University of Minnesota Extension is working with Central Minnesota Forage Council, agribusinesses and farmers on the Alfalfa Harvest Alert Project again this year, reports Dan Martens, Extension educator.

Cooperator sites have been arranged in Stearns, Benton, Morrison and Wright counties, while additional sites are being considered in McLeod, Meeker and Carver counties.

Martens says alfalfa growth appears to have come through the winter quite well and growers in central Minnesota are generally impressed with early season growth.

Alfalfa Harvest Alert Project set for central Minnesota

“We normally anticipate harvesting alfalfa for milk cow quality hay by the last week of May,” Martens notes. “That first crop harvest could start a week earlier in some areas this spring if we get back on a warmer weather trend.”

With the harvest alert project, project cooperators will sample fields on Monday and Thursday mornings starting when the crop is 14 to 16 inches tall to establish a trend line. Some project cooperators might be taking their first samples as early as May 9 or 12, he adds.

The Alfalfa Harvest Alert Project information will be shared with KASM 1150 AM and KLTF 960 AM radio in the Stearns-Benton-Morrison County area. Internet users can visit Minnesota Extension Crop News for posted information. Or, check for messages on a voice mail box by calling 1-800-964-4929 and enter 5081 when it answers. If you are making a local call to Foley, dial 968-5077. Other counties might be working with other radio stations and information access points.

Questions? Contact Martens at 1-800-964-4929 or 968-5077.