5-26-2015 1st cutting update
Kevin Ganoe, Area Field Crop Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
Last Modified: May 27, 2015
Here are numbers that are helpful when using alfalfa and grass height as an indicator of NDF content:
In general we say 100% grass stands should be cut when nearby alfalfa is 14 inches tall to achieve the desired 50% NDF.
Begin cutting 50/50 mixed alfalfa and grass stands when nearby alfalfa is 22 inches tall for the desired 44% NDF.
Begin cutting 100% alfalfa stands when alfalfa is 28 inches tall for the desired 40% NDF.
The desired NDF for all grass fields is 50%, 50/50 mixed alfalfa and grass fields is 44%, and pure alfalfa stands is 40%. Predicted days to cut are based on daily NDF increases for grasses of 1% point, 50/50 mixed stands of .8% points and alfalfa of .5% point. Typically NDF increases about 0.8 to 1.2/day for grasses expecting the lower end of that range in cooler weather and the higher end in warm. Alfalfa NDF increases about 0.4 to 0.7/day again figuring the lower end of that range with cool temperatures and the higher in warm. Predictions are adjusted for the coming week’s weather and right now we are assuming normal growth.
This third and final week of monitoring shows that 37% of all fields are cut. All grass fields should have been cut by now and if they aren’t consider letting grass fields go to harvest later for a lower quality feed to allow time to put in higher quality forage. Most mixed and pure alfalfa stands should be harvested by now so look at your fields and measure your own alfalfa to make management decisions appropriate for your farm. Know your conditions!
Hope this information has been timely and valuable to your operation.
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