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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

What would you do? Alfalfa cutting schedule

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Joe in IN

08-13-2006 07:51:05




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Field: 75% alfalfa 25% Orchard grass.
Last Cut: July 21 (Lost cutting due to rain and resulting heat and humidity)
Bales: Horse quality small square for sale, anything else is (next to)worthless to me.
Location: West lafayette In, 9/15 is supposed last time to cutt alfalfa, though most people can push until 9/22.

I need the bales so I want to bale twice. Next window opens Tuesday and would be 25 days since last cutting. This would allow me to let last cutting get to 30 days and maybe more if I waited until 9/22.

Or should I wait until next week to cut and pray I can hit the 30 day mark perfectly two times in a row. With the possibility that I would cut the last cutting at 25 days(only if long range forecast looked bad, again I need the bales).

Should I cut now even though it may be vegatative(not blooming) so the last cut can get to bloom, or wait on this and try to hit the weather perfect(yeah right)? I really need two more cuttings.....

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IH 1466

08-14-2006 18:55:53




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 Re: What would you do? Alfalfa cutting schedule in reply to Joe in IN, 08-13-2006 07:51:05  
Hi Joe,

If I am within a week of 30 days with an open window I cut. I am in mid-north Indiana as well. I am around 35 days and I am cutting tomorrow. I noticed with the hot humid weather we have had at the end of July the hay was maturing fast and with the regular rain growth hasn't been a problem. I would rather cut a little early instead of risking getting it wet and at 25 days that isn't all that early. Good Luck!

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sd pete

08-13-2006 18:22:20




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 Re: What would you do? Alfalfa cutting schedule in reply to Joe in IN, 08-13-2006 07:51:05  
For best quality alfalfa should be cut every 28 days. Hard to follow tho.



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jossette

08-13-2006 15:05:12




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 Re: What would you do? Alfalfa cutting schedule in reply to Joe in IN, 08-13-2006 07:51:05  
we usually wait until the first frost to cut the last one. Takes longer to dry but the first cutting next year will be early and thick. If it blooms before then, just cut it and it will be fine. A little bit of rain is not the end of the world. We had 2 inches of rain on 100% alfalpha and it is just fine. Horses are eating whats left it today and it was dry down to the last leaf. Patients is all it takes in haying..

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bgoathill

08-13-2006 10:16:24




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 Re: What would you do? Alfalfa cutting schedule in reply to Joe in IN, 08-13-2006 07:51:05  
I would just mow it and hope for the best. You can't trust any weather forcast more than six hours out any more. Never fails I check the forcast before I head out to cut hay and it's all clear then when I get home and check again it's changed. I don't have a schedule, just try to cut when the first bloom shows. With all the rain this year I could get five cuttings but that will be pushing pretty late. I have hay ready to cut right now but they have been saying one to two inches of rain tonight for the past several days so I am on hold. Probably won't get a drop though!

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