Timothy and Alfalfa Hay Blog

Growers in New Mexico have completed 1st cutting Alfalfa harvest and are tending their fields for 2nd cutting, which is expected to begin in the next couple of weeks. Weather in the coming week looks promising, with a chance of showers.

Growers in New Mexico are expecting to finish baling 1st cutting Alfalfa at the end of the week. Weather has been favorable for this cutting, and quality is good. In Utah, Alfalfa is looking good with bright green color and good leaf retention. There is a chance of showers over the weekend, so growers are working hard to finish cutting and baling over the next couple of days while the chance of precipitation is minimal. So far, about 80% of fields have been cut, and 45% has been baled.

In the Pacific Northwest, 1st cutting Alfalfa harvest is finishing up and the last 15 percent of baling will be completed towards the end of the week. Some areas in the South Columbia Basin of Washington State are expected to begin 2nd cutting in the next 3-4 days. The 8-day weather forecast is favorable, with warm temperatures and low chance of precipitation.

Growers in New Mexico are well underway with their 4^th cutting Alfalfa harvest in some areas. About 25% has been cut and 10% baled so far. The 3^rd cutting is still in progress as well, with just 5% of the harvest left to bale. Good weather has allowed for some very nice, green Alfalfa from this crop. Some precipitation is expected over the weekend.

Similar to New Mexico, some growersin Oregon are pushing to get the last of their 3^rd cutting harvest baled while others are in the middle of 4^th cutting harvest. Hay quality from this crop is also nice and green, and most of it is expected to be sold domestically. The weather has been mild and is should stay above the 70’s for the next week.

In Utah, clear weather has allowed for a good 4^th cutting, but there is a push to finish up before the showers which are forecasted for the weekend and potentially into next week. Nearly all of the fields have been cut and over half have been baled.

In both the Pacific Northwest (PNW) and Pacific Southwest (PSW), irregular weather has pushed Alfalfa harvest out later than expected. With the elongated schedule comes a wide range in quality across the board.

New Mexico has completed 3^rd cutting Alfalfa harvest, and has about 95% baled. In most areas, growers were able to stay ahead of the stormy weather during the curing process and quality is better than originally predicted. Some areas have started a 4^th cutting harvest this week.

The 3^rd cutting Alfalfa harvest in Utah has a wider range of quality due to some intense storms in the last two weeks. Growers able to avoid the poor weather put up great quality from this cutting. Weather is expected to be clear for the next 8 days, and good quality is expected from 4^th cutting. So far, about 50% of 4^th cutting harvest is complete, and 40% is baled.

In the Pacific Southwest (PSW), monsoon season continues to challenge growers as they complete 6^th cutting Alfalfa harvest. Export quality continues to be somewhat limited as a result. Cutting is finished, and about 85% of the baling is done so far with the rest expected to be done by the end of the week.

A large storm rolled through Utah this week, bringing cool weather, unexpected rain, and flash flooding in some areas of the state. This slowed 4^th cutting Alfalfa harvest, and growers only were able to make minimal progress.

New Mexico also experienced some spotty, unpredictable weather this week, producing a wide variance in quality across the 3^rd cutting Alfalfa harvest. Over the last few days, growers were able to make good progress given the favorable weather window. About 75% of the Alfalfa is cut, and about 55% is baled up to this point. Fourth cutting is expected to begin in the next few weeks.

In the Pacific Northwest (PNW), growers in Oregon are continuing tofind good weather windows to wrap up 3^rd cutting Alfalfa Harvest. Cutting is about 95% complete, with nearly all of that baled. Quality continues to be good. Some rain is expected in the next couple of days, with clear skies to follow.

Washington 4^th cutting Alfalfa harvest is about 70% complete. Progress has been slowed in the last week due to low temperatures, however the quality

Monsoon season is nearing its end, and growers are looking forward to more stable weather in the Pacific Southwest (PSW) this week.

In New Mexico, many farmers dealt with intermittent storms last week and are still feeling the effects of the precipitation. Due to the weather, 3^rd cutting Alfalfa harvest is progressing slower than anticipated. Weather is expected to improve in coming days and clear skies are expected by the middle of the week.

The weather in Utah has been comparably mild, giving growers a good window to make progress on their 3^rd cutting Alfalfa harvest. As of Tuesday morning, 85% has been cut and 60% has been baled.  Quality is improving as the weather in the PSW begins to cooperate.

Weather across the Pacific Southwest (PSW) continues to challenge growers. Storms, high moisture, and unpredictable weather continue to pose a challenge to farmers in Arizona and Nevada. Farmers are about 75% through the 6^th cutting Alfalfa and the weather is forecasted to be clear for the next 8 days.

Growers in New Mexico and Utah were able to put up some good quality 3^rd cutting Alfalfa during this past week due to a favorable weather window. Monsoon conditions are continuing to move into the area, with weather similar to what we previsouly reported for Arizona and Nevada, causing concern for maintaining quality as growers finish up 3^rd cutting. This is typical for monsoon season, which is expected to continue through the end of September.

In the Pacific Northwest (PNW) Oregon harvest conditions have been favorable for producing good quality hay during 3rd cutting harvest. Growers were able to get approximately 30% of the crop baled over the last week. They are looking forward to a 4th cutting this year.

In the Pacific Southwest (PSW), the rainy weather has finally cleared in New Mexico and Utah. The forecast for the upcoming week is favorable with dry weather conditions expected. Growers are continuing their 3^rd cutting Alfalfa harvest. So, far they have cut about half of the fields and have a small amount baled. Temperatures are expected to be in excess of 100°F for the next week.

Growers in Arizona and Nevada are half way through with 6^th cutting harvest. The area experienced scorching hot weather all through last week and sporadic, untimely rains. The adverse weather created challenges for growers during the 6th cutting Alfalfa harvest. Temperatures are expected to remain high throughout the next week, and we are eager to see how this affects quality.

Growers across the Pacific Southwest (PSW) continue to work around monsoon season, which typically peaks in the middle of August. Growers are about 50% through the 6^th cutting of Alfalfa, and a small amount has been baled. In Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah short windows of dry weather helped harvest. Growers in New Mexico and Utah were able to start 3^rd cutting this week.  Due to unpredictable rain storms and the delayed harvest, quality is challenged. The 8-day forecast for Utah and Nevada show some possibility of thunderstorms. The rest of the PSW should have mostly clear weather, providing more a favorable cutting window. Storms are expected to clear completely by the end of September.

In the Pacific Northwest (PNW) Klamath Falls and Christmas Valley received lots of rain throughout their 2nd cutting harvest limiting export quality Alfalfa from this cutting. Growers are planning to begin 3rd cutting within the next few weeks.