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Sauk Rapids Herald | Saturday, April 16, 2022
Alfalfa Harvest Alert Program 2022 Planting season is around the corner, and field conditions need to be monitored to ensure timely planting. Last year, we managed to be in fields by the last part of April. So far this year, we still have standing UNIVERSITY OF water throughout a good MN EXTENSION part of the tri-county NATHAN DREWITZ area. This may delay planting into May and with that comes the potential to coincide with alfalfa harvest. To help with this issue, the University of Minnesota Extension is working with the Central Minnesota Forage Council, agribusiness sponsors and farmers on the Alfalfa Harvest Alert Project again this year. This project is in its 26th year. For this project, we monitor alfalfa conditions throughout Minnesota to help farmers stay on top of their alfalfa fields related to their feed needs, personal experience and alfalfa conditions. The Alfalfa Harvest Alert Project kicks off when alfalfa reaches 14-16 inches tall. Project cooperators will sample fields Monday and Thursday mornings. Generally, when alfalfa gets around 24 inches tall, we can expect budding. The bud stage is usually when forage quality is in the range for better quality dairy hay and harvest takes place. Last year, alfalfa sample collection started May 4 and ended June 1. Clipped samples are tested to determine relative feed quality, relative feed value, neutral detergent fiber and other alfalfa quality factors related to harvest decisions. Quality and maturity will also be estimated through an equation called the predictive equation for alfalfa quality relative feed value. This process uses the stage of maturity and height of the tallest stems to estimate RFV and NDF.
PHOTOS BY MARY BARRON-TRAUT TTR RAU AUT A U
Katie Kirkeby uses a blending board (left) and a drop spindle (right) while hiille at at her home in rural Gilman. Kirkeby spins fiber from her English Angora rabbits. bittss..
English Angoras
on Graceful Days Farm Kirkeby spins rabbit fiber BY MARY BARRON-TRAUT | STAFF WRITER Peter Cottontail will definitely be hopping down the bunny trail to pay a visit to his friends at Graceful Days Farm in rural Gilman. Graceful Days Farm is the home to Katie Kirkeby, her family and a menagerie of animals, including a family of English Angora rabbits – Mr. Joy, Eden and three kits.
Rubes Sponsored by Fluegge’s Ag
Alfalfa page 3C
PHOTO SUBMITTED TED
An English Angora gora rabbit, Mr. Joy, y, sits after fibers have ave been harvested. ed. Rabbits of this breed can yield nearly ly 1 pound of fiber in a year.
Kirkeby page 2C
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