Oklahoma Alfalfa
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station

EARLY FIRST CUTTINGS HAVE BENEFITS

We have been told for years to not cut alfalfa until it reaches 10% bloom. This is a good rule but not always essential to follow. A good healthy stand of alfalfa can be cut 7-10 days before it reaches 10% bloom. Healthy stands can be cut without drastic ill effects when only a few stem terminals have flower buds.  

Cutting an alfalfa stand a few days early this spring may have some big benefits -- either from taking advantage of a break in the weather or because alfalfa weevils are building up. With the lack of warm weather so far this year, it is certain alfalfa weevils will not come early. It may be late enough that alfalfa producers can just take the first cutting instead of spraying.  

If storm fronts begin moving through, as normally happens during late April and early May, getting alfalfa out of the field during a short break in the weather may have real advantages.  

In addition to avoiding an insecticide application, early-cut hay is higher quality. If it is ready to sell a few days before others have cut, and the quality is high, the price may be surprisingly good.  

Another reason for harvesting a little early is weed control. If you can bale up weeds before seeds mature and fall to the ground, there may be fewer the next year. Weeds, too, have higher feed quality when harvested early.  

If the first cutting is taken off early, the stand should be managed as closely as possible to a normal schedule during the rest of the summer. One early cutting is not going to harm a healthy alfalfa stand.  

Weak alfalfa stands, grown on soils with inadequate fertility, low pH, or a poor variety, will be hurt worse by harvesting early than healthy stands. Cutting weak stands early may result in a drastic stand reduction.  

Generally, a good target for first cutting in Oklahoma is the first of May. A week earlier in the south and a week later in the north is normal. Cuttings during late May are generally too late and result in poor hay quality. Late cuttings frequently result in very big windrows that are hard to dry.