Calculating Alfalfa Stand Quality

PEAQ Method

Pick 3 (or more) representative 2-square foot locations (1 ft x 2 ft) in the field to check these 3 things:

1. Count the number of stems in the 2 square foot square area (optimal density requires at least 45/square foot; you can visually estimate this once your practiced).
2. Using a yard stick or other height stick, measure the height of the tallest alfalfa stem by stretching it out straight. Measure to the top of the stem, rather than to the top of the uppermost leaf.
3. Determine the maturity:
   1. Vegetative (no buds visible on any stems)
   2. Bud (at least 1 bud visible on at least one stem)
   3. Flower (at least one flower visible on at least one stem)

Then use the below chart to determine the expected RFV of your field. Subtract about 20 points for expected loss of quality during wilting and harvest to determine what you might expect to put into the bunker and feed to your herd.
 

Length of tallest stem	Stage of most mature stem
	Vegetative	Bud	Flower
(inches)	RFV
16	237	225	210
17	230	218	204
18	224	212	198
19	217	207	193
20	211	201	188
21	205	196	183
22	200	190	178
23	195	185	174
24	190	181	170
25	185	176	166
26	180	172	162
27	175	168	158
28	171	164	154
29	167	160	151
30	163	156	147
31	159	152	144
32	155	149	140
33	152	145	137
34	148	142	134
35	145	139	131
36	142	136	128
37	138	133	126
38	135	130	123
39	132	127	121
40	129	124	118