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First alfalfa harvest of 2018 challenging for Minnesota farmers

The first cutting of alfalfa has been a challenge for growers in southern Minnesota.

University of Minnesota forage specialist Scott Wells says wet weather is responsible for a myriad of problems.

“We’ve had some lodging issues.  We’ve also had issues with leaf hopper (and) some isolated issues with alfalfa weevil as well because we’ve been pushed out of the field.  And that is a real issue (for) getting into our second cuts on time.”

He tells Brownfield hay quality has been compromised by the delays.

Wells says spring alfalfa seeding was also a struggle.

“We didn’t get the rain we needed early on, and those stands are not looking great.  So it’s been a tough year.  We also came out of a rough winter, so many of our stands were already under stress.  Now we’re putting even more stress on them because of the rain.  And we’re not able to get into the field.”

The USDA says the first cutting of alfalfa hay in Minnesota is 83 percent complete as of Sunday, more than a week behind last year’s pace.