cut or not??

Today
So with this forcast, no blooms on the Alfalfa, would you cut??
Today: Sunny, with a high near 82. West northwest wind between 6 and 10 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. North wind around 7 mph becoming east.

Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Southeast wind between 8 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South southeast wind between 8 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 84. South southeast wind between 8 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Wednesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 81.

Wednesday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.

Thursday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80.

Thursday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.

Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 78.

Partly Cloudy

58 °F
(15 °C) Humidity: 88 %
Wind Speed: W 6 MPH
Barometer: 29.75"
Dewpoint: 55 °F (13 °C)
Visibility: 10.00 mi.
More Local Wx: 3 Day History:

Boy, I don't know a lot about alfalfa, but I do know my grass hay is going to wait another week yet unless the humidity comes down and the sun stays out. I've waited until after July 4th other years to even start cutting grass hay, and I think the same will be happening this year. No rain at all in May and 1st two weeks of June, and now it seems like it wants to rain a heavy shower every afternoon! I just seem to have a difficult time getting the hay dry once it is down and then gets rained on.
Good luck with what ever you decide!

Nope

Old saying that usually holds true: If it rains on Monday then it will rain on 3 days that week. We always waited to cut until Tuesday.
It would help to know where you are located.

That depends....

Do you want to be baling mold or hay?

I wouldn't even consider it. Mature hay is better than no hay with all the expense.

FWIW - I have and do hay cut right before rain as long as it is only a days worth. Trick is it must not be down more than a half day or so. A few years ago 4 days of good weather was few and far between. I would cut right up to a down pour (kept cutting if only a light rain. Then when the skies cleared (usally the next 3 days) I would get it baled up in time. Some, but not really any damage. Limited to the top layer. Tedded after the rains left. Serious damage comes when it has has a day or more of drying and/or extended rain (several days worth) after cut.

BTW - If you don't cut it "will not" rain for a week. If you do it "will" rain for a week. ?????

No bloom? Why risk it? I say no.

Gordo

Damned if you do damned if you don't. Week after next it may rain everyday to then your alfalfa gets stemmy in a hurry. I'am trying to make the same decision myself. I have 120 acres to cut and its in full bloom. Today is clear tommorrow is 50% rain then monday and tuesday is clear then shower chances the rest of week. I guess I'll knock 1/2 down and hope for the best. Lots of hay to be cut here in SE MN yet. Some guys knocked it all down a week ago, its black now. Bad thing is we have had an inch and a half the last week and half but it has all came a tenth a day, very frustrating. Good luck in what you decide.

MnBob, this is just my opinion but I would think your alfalfa would deteriorate less by leaving it alone than cutting it and then being totally dependent on the weather. I always like to allow three or four sunny days to put up my alfalfa. True, you don't always get that but it appears to me if you knock it down you are almost guaranteed to loose a cutting. Also, when it's down you risk damaging the NEXT cutting. I think I would wait. It's hard to do, I know. Mike

unless everything you touch turns to gold and you have a horseshoe up your rear i wouldnt mow it with that forecast.

After a month of straight rain the weather has finally broke here for the next 5 days. I was gonna start mowing today but the fields are still soggy. Checked it this afternoon after 90 degrees and 10-20mph winds and the ground is firming up. Ill mow all day tomorrow and Monday and move like a bat outta He!! Tuesday through Thursday tedding, raking and baling. I hope to get at least 50% of my hay made this week.

I"d go against the grain here- the only serious chance of rain is the 50% one. Cut after that one. 30% is any typical day, the 20s aren"t squat. When I see blooms, I started too late- always shoot for late bud. Also depends how many acres are you talking about. Granted, baling takes more drying time, but I used to keep 120 acres in alfalfa, cut 40 each of three days, chop 40 each day, starting on day 4. That was typical first cutting, first week of June if possible. Six good days and it was in the Harvestore. 2nd and 3rd usually got more stretched out.

South east WI here, I cut 10 acres today. A couple low spots in the field were wet.

The forecast for the nest 5 days is the best Ive seen yet this year. Hot, sunny and a little humid.

Hope it works out.