The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-06-14
Time of Cutting
Alfalfa for Hay
Has Much to Do With Value
of Cured Product as Feed
for Different Animals.

prepared by the United States Dsp4rtmsn
OF Asnoulturs1
II Is probable that alfalfa Is not ye
In its heyday. Enthusiasts. Whose
name IS legion, believe that the pos
sibillties OF this crop are far from be
Ing realized. A great part OF the
nearly 100000 acres now devoted "a
this forage is annually harvested for
hay. and the conditions under which
IL Is put up, the methods used. and
the time of cutting have a great deal
10 do with the value OF the cured
product as feed for live stock.
The number OF cuttings that may be
taken from an alfalfa field In a season
varies according TO the locality and
the variety from eight or occasionally
more, In the extreme Southwest, to
two. or sometimes only one. In the
northern and seml-arId regions. Thir-
ty to forty days OF good growing
weather are necessary to produce a
hay crop.
Time to Cut Alfalfa.
There are conflicting opinions on
the proper time TO cut alfalfa for hay.
Chemical analyses, says the United
States Department OF Agriculture.
show that when cut in early bloom II
has slightly more protein than when
cut later. and that certain animals.
such as hogs and cattle, prefer 1t when
cut In the earlier stages. These rea-
sons and the belief that frequent cut
ting produced larger total yield led
fore the flowers appeared. That prac-
tice has been dlscredited.
As the result OF experience accumu-
lated II was found that these early
and frequent cuttings. although they
produced greater yields the first sea
son, usually reduced the life OF the
stand and the average yield over
period OF years. Later the basal shoots
were used as guide. cutting being
recommended when they had reached
a length OF one or two inches or when
the plants were one-tenth in bloom
The two guides seemed TO be needed
as the basal shoots make very little
growth In dry weather and blossoms
are slow to appear in wet periods.
Recent experiments Indicate that
cutting at later date than has gen.
orally been advised is more desirable. !
considered. At the Kan
ias agricultural experiment station a
was made OF cutting at |
our stages-in bud. one-tenth In
lloom. full bloom. and when the seed
PODS were forming. The earliest cut
ing was highest I'm feeding value. but
he stand was practically killed out
n one season. Cutting when one
enth in bloom gave less hay than cut
Ing when In full bloom and seemed
o encourage grass and weeds. Cut
ing when the seed pods were forming
ave less hay than earlier cuttings,
mt the stand was not injured. No
emage resulted from cutting the basal
hoots. although II has long been
aught that clipping them Off will re-
uce the succeeding crop. The De
Of Agriculture has conducted
experiments which verify these re-
nlts.
In regions where the rainfall Is
lther limited. such as the Great
lalns. stands are sometimes badly
ljured by delaying cutting until the
lants are nearly through blooming.
he injury Is more serious when a
scond cutting IL made or a crop Is
invested for seed. This Is more seri-
rs In dry seasons when there will be
cry little growth after cutting as far
; the plants are concerned Cutting
harmful rather than beneficial. but
course there must be a harvest.
Worries for Farmer.
Once the problem OF the time OF cut
NIX has been solved. the thing which
orries the farmer most Is getting the !.
" into the best condition and stored
the NOW or stack. There Is general
'rcement that putting the hay into
cks In the field saves more OF the :
aves, the best part OF the feed. than
hen curing Is done In the wlndrow.
It II takes more labor. and. since
pre- time Is required there Is more :
niger from rain.
Where the weather promises to be
IT for two or three days Il may be
visahle 10 hurry the curing by doing q
,st % Il In the windrow. The amount p
shatterings will be greater than b
Yen the curing = done In the cock a
divided the weather remains fair In OF
m cases. However. when the hay Is q
'ked Il requires longer 70 cure. thus q
'reasing the danger of exposure 70 C