By Scout Nelson
The Alfalfa Harvest Alert Program for 2026 has officially come to an end, marking a successful season for growers. All participating fields completed their harvest by June 1. This year, hay harvest activities were well timed, allowing growers to achieve good forage quality and yield.
Limited rainfall throughout the season helped fields remain accessible, enabling smooth harvesting operations. Crops were mostly cut between early and late bud growth stages, which is considered ideal for maintaining a balance between quality and productivity. In addition, only minor insect activity was observed, which further supported healthy crop conditions.
The main goal of the Alfalfa Harvest Alert Program is to guide growers in deciding the right time to begin the first cut of alfalfa. Instead of focusing on a fixed harvest date, the program encourages growers to plan their harvest based on crop conditions and individual needs. This approach helps farmers better manage their time while handling multiple crop responsibilities.
The program plays an important role in helping growers improve their decision making. By offering timely alerts and crop insights, it supports better planning and improved forage quality outcomes. The program has continued to be a trusted resource for many years and will return again in 2027.
Growers can access the latest harvest data through a detailed PDF report released on June 2. Additionally, a special tool is available that includes data collected from various counties and farms since 1997. This tool now also features data from the University of Wisconsin, making it even more useful. To explore the data, visit here.
As an added benefit this year, data from the University of Wisconsin Madison Extension has also been included. Visit z.umn.edu/AlfalfaHarvestAlert to access the data and sign up here, to receive updates by email by selecting the "Alfalfa Scissor-Cut and Harvest Alert" option.
This program continues to provide valuable support for improving alfalfa harvest practices and ensuring better crop outcomes for the future.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-gabrielabertolini
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, Hay & Forage, Weather