Evaluating Alfalfa Stands

By the time you are reading this, south central Wisconsin will be just over 45 days since vegetative growth stage (VT), otherwise known as tassel. Although many factors are taken into place, 42 to 47 days post tassel is a signal that the plant is ready to be harvested for corn silage. With how busy and chaotic this season may be, it is important to remember the basics to maximize your feed quality for the upcoming year.

Current headlines surrounding the fertilizer markets tend to focus on high prices and affordability issues, especially with falling commodity prices. Ratios comparing the bushels of corn needed to buy a ton of fertilizer have, in some cases, reached record levels. Multiple factors including supply, tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and other global events are influencing markets today. Together, these factors have led to volatility in the market and current high costs.

I hope everyone had the chance to enjoy Labor Day weekend with family and friends. As summer begins to wind down, and with the many fairs throughout the area coming to a close, I’d like to congratulate all the kids who participated this year. If you haven’t done so already, there’s still time to check out our website for details on how our members’ kids can earn cash for showing livestock at the fair. In addition to awarding thousands of dollars to participants each year, Premier is also proud to sponsor many of the trophies presented at some of the local fairs. In some cases, we also provide products and financial support to local 4H groups traveling to the state fair. Good luck to all of you as you wrap up another show season.