May 16, 2016 Alfalfa Harvest Alert / Scissors-Cut Information 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. "Mat" is Maturity of most mature stem 1=Veg 2=Bud 3=Flower Date Farm County Town Hgt Mat PEAQ RFV RFQ ADF 5/16 Husfeldt Sibley S. of Glencoe 25-26? Veg 184 209 243 24.2 5/16 Dreier 1 Carver Norwood 27 Bud 165 220 24.9 5/16 Dreier 2 Carver Norwood 27 Bud 165 220 24.7 5/16 Dreier 3 Carver Norwood 26 Bud 170 203 25.9 5/16 Hoen Carver Bongard 25.5 Bud 174 205 244 25.6 5/16 Krienke McLeod Lester Prairie 26.5 Bud 175 210 244 23.7 5/16 Rickeman McLeod Hutchinson 22 Veg 197 214 248 24.1 5/16 Poppler Wright Howard Lake 26 Bud 172 226 265 23.4 5/16 Krause Wright W Buffalo 23 Veg 185 207 235 23.6 5/16 Fisher Meeker Forest City 23.4 1.4 189 203 239 24.5 5/16 Gathje Stearns Eden Valley 18 Veg 225 207 231 23.3 5/16 Maus Stearns S Freeport 18 Veg 224 260 287 19.6 5/16 Frericks Stearns N Melrose 19 Veg 220 232 254 20.4 5/12 Middendorf Stearns N Freeport 23 Veg 195 233 23.8 5/16 Winkleman Benton E Duelm 18.7 Veg 221 256 308 20.4 5/16 Scapanski** Benton NE Sauk Rapids 22 Veg 200 225 260 23.3 5/16 O & S Dairy Benton E Rice 18.5 Veg 220 237 283 22.3 5/16 Roerick Morrison SW of Upsala 22 Veg 200 207 245 23.8 ** These are retest numbers, check individual farm info for more detail

Updated May 18

NDF NDFd 31.3 52.1 29.4 29.5 31.4 31.3 54.8 31.2 51.7 30.6 52.2 29.1 54.7 31.8 59 31.9 54.2 31.8 58 26.4 59 29.3 56 28.1 26.4 58.5 29.3 54 28.1 57 31.6 64

CP 23.6 25.5 25.5 22.6 25.0 22.0 24.2 25.6 25.8 24.3 30.3 28.4 23.4 28.5 25 23.2 22.9 31.4

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 a 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. So harvest might start when fresh-cut sample 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 the as-fed feed. Harvest might start when the fresh-cut samples of PEAQ NDF is 3-6 points lower than the feed targets. When the alfalfa 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 opportunity 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 to talk with a nutrition advisor about harvet targets and strategies. As the new crop grows, we expect old crop residue to be a smaller share of the sample, and less significant. There is seldom a reason to remove old crop residue in the spring. Weeds can be an issue too. Grass will raise NDF numbers and lower RFV numbers usually. Grass NDF is usually more digestible, so an alfalfa grass mix can run a little higer NDF and still feed as well as pure alfalfa. Jerry Cherney at Cornell wrote an article about this that would be useful to people seeding alfalfa grass mixtures.

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Husfeldt- Sibley Co. South of Glencoe Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/12 24 Veg 187 5/16 25-26? Veg 184

RFV 190 209

RFQ 209 243

ADF 26.6 24.2

NDF NDFd CP GDD 33.3 47.5 23.7 31.3 52.1 23.6

Notes

Dreier 1- Carver Co - Norwood Date Height Mat 5/2 15 Veg 5/5 18 Veg 5/9 22 Veg 5/12 25 Veg 5/16 27 Bud

PEAQ RFV 255 225 200 185 165

RFV 306 260 229 189 220

RFQ

ADF 18.9 22.7 24.8 28.1 24.9

NDF NDFd CP GDD 22.5 29.9 25.5 30 28.3 26.7 33 50.1 26.3 29.4 25.5

Notes

Dreier 2- Carver Co - Norwood Date Height Mat 5/2 15 Veg 5/5 17 Veg 5/9 21 Veg 5/12 24 Veg 5/16 27 Bud

