reported in an Extension crop's team conference call that there could be hay ready to cut next week sometime in that area. In Stearns, Benton, and Morrison Counties many alfalfa growers are continuing to evaluate winter injury related to field decisions. 5/18 Some lab reports show RFQ running significantly above RFV. This could be logical with cool growing conditions. If the trend over 3-4 samples stays like that, it could be OK to let the crop stand a little longer if RFQ feed quality targets are still on track for the feed you need. Weather and soil conditions in the field usually very significant in making harvest decisions. FROST? There are predictions for frost overnight into Tuesday Morning May 19. Do an internet search for Minnesota Crop News to read an article about the effects of frost related to corn. Worse case for corn this time of year is if the plant buggy whips (twists up and droops over) so it is difficult for new growth to push through damaged plant material. UWEX Forage Specialist Dan Undersander wrote in 2012 that temperatures in the 25-30 degree range might cause some leaf damage but would not stop growth. Leaf edges could be blackened. The temperature would have to drop to 24 degrees for four or more hours to freeze alfalfa top growth. For all crops the evidence of frost damage will show within a couple days, and several days of warmer weather should show evidence of new growth if damage is not severe. From what I saw in April 2012, you might see alfalfa stems droop over, but if discolored tissue damage doesn't show up, it should straighten up and continue growing. HARVEST? Some fields are moving into 22 to 24 inches tall and starting to show buds. Where there are three test dates, consider trends and confidence in numbers compared to your past experience, feed needs and goals, field conditions, and gut sense of what makes sense to be doing. Remember, getting hay and haylage up in good physical condition is just as important as trying to catch it at the righ feed quality level - fast drying is good, baling-bagging-chopping-wrapping as baleage at the right moisture, getting it off field and into storage quickly, good haylage packing, a quality haylage inoculant. Talk to neighbors or custom operators about options you might be able to use. Farmers do their

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5/21 NOTES Thursday Evening part of the data is back, will get more tomorrow. Most field are probably asking for some growing degree days. Got another call today a alfalfa field the farmer will likely give up on. I believe there are some article posted yet on the "MN Exetension Dairy" and "Minnesota Extension Forage" websites offering discussion and information related to crop options. You can do an Internet search for each of these, or give the Extension office a call if you like information to consider. Again, a core question seems to be what option makes better use of acres to provide useful feed as you consider feeding strategies for the next year? Your past experience with crops and livestock are significant. Work closely with your livestock nutrition rep. 5/22 Notes It looks like the crop might be starting to bud at a shorter height than usual. It might be that some stems are ahead of other in some fields. If some growth buds on the crown were killed last fall, the crown may have started new buds this spring. Then some stems would be ahead of others. If Lab test RFV runs consistently higher than PEAQ stick estimate, it might be that cooler growing conditions reduced fiber content. Sometimes this occurs if cooler weather shortened the stem length between leaf connections so leaf to stem ratio would be higher. That could be part of buds starting at a shorter height. We coul d look for data about variations in internode lenght. That was a physical characteristic that was studied in an attempt to develop a field measurement PEAQ process. It was found to be pretty labor intensive. If RFQ runs consistently higher than RFV, that might also be a clue that fiber digestibility is better than normal and hay might feed better than RFV would indicate. Sampling variability is also possible. 5/26 NOTES More rain across the area over the weekend. More of the crop is moving to a point where the message for "Milk Cow Quality" hay could be - When ever fields are dry enough and the weather clears long enough to harvest, the crop is pretty much ready to go. Again at this point, getting the hay put up in good physical condition counts a lot, correct moisture, proper bacterial inculant to speed fermentation, chopping at correct moisture, good packing in bags, bunkers and piles, baleage for some .... counts a lot for keeping as much quality as possible and making a consistent and palatable fed. ...and SAFETY for the people doing the work. It is likely more decisions will be made about whether to keep winter injured fields. An NDSU study showed that 20 healty stems per square foot could yield 3 to 3.5 tons per acre through the season. Past experience counts. Slicing stems lengthwise offers some clues about interior health of roots. Healthy roots could produce more stems for the next cutting than the first, if winter conditions killed some of the buds that had started last fall to reduce stem count. It's difficult to look at it and tell. 5/27 Update Notes Krause, Hoen and Dreier lab reports came today. The Hoen and Dreier reports came labeld only as Carver County Cologne. I guessed Hoen's to be the taller sample based on previous test comparisons. I'll try to confirm that.

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