Good morning! The team has spent the last two days gathering alfalfa heights around the region to give information about targeting first cutting. See the attached report for fields in Broome, Chemung, Cortland, Onondaga, Tioga, and Tompkins counties.

Comments from Janice Degni, SCNY Field Crop Specialist:
"We've accumulated 137 growing degree days (base 50) (GDDs) since April 1, measured at the Freeville Weather Station. Chemung and Onondaga counties are likely be a little higher than that. During the month of April we accumulated a whopping 9 GDDs and 128 GDDs through May 15. Alfalfa and grasses and growing well. We had from 4 to 8 inches of growth in the past week around the region. Heavier soils that are holding moisture are growing slower. Some orchard grass plants were in the early heading stage while most of the plants were approaching boot. It won't be long until they are heading. Most fields have hit the 14" trigger for harvesting clear grass with high quality. It's time to get out and check your fields. Orchard grass will be the first to mature. Other species may be a week behind."


An overall assessment of first cutting growth from fields we measured:
Now is the time to cut Pure Grass fields across the region for peak dairy quality forage. Some higher elevations are just at that point, some fields in lower elevations and those in the southern portion of the region are just past that point. Weather forecast looks like rain over the weekend. If you have pure grass stands to harvest for your lactating cows, now is the time to park the corn planter and focus on quality hay crop. For 50/50 mixed stands, recommendations are looking like middle of next week for peak quality. Pure alfalfa stands we still have time - predictions are out to the end of the month at this point for peak quality. Please feel free to share samples you have analyzed with the team to let us know how predictions match up with reality.

Alfalfa height has been proven to be a reliable indicator of NDF values in the field for alfalfa, alfalfa/grass mixed and all grass stands. Results will be compiled and posted/sent out on a weekly basis. To receive weekly email/text updates, please contact us at 607.391.2673 with your preference of email or cell phone number and mobile carrier. The email will contain the report as an attachment, the text update will contain a link to view the report on our website. To be removed from this list, email Betsy at bjh246@cornell.edu.

The numbers that are indicators for using alfalfa heights for NDF content are as follows:
• 100% grass stands should be cut when nearby alfalfa is 14 inches tall, to achieve 50% NDF
• 50/50 mixed alfalfa/grass stands should be cut when nearby alfalfa is 22 inches tall, to achieve 44% NDF
• 100% alfalfa stands should be cut when alfalfa is 28 inches tall, to 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.
Predictions 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.
The weekly email will have a table of the locations around the region where we have measured the alfalfa height, as well as the elevation, and target date for harvest. Even if your fields aren't measured, you can use the location and elevation as a guide to conditions that may be similar to your own.

• alfalfa heights for Broome, Cortland, Chemung, Onondaga, Tioga and Tompkins Counties