2015 North Country 1st Cutting Alfalfa Quality Monitor June 2

Check your fields!

Notice the differences among these listed fields. Current NNY range is shaded in red on the graph below.

It is important to get out and measure alfalfa heights in your own fields to help judge rate of growth and maturity for best timing of 1st cutting.

Additional resources at: http://www.ccenny.com/index.php/field-crops/crops/first-cutting-harvest-management/

al% NDF

For 1st cutting only

The North Country 1st Cutting Forage Quality MonitoringProgram is made possible by Cornell Cooperative Extension. Data collection by Harry Fefee, Lindsey Pashow, Jonathan Kraus and Dr. Kitty O'Neil. (Format by Joe Lawrence-Lowville Farmer's Co-Op.)

NDF (Neutral Detergent Fiber)is the best predictor of forage quality for lactating dairy cows. NDF content of standing alfalfa and grasses is best predicted by alfalfa height. NDF content of any stand is determined by alfalfa: grass proportions and height.

99% Grass-Goal NDF(on a dry matter basis)is 50%(target range 48-55). Tallest alfalfa height will be 14-16 inches.

100% Alfalfa-Goal NDF is 40%(target range 39-43). Tallest alfalfa height will be 28-30 inches.

Mixed stand-for a 50:50 alfalfa: grass stand,the goal NDF is 43%. Tallest alfalfa height will be 22-23 inches.

Begin harvest early enough so that most of your crop is harvested within the "ideal" range.

Typically NDF increases about 0.5 to 0.7/day for alfalfa was and about 0.8 to 1.2/day for grass.

Expect the lower end of that range in cooler weather and the higher end in warm.

Last updated July 26, 2019