FIRST-CUT PROBLEMS

We are faced with similar problems every year -- "When to make the first cutting". When winters are mild, this results in quite a bit of early growth. The early growth maybe frozen back during the March. We know early first cutting can sometimes be used in place of spraying for insects, and sometimes it helps with weed control. We also know May is our highest rainfall month and will have (on the average) about 10 rainy days.  

Frequently Oklahoma alfalfa producers wait too long to start cutting. Quality goes down, and we rut up fields because we have to get out the rotting hay.  

A good rule-of-thumb is, "Aim at the last week in April" for the first cutting. In the southern part of the state, start a week earlier, and in the northern part of the state start about a week later. This rule has to be fine tuned each year, but it will not lead you too far astray. If alfalfa is cut pre-bloom from time to time, the stand will not necessarily be hurt. There are many things that will hurt a stand much worse, such as not controlling insects properly or letting the soil fertility get too low. By starting early, normal delays are not as critical.