PEAQ RFV 255 230 205 190 165

RFV 322 248 239 174 220

RFQ

ADF 18.6 23.4 23.3 29.4 24.7

NDF NDFd CP GDD 21.5 31.6 26.5 28.6 27.5 26.8 35.3 51.6 28 29.5 25.5

Notes

Dreier 3- Carver Co - Norwood Date Height Mat 5/2 15 Veg 5/5 18 Veg 5/9 21 Veg 5/12 24 Veg 5/16 26 Bud

PEAQ RFV 255 225 205 190 170

RFV 323 261 200 184 203

RFQ

ADF 18 22.1 26.6 28.6 25.9

NDF NDFd CP GDD 21.5 30.1 25.5 30 31.7 24.7 32.6 51.7 27.3 31.4 22.6

Notes

Hoen - Carver Co - Bongard Date Height Mat 5/5 18 Veg 5/9 22 Veg 5/12 25 Veg 5/16 25.5 Bud

PEAQ RFV 225 200 185 174

RFV 238 219 189 205

RFQ

NDF NDFd CP GDD 27.3 29.1 29.9 26.3 32.8 25.6 31.3 54.8 25.0

Notes

244

ADF 24.4 24.1 28.5 25.6

Krienke - McLeod - Near Lester Prairie Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/5 17 Veg 235 5/9 21 Veg 205 5/12 24.5 Veg 195 5/16 26.5 Bud 175

RFV 276 213 198 210

RFQ 326 250 230 244

ADF 19.0 24.0 25.7 23.7

NDF NDFd CP GDD 25.0 56.0 25.0 30.6 52.8 23.7 32.4 49.7 23.4 31.2 51.7 22.0

213

203

214

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Below

Notes

Rickeman - McLeod - South of Hutchinson Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/9 20.5 Veg 208 5/12 22.2 Veg 199 5/16 22 Veg 197

RFV 236 227 214

RFQ

Poppler - Wright - Howard Lake Date Height Mat 5/5 17.5 Veg 5/9 20.5 Veg 5/12 24.5 1.1 5/16 26 Bud

PEAQ RFV 235 203 195 172

NDF NDFd CP GDD 28.1 28.2 28.9 48.2 26.5 30.6 52.2 24.2

Notes

248 248

ADF 22.6 23.7 24.1

RFV 337 249 215 226

RFQ 407 284 251 265

ADF 17.0 21.8 28.9 23.4

NDF NDFd CP GDD 21.0 64.6 30.0 26.8 56.4 26.2 30.1 48.2 26.5 29.1 54.7 25.6

Notes

Krause - Wright Co - west of Buffalo Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/12 19-20 Veg 218 5/16 23 Veg 185

RFV 205 207

RFQ 227 235

ADF 23.4 23.6

NDF NDFd CP GDD 32.1 57 27.9 31.8 59 25.8

Notes

Fisher - Meeker Co - north of Forest City Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/12 23 Veg 195 5/16 23.4 40%Bud 189

RFV 218 203

RFQ 245 239

ADF 24.5 24.5

NDF NDFd CP GDD 29.8 51 24.6 31.9 54.2 24.3

Notes

Gathje - Stearns Co- northeast of Eden Valley Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/9 17 Veg 230 5/12 18 Veg 225 5/16 18 Veg 225

RFV 184 174 207

RFQ 200 191 231

ADF 24.7 26.0 23.3

NDF NDFd CP GDD 35.2 61 31.8 36.6 61 29.5 31.8 58 30.3

Notes

Maus - Stearns Co - south of Freeport Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/12 16.5 Veg 237 5/16 18 Veg 224

RFV 241 260

RFQ 271 287

ADF 20.6 19.6

NDF NDFd CP GDD 28.2 62 31.2 26.4 59 28.4

Notes

Frericks - Stearns Co 4 miles - north of Melrose Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/12 16.5 Veg 237 5/16 19 Veg 220 5/18 20 Veg 211

