alfalfa too late to cut in MI?

MI AC Parsons · Sep 22, 2013

Got a neighbor who wants their alfalfa/ grass cut
and baled. Good stand, just blooming. Isn't this
too late? This is central MI and I thought after a
frost you shouldn't harvest. Supposed to be sunny
for next 6 days...think it will dry out? Your
opinions welcomed. (using orange tractors)

rrlund · Sep 22, 2013

I think you'll be alright. I just finished Wednesday and the forecast this week is a whole lot better than it was last week. I remember one year I finished haying one day and started picking corn the next.

Nick m · Sep 22, 2013

Just mowed 15 acres today. It'll be fine. I baled some a few years ago in october. It's a good idea to have a little regrowth before it stays cold for good. Helps prevent winter kill. We have enough time for it to come back some.

donjr · Sep 22, 2013

Cut it after first frost. The tops will die anyway after that, and the crowns have gotten as much as they can get for the year, and won't die.

onefarmer · Sep 22, 2013

I just mowed some. Hoping for good weather!

Leroy · Sep 22, 2013

Not sure about alfalfa but some grasses you do not harvest or let be grased while the frost is on but after it is gone and dried off then you are safe. The frost on the plant will make a poison so just wait untill the frost is gone before letting cattle have it. Learned to late after cows all got sick. 35 years ago so do not remember all the details.

RayP(MI) · Sep 22, 2013

May take quite a while to get it to dry down enough to be safe to bale. Last field I cut took a week before I was comfortable baling, and I've been done since late August.

JMS/.MN · Sep 22, 2013

If you do get a killing frost, you should cut alfalfa within 1-2 days or the leaves fall off. Otherwise, you need to cut a live crop early enough before a killing frost so that it can recover and build up root reserves.

randallinMo · Sep 23, 2013

Since it is "the neighbor's" and they "want" it done.......go do it.

If it were mine, I'd wait until after frost so as not to deplete the root reserves of critical nutrients needed for winter survival. The first frost is not the most reliable indicator of the last cutting date either. It takes two nights of 27 degrees or lower to effectively shut down the plant. Generally speaking, after this you can cut and harvest the crop without "too much" detrimental effect. There are always exceptions to the rule....some stands survive wonderfully, others.....not so good. What is your average first frost date where you live? If it's within 2 weeks or less, you won't give up much quality by waiting. Weather of course (by then) can be challenging.

It basicly boils down to "do they need the hay"? If yes, then cut it. If "maybe or no"...then don't.

randallinMo · Sep 23, 2013

'Just to add to what JMS/MN said about cutting the crop soon enough to allow for adequate root reserve buildup.........It will take 30-45 days "prior" to the first killing frost date in order to accomplish this.

Royse · Sep 23, 2013

My neighbors mowed theirs today. I'm in Ionia County.

alfalfa too late to cut in MI?

MI AC Parsons

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rrlund

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Nick m

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donjr

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onefarmer

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Leroy

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RayP(MI)

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JMS/.MN

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randallinMo

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randallinMo

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Royse

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