Forage Quality
Knowing when to start first cutting haycrop can be a challenge. Harvest can not be tied to a particular calendar date but instead is dependent on heat and soil moisture. Alfalfa height has proven to be the best indicator of alfalfa and grass quality in the field and can give producers a heads up as to when to harvest.To give producers some idea of when to start harvesting first cutting, the CNY Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Team staff measures alfalfa height on over 55 fields across the eight counties. Those locations were chosen to reflect the diversity of heat, elevation, and soil moisture found in our area.
FORAGE QUALITY CATEGORIES
1st Cutting Forage Quality Update ~ May 24, 2021
Erik Smith, Area Field Crop Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
1st Cutting Forage Quality Update ~ May 17, 2021
Erik Smith, Area Field Crop Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
1st Cutting Forage Quality Update ~ May 10, 2021
Erik Smith, Area Field Crop Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
1st Cutting Forage Quality Update ~ May 3, 2021
Erik Smith, Area Field Crop Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
1st Cutting Forage Quality Update ~ April 26, 2021
Erik Smith, Area Field Crop Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
1st Cutting Forage Quality Update ~ May 26, 2020
Kevin Ganoe, Area Field Crop Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
1st Quality Forage Quality Update ~ May 19, 2020
Kevin Ganoe, Area Field Crop Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
1st Cutting Forage Quality Update ~ May 12, 2020
Kevin Ganoe, Area Field Crop Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
This is our second week of monitoring 1st cutting for quality in 2020. If you are not familiar with our procedures we use alfalfa height to predict Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) for alfalfa, alfalfa/grass mixed and grass stands. Alfalfa height has proven to be a reliable indicator of NDF values in the field.
1st Cutting Forage Quality Update ~ May 5, 2020
Kevin Ganoe, Area Field Crop Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
This is our first week of monitoring 1st cutting for quality in 2020. If you are not familiar with our procedures we use alfalfa height to predict Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) for alfalfa, alfalfa/grass mixed and grass stands. Alfalfa height has proven to be a reliable indicator of NDF values in the field.
First Cutting Monitoring-April 28, 2020
Kevin Ganoe, Area Field Crop Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
On April 28, 2020 we began our monitoring of 1st cutting for quality this year. If you are not familiar with our procedures we use alfalfa height to predict Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) for alfalfa, alfalfa/grass mixed and grass stands. Alfalfa height has proven to be a reliable indicator of NDF values in the field.
1st Cutting Forage Quality Update ~ May 28, 2019
Kevin Ganoe, Area Field Crop Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
This is our fifth and final week of monitoring 1st cutting for quality in 2019. If you are not familiar with our procedures we use alfalfa height to predict Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) for alfalfa, alfalfa/grass mixed and grass stands. Alfalfa height has proven to be a reliable indicator of NDF values in the field.
1st Cutting Forage Quality Update ~ May 21, 2019
Kevin Ganoe, Area Field Crop Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
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See the Livestock Program Work Team website for news, upcoming programs, and NYS Slaughterhouse Map.Updated Meeting Guidelines
Effective June 1, 2021, the size limit for outdoor field meetings (including open-air, well ventilated barns) may be held up to 500 participants.Effective June 11, 2021, the size limit for indoor meetings may be held up to 250 participants. If the indoor event is held at a business, the business may implement other requirements for participants in accordance with NYS and CDC guidelines, which may include requiring proof of vaccination, separate individuals and designate part of the establishment based on vaccination status, and require masks/social distance for all patrons or just those unvaccinated.
For both types of meetings, masks are only required for unvaccinated attendees and they also need to maintain 6' social distance during the event. Vaccination status is based on self-reporting. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available for participants. The NYS, CDC, and Cornell University guidelines will be monitored and we will adjust meeting guidance accordingly.