First Cutting Monitoring – May 25th, 2021 SCNY Report

This is the SCNY Team’s fourth and final week of monitoring alfalfa heights for first cutting quality in 2021.  A full report for the six-county region can be found in the following link:  Alfalfa Height Reporting Sheet 5.25.2021

It’s Time to Finish Up!

Across our 6-county region, pretty much every location has arrived at and many surpassed our 28″ height of alfalfa for harvesting pure alfalfa fields.  On our travels, we saw lots of fields being knocked down, merged and chopped across the region.

On average, fields gained ~7″ in the past week, and many were already mowed by the time we arrived to check on Tuesday.  Cortland and western Onondaga fields especially played catch up, and we measured a whopping 9″ of growth on average since last week.

As a reminder, for prediction of NDF content, the height of alfalfa as an indicator is as follows:

• 100% grass stands – cut when nearby alfalfa is 14 inches tall (achieves 50% NDF)
• 50/50 grass/alfalfa stands – cut when nearby alfalfa is 22 inches tall (achieves 44% NDF)
• 100% alfalfa stands – cut when alfalfa is 28 inches tall (achieve 40% NDF)

Predicted days to cut are based on daily NDF increases for grasses of 1.0% point, 50/50 mixed alfalfa/grass stands of 0.8% points, and alfalfa of 0.5% points and are adjusted for the coming week’s weather.  Typically NDF increases about 0.8 to 1.2 per day for grasses, with cooler weather being the lower end of the range and warmer weather being the higher end.  For alfalfa, NDF increases about 0.4 to 0.7 per day, also dependent upon warm/cool weather.

Growing Degree Days

Going along with the height gains we measured, the Climate Smart Farming Tool showed impressive GDD gains in the last week.  Prior to this past week, most weeks through May showed on average 100-140 GDD (b32) but this week, all locations averaged saw over 200 GDD.  McGraw showed the least at 224, and Jordan the most at 287. Mean 238/median 235.  Noticeable through many fields, orchard grass is headed out, even in those locations with lesser cumulative GDD. Fescue in locations is behind that, but maturing rapidly through this heat we’re experiencing.

Our Last Look at Lansing

Lansing trended closer to 15- and 30- year averaged GDD in the past week, but it again looks like a forecasted upswing in gaining heat.  Conversations with farmers across the region is revealing that corn is coming out of the ground really rapidly, so our soil temperatures are high.  It’s really important to get forage harvested right now and park the corn planter if you need to.  Corn will catch up – hay crop will mature far more rapidly right now.

Thank you and Safe Harvest!

The team would again like to thank all farmers who let us measure their fields this year, and I’d like to again thank my team of educators who helped gather heights this May!  I welcome any comments or thoughts for improvement for next year.  Until then, safe harvest, and we look forward to seeing many of you in person this summer!