RFV 204 232 243

RFQ 239 254 271

ADF 21.8 20.4 21.6

NDF NDFd CP GDD 32.8 65 31.1 29.3 56 23.4 27.6 27.6 28.7

Notes

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Middendorf - Stearns - north of Freeport Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/12 23 Veg 194

Winkelman - Benton Co - east of Duelm Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/5 13 Veg >240 5/9 16 Veg 237 5/12 18 Veg 224 5/16 18.7 Veg 221

RFV 233

RFQ

RFV RFQ No Lab Sample 256 318 205 237 256 308

ADF 23.8

NDF NDFd CP GDD 28.1 28.5

Notes

ADF

NDF NDFd

Notes

CP

GDD

20.8 26.3 62.1 26.4 25.3 31.3 51.4 23.5 20.4 26.4 58.5 25.0 * *This test should be more like the May 12 Test

D Scapanski - Benton Co - Northeast of Sauk Rapids Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV RFV RFQ ADF NDF NDFd CP GDD 5/5 14 Veg >240 No Lab Sample 5/9 18.6 Veg 221 242 289 22.6 27.4 59.6 24.0 5/12 21 Veg 205 223 254 24.1 29.3 52.2 24.8 5/16 22 Veg 200 263 313 20.3 25.8 58.7 25.2 5/17* 22 Veg 200 225 260 23.3 29.3 54 23.2 *This is an average of 3 separate samples taken to think about whether 5/16 data means much I conclude that 5/16 results are not reliable, more logical to think the 5/16 should test a lot like 5/12. That's probably true at Winkelman's to, maybe some others. O & S Dairy - Benton Co - East of Rice 5/5 13 Veg 5/9 16 Veg 5/12 18 Veg 5/16 18.5 Veg

>240 237 224 220

Roerick - Morrison Co - southwest of Upsala Date Height Mat PEAQ RFV 5/12 20 Veg 211 5/16 22 Veg 200

No Lab Sample 272 324 20.2 242 272 23 237 283 22.3

RFV 219 207

RFQ 253 245

ADF 22.7 23.8

25.0 27.3 28.1

Notes

58.7 25.7 52.4 26.2 57 22.9

NDF NDFd CP GDD 30.3 62 30.2 31.6 64 31.4

Notes

Sponsors and Cooperating Agri-Businesses (I will add to this list as I learn of other sponsors.) Nelson Dairy Consulting - Greg Lefebvre Vita Plus, Barry Viser United Farmers Cooperative at Waconia Total Ag Business Services - Jim Kastanek Rich Shug & Bob Nelson Feedstuff Bagging - Dennis Yager Ag Venture/FormAFeed at Watkins Helena Chemical KASM 1150 AM Albany KLTF 960 AM Little Falls Stearns County DHIA LAB Dairyland Lab at Sauk Rapids Extension Educators Nathan Winter, McLeod / Meeker Counties 320-484-4334 [email protected] Dan Martens, Stearns / Benton / Morrison Counties 968-5077 or 1-800-964-4929 [email protected] Jason Ertl, Sibley County 507-237-4100 [email protected] Page 4 of 6

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 Ratio and Lower Fiber accordingly. 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 usually has better fiber digestibility because it usually grows under cooler weather conditions. WINTER INJURY - Have not gotten reports of significant winter injury. 5/5 Carver County Cooperators took first samples in field on May 2. Barry Visser shared 2 samples from May 5. I measured fields I sample on May 5, but chose not to clip samples until they are a little taller, maybe May 9, pretty likely by May 12. Very high RFV numbers on three samples might partly be the result of cooler weather conditions that fields are growing with so far.

