Alfalfa Harvest Alert June 1, 2015 Two new reports were received on June 1: From Thursday May 28 at Dan and Sarah Roerick’s southwest of Upsala 26 inches, Bud stage now, PEAQ stick estimated RFV 172, Lab RFV 190, RFQ 226. From Monday June 1 Rickeman’s near Hutchinson, Scapanski’s northeast of Sauk, and O&S dairy east of Rice were busy cutting over the weekend; and I’d guess some others were as well. Farmers are in the best position to know what their fields are like in terms of growth and maturity, soil conditions, feed needs and goals; and their hunch about the weather. From Monday June 1 East of Duelm in Benton County: BEST PART of the field measured tallest stems 29 inches, bud stage, PEAQ stick 160, lab test RFV at 173 and RFQ at 188. With a cooler spring, we might expect lab tests to run a little better than PEAQ stick estimates. COMPOSITE SAMPLE, 10 clippings at about 75 foot intervals All in the bud stage, ranging from 17 to 26 inches, averaging 22.6, with average PEAQ stick estimate at 188, Lab test RFV 181 and RFQ at 186. That’s quite similar to the best part of fields. SHORTES PATCHES in the field Bud stage, 17 inches, PEAQ stick estimate RFV 218, Lab test RFV 165 and RFQ at 173. That compares with 181 and 192 last Thursday, so in a reasonable trend range. PEAQ estimate noticeably higher now than lab tests. This could indicate that the shorter plants are maturing NEARLY on track with the rest of the field, even though a lot shorter. AFTER HAY IS HARVESTED… WATCH HOW REGROWTH PROGRESSES. Traditionally we watch for indications of insect problems like alfalfa weevil larva, potato leafhopper, armyworms, and cutworms that could be eating off new growth. For insect concerns, it’s a bad deal to put pesticides on the land without identifying the presence of a pest that meets threshold guidelines – bad for the bank account, bad for the environment, bad for managing resistance issues. This year we add to that - watching some fields for recovery from winter injury. We should have ample moisture to expect alfalfa to show some new growth fairly soon. THANKYOU, cooperating farmers - Carver County: Larry Dreier, Lenny Hoen, Mike Kreinke; McLeod County: Craig Kreinke, Scott Rickeman; Meeker County: Tony Fisher; Wright County: Harlan Poppler, Warren & Charles Krause; Stearns County Scott Gathje, Darrell Maus; Vern Frericks; Benton County: Mike Schneider, Scapanski Farms, O & S Dairy; Morrison County: Dan & Sarah Roerick THANKYOU, cooperating ag businesses and sponsors: Total Agri-Business Services-Jim Kastanek Feedstuff Bagging-Dennis Yager Nelson Dairy Consultants-Greg Lefebvre VitaPlus-Barry Visser United Farmer’s Cooperative at Waconia - Rich Shug & Bob Nelson.

Byron Seeds-Rick Tamm Ag Star Financial Services

Thanks also to KASM & KLTF Radio, Stearns DHIA Lab and Dairyland Labs, Extension Colleagues Nathan Winter and Abby Neu Central MN Forage Council and Board (Affiliate of Midwest Forage Association) Bob Yurczyk – President Dan Martens – Secretary

Dave Feldeverd – Vice President Bill Brauen – Director

Greg Lefebvre – Treasurer Rick Gilbertson - Director