How short to cut alfalfa

jon f mn · Jun 2, 2020

Might cut some new seeding alfalfa tonight. How short do you usually cut it? Does it make a difference if it's first cut or later?

centash · Jun 2, 2020

I'd leave 3 inches or so....too short might damage the crown somewhat, delaying regrowth and allowing weeds to grow. First cut or later would not matter, but up here in Canada, the last cut should leave 4 or 5 inches or allow that much to regrow such that the aftergrowth will catch several inches of snow to insulate the roots. Happy haying!

Ben

David from Kansas · Jun 2, 2020

The tradition here was to cut new alfalfa, first cutting a little higher than normal; maybe two inches or so. But when I was custom swathing, I remember asking a farmer if he wanted it cut a little higher since it was first cutting, he said it didn't make any difference to him.

451 CUBES · Jun 2, 2020

First cut of a new alfalfa seeding I always set the mower conditioner shoes to mow a notch higher. You must have got that in real early and had good growing conditions.

jon f mn · Jun 2, 2020

Was planted last year. We can't really get a cutting the first year.

Roger Tomfohrde · Jun 2, 2020

I know that a lot of people cut real low but we cut 5-6 inch or so , tall enough that the windrow would not push down easily on the stubble, all the time, every crop and cut oftener. Makes for higher quality hay. Really did not want the stems. End up with the same tonnage and I feel it grows back quicker( a sickle type mower is usually faster on regrowth but cannot cover as many acres as fast). One year we compared it to my cousin across the fence line and our hay came out better quality. The other factor was we were not getting as many gopher mounds, we usually cut in the morning when there could be dew on everything so dirt plugs easier. In the days I made hay with the brother and dad we averaged 1000 bales a day and went through 25 bales of twine a season for just hay(about 120 acres of ground). Of course first crop usually went into the stave silos.

Roger Tomfohrde · Jun 2, 2020

Not quite sure by this comment but we have used a cover crop and in the fall of the same year made a cutting if the crop gets to bloom and is heavy enough to make it worth the time. Talking seeding in April-May and late August cutting, just make sure you don't tear the ground up and has to be early enough not to freeze. Also leaving too heavy of a crop to over winter can make the next years crop have to be dragged early to loosen the material on top. If it was seeded last year it should be ready to go. South-east MN.

Leroy · Jun 3, 2020

Jon, I don't know if you have a sical bar mower avaible or not but just look at one and see what max high cut is. Will not be over 3-3.5" and they mowed many a thousand acres of alfalfa so if it could stand being mowed with then no reason at all to try to run a mower-conditioner any higher. Old ways still work and normal cutting height for them was about 2.5".

How short to cut alfalfa

jon f mn

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centash

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David from Kansas

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451 CUBES

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jon f mn

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Roger Tomfohrde

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Roger Tomfohrde

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Leroy

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