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Minnesota farmer blessed with excellent first crop hay

A west-central Minnesota farmer hauled in an outstanding first crop of hay.

Kirby Hettver of De Graaf says he wrapped up the first cutting of alfalfa last week.

“I’ve never chopped a hay crop as large as what we had this first cutting. We’re really blessed with a great first crop of hay in terms of tonnage.”

Hettver likes to harvest every three to four weeks and tells Brownfield dryness is a concern going forward.

“We do need rain pretty badly on those alfalfa fields to get them off to start growth for a second crop. Looking at roughly a 28 day interval from here on out, so we should have four good hay crops if we get enough moisture.”

Hettver says a few samples from the first cut had moisture levels lower than he’d prefer, but most of the hay held in the mid 50’s.