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MO farmer trying to capture quality alfalfa

A farmer in central Missouri says the persistent rains have created a narrow window to complete the first alfalfa cutting.

Jay Fischer tells Brownfield there have been two days, at best, between rains to get fieldwork done since early March.

“Alfalfa likes to lay down when it gets big and it rains. It’s starting to fall over and the quality is going backwards.”

Fischer says he started baling alfalfa last week. He plans to mow more Wednesday and wet bale Thursday, ahead of more weekend rains.

“It takes a lot of time and it’s a lot of bales, because you’re not letting it dry and then, you have the expense of wrapping it,” he says. “It’s a good tool and silage hay is really good, but there’s extra expenses involved in getting it put up.”

Fischer says the first alfalfa bales will be fed to cattle, but he’s optimistic for good horse and dairy-quality alfalfa in future cuttings to sell later in the season.