Timothy and Alfalfa Hay Blog

Alfalfa

Despite some spotty weather conditions, growers in the South Columbia Basin of Washington State are able to begin baling 4th cutting this week. Color looks good for stacks that have been baled so far, and we will fully assess quality once baling is complete. In Oregon, Christmas Valley has just started 3rd cutting. Weather has been clear in Klamath Falls, where 4th cutting is expected to begin in the next 7-10 days and will mostly go to domestic markets.

Alfalfa

Fourth cutting has begun for a few growers in Washington State, and with favorable weather over the next couple of weeks we are expecting good quality. Quality from 3^rd cutting was mixed; a small amount of higher grades was put up due to haze and loss of color. We are seeing good opportunity on some stacks that have tested well despite the loss of color from extended curing times.

Alfalfa

Third cutting has wrapped up in Washington State, and water is expected to turn off in the next 7-10 days in some areas to start 4^th cutting. Growers in Klamath Falls, Oregon are expecting to be done with 3^rd cutting in the next week, as Christmas Valley just begins around that time. Haze caused by wildfires has improved and curing conditions are back to normal for this time of year.  

Alfalfa

Third cutting is wrapping up in Washington State, with 95% of fields cut and about 85% baled. Challenging curing conditions due to high level haze caused by wild fires persist across the Pacific Northwest, resulting in lower quality grades due to extended time in the windrows and loss of color. We expect more lower grades to come from this cutting in Washington State, however quality will be assessed once all hay has been baled. Growers in Oregon are continuing with 3^rd cutting and have about 40% cut so far.

Alfalfa

Alfalfa harvest continues this week and we are seeing a good mix of qualities to meet our partners’ needs coming out of the Pacific Northwest. Third cutting is in full swing in Washington State as growers in the Columbia Basin manage difficult curing conditions to get hay into bales this week. Baling is expected to wrap up in the next seven days. In Oregon, 2^nd cutting finished last week and we are seeing a range of quality coming from that region.

Growers in New Mexico were able to navigate some weather challenges this weekend and 3^rd cutting is showing good color and leaf. Quality will be fully assessed once baling is complete. Growers in some areas of Arizona have begun 7^th cutting while 6^th is still in windrows for others. Sixth cutting should wrap up by the end of the week.

Alfalfa

Alfalfa

Alfalfa

Growers in Washington State have been taking advantage of good weather to finish up 2nd cutting. A few growers have yet to cut, but everyone is expected to be wrapped up by the end of the week in all areas of Washington. Some areas in the south Columbia Basin are expected to begin 3rd cutting in as little as three weeks. Second cutting is moving along in Oregon, and conditions have been favorable so far to produce good color.

Monsoon season is bringing intermittent rain to many areas of the Pacific Southwest, and growers in New Mexico are working around weather to finish up second cutting. They are expecting to finish around the middle of next week and quality will be assessed. In Arizona, 5th cutting has resumed after some delays due to monsoons over the last week. Nearly all of what has been cut so far is baled.

Alfalfa

Second cutting is underway for some growers in Washington State as they take advantage of clear weather windows, and color looks good for this cutting. Recent challenging weather patterns have cleared in Oregon and 1^st cutting has resumed. We’re seeing good color and a small amount of over maturity on some fields that are left to be cut. Quality will be determined after testing.

In the Pacific Southwest, New Mexico growers are in between cuttings and water has been turned off in preparation for 2^nd cutting. Weather in Arizona has cleared, and temperatures have increased from last week, resulting in mostly High Color Economy coming from this region. Harvest is moving along well, with about 30% of 5^th cutting complete and 20% baled.

Alfalfa

First cutting is complete in New Mexico, and water will start to be turned off next week in preparation for 2nd cutting. Quality and color from growers throughout the area are favorable, and we are seeing good export quality grades. Temperatures continue to rise in Arizona, and 5th cutting has started in some areas. The first 10% of 5th cutting received some rain earlier in the week, however growers are continuing and will work to navigate good weather windows as they begin baling.