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Show Alfalfa Hay Quality Depends On When Crop Is Cut LOGAN The quality of alfalfa hay or silage depends to a large etent on when it is cut, Louis A Jensen, Utah State Agricultural extension agronomist, said. vHe stated that hay should be cut in the late bud or early bloom stage. When alfalfa is old it gets stemy and "just isn't as val.uabe hay as when cut early." Tests have shown that the way stock eat hay is greatly influenced by the stage of growth during which hay is cut. Mr. Jensen said that during the pre-bloom stage protein is highest and hay most palatible. "It wall pay to cut alfalfa early, usually before the bloom or when it is just beginning to go into the bloom stage. Mr. Jensen concluded another advantage of early cutting of alfalfa is that it gives better control con-trol of weeds. Many fields are full of weeds and early cutting prevents pre-vents them from going to seed. This is especially important with noxious weeds like white top the USAC specialist added |