Harvest decisions dictate alfalfa's value, fate

摘要

Site selection, good soil fertility, and a forgiving growing season are important, but nothing can affect alfalfaquality as much as harvest management. Harvest recommendations have evolved to match growing milk production on today's modern dairy farms. Fifty years ago, a high-producing herd of Holsteins was making about 500 pounds of butterfat. Farmers simply didn't need bud-stage alfalfa to feed cows for this level of production. Cornell University recommendations for alfalfa were to harvest first cut in early bloom, with second and third harvests at 6- to 7-week intervals.