5/9 We'll see whether weather this week is cool enough to slow growth much. Where the crop is pushing 20 inch tallest stems by the middle of this week, people who like harvesting early bud stage might be taking a close look at the crop, looking ahead to next week. There is noticeable variation across the area as we'd expect with different soils and moving from south to north. For the PEAQ process we measure the height of the tallest stem in a 2-foot square area where we make stops in a field. I might measure the tallest stem at 18 inches, and there could be 12 to 14 inch stems in that area too. This usually becomes more uniform as time goes by. Bob Nelson, sampling at Lenny Hoen's near Bongard, 22 inches on 5/9, expects to see the start of some buds by the end of the week. Variation around the area is a key note...be aware of what YOUR fields are like. I checked a field near Belgrade that was only around 13 inches tall yet on 5/10. 5/12 On some farms RFV RFQ continue to run noticeably higher than PEAQ estimate. Somewhere along the way, maybe over 24 inches or so, people who make higher quality a priority, might take their first confident weather opportunity to harvest, rather than wait and risk getting stuck in the weather later. Your past experience with harvest and feed needs or counseling with your nutritionist is probably better than any guess I could try to make. Some forecast down to 30 degrees Saturday/Sunday morning - should not hurt hay crop. Down to 27-28 degrees, tops might droop over, but should straighten and keep going. At 26-27 could damage growth buds at top of stem. In 28 years, I have not seen top growth bud damage. Wouldn't mind missing that experience. 5/16 Some farms are at the tough point of looking at the weather forecast, height and maturity of their crop, and sampling information, and considering whether they want to cut hay this week. There are several samples where RFV and RFQ lab numbers are higher than last Thursday. If it was just my sample, I'd say I pull bad samples. I'm emailing a couple of MN Extension Colleagues and Dr. Undersander at UWEX to ask if anything happens physiologially with a couple of mornings of frost that would cause an upward bounce. We aren't erasing lignin out of the plant. In the field I'm sampling, I'm not seeing a lot of lush new growth. If YOU have some past experience or knowlege with this, I'd welcome the opportunity to learn. Where there are 2-3 other test days that point a normal trend, probably best to to follow trend.

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I will attach information about three separate samples that took from the Scapanski field on May 17. These average to be more what I think we can expect based on the crop NOT changing much since May 12. Frost Caller: Dad heard on the radio today, "If your hay got frosted, you should get out and cut it." I recommend with frost on any crop, try to be patient for a day or two to get a better handle on what happened. White frost can actually form at even maybe 33 degrees. I saw leaves on a few stems this morning that were turning a dark watery green color. I'm guessing they will be gray or brown in a day or two. But the the top tuft of small young leaves where the growing point is was fine. I think I'd only think about cutting early because of frost if the top 3-4 inches of the plant was really dead so I really knew the top growing point was dead.... AND it was tall enough so I could acutally find something in a swath that was useful to pick up.... AND I knew I could handle some pretty lush "highoctane" hay in a ration without causing more problems.... AND maybe the field had strong growth through the fall season so I knew it put down plenty of root reserves to be able to get up and get going again easily. If the top growing point is really dead, it's possible for new growth to start from lower leaf joint auxillary buds. I don' t know how long it takes to add meaningful yield; or how much yield might be gained. Don't forget your common sense and past experience. I don't have a lot of experience actually making harvest decisions where my living depends on it. You have that experience with your farm, your customers, your nutrition advisor, etc. You might talk with your nutrition advisor about whether they'd be more disappointed workign with something 20 point higher than normal targets or 20 points lower . The weather is really tough to predict or bank on. You can do a website search for "National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center for 6-10 and 914 day forecasts. You might use DTN or another source; and your hunch might be just as good. Some people don't try to dance around the weather too much. See Jeff Coulter's discussion about Frost and Corn at http://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu. Remember, getting hay and haylage up in good physical condition is just as important as trying to catch it at the right 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 best - as much as the weather and field conditions will allow. REDUCING ASH CONTENT OF FORAGE FEED. Some people might find some value in an article posted recently by Wisconsin Extension Forage Specialist Dan Undersander on this topic. "http://fyi.uwex.edu/forage/reducing-ash-in-forage" OR do an Internet Search for "Wisconsin Forage FYI."

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