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Central Wisconsin grower pleased with first crop alfalfa

Weather has prompted a central Wisconsin dairy farmer to park the planter and harvest first-crop alfalfa.

T.J. Draeger raises corn, soybeans, and alfalfa near Marathon City.  He tells Brownfield the frequent rains have made his alfalfa look fantastic. “We had good carryover from last year so it gave us the opportunity to actually chase quality over quantity, so it’s a little shorter than some years, but in many places it’s still knee-high.”

Draeger says this year’s first-crop is much better than it was a year ago. “Our sugar contents are good. The protein levels are high. I think our cows are really going to love first-crop this year, that’s for sure.”

And he’s feeling fortunate because there were no winterkill issues. “We were kind of biting our fingernails quite a bit this winter hoping that our new seeding came through but it’s looking great. We’re actually taking it along with our first-crop this year.”

Draeger says he’ll wrap up first-crop hay over the holiday weekend, and then he’s hoping fields dry out enough to finish planting. “We’ve got about two good days of planting corn and beans to go and then we’ll be done, but I know a lot of guys that are sitting a little worse for wear than we are, but I know a lot of guys that are also done.”

Field conditions vary widely in Wisconsin because of the frequent rains and different soil types.