The weather this week has continued to be wet and miserable. Many fields would normally be cut by now, but wet conditions will not permit it. Essentially no window of opportunity has been available for making dry hay. Haylage harvest has been very slow. Corn continues to be planted as fields dry out just enough. Earliest planted corn is up.

Alfalfa and grasses responded to a bit of sun and warmth this past week, but rain and wet conditions are still the dominant effects. Just 4 of 37 fields monitored have been mowed due to wet conditions Many mostly alfalfa fields were somewhat lodged with recent rains and wind. All grasses are now headed. Fields with 30% grass or more are now at or beyond ideal NDF according to the graph above (above the line). Again, once fields are past their prime, send them to the bottom of the mowing order and prioritize fields where quality is still high. Using this approach, at least some high quality forage will be harvested. Increased prevalence of dandelions in many fields may indicate loss of alfalfa and/or grass plants from the 2016 drought.

Postpone new hay seedings until late summer and prioritize first cutting and corn planting.

Grass fields and winter cereals are likely low quality feed at this point. Be sure to mow at a height of no less than 4" above soil surface and below grass heads.



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