News
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.