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Ag agent suspects older alfalfa stands impacted by previous year’s weather

An extension agent says older alfalfa stands might be producing less because of weather last year and the year before.  Clark County, Wisconsin agent Richard Halopka tells Brownfield he has walked a lot of fields this spring.  “The new-seeding alfalfas that I’ve been in have been exceptional this year.  They came through the winter really good.  I think a lot of the older stands, it’s because of what happened in the past.  (It was) extremely wet last year.  The previous year wet.”

Halopka says a cold April followed by a warm May has also impacted hay crop growth.  “You know, the grasses prefer cooler and wetter, and we’ve been drier and hotter.  The alfalfa has been doing better, and the grasses have not been as aggressive this year.”

Halopka says many farmers are getting out to harvest first-crop hay this week.

Wisconsin is on pace to be about 10 degrees above normal for May after a holiday weekend in the upper 90’s and might set a record for the warmest May ever.