Alfalfa may be considered the “queen” of forages, but it is also known for its low tolerance of less-than-ideal soil conditions and management.

Maintaining high-yielding, persistent alfalfa stands can be challenging, particularly when soils are limited by imperfect drainage or compaction.

Fluctuations in milk prices, feed costs and government programs are forcing dairy farmers to become more efficient with their farm operation.

Since feed accounts for approximately one-half of the total cost of producing milk, and high-quality forage optimizes the productivity of the animals, increasing the quality of forage available is one of the best methods of improving overall feeding efficiency.

When harvest time brings an everyday shower, cutting forage is ever more challenging. The biggest limit on is weather where it mists or rains nearly every day.

When coupled with cool temperatures, shorter day length and less intense sunshine, it makes a perfect storm for not drying to 35 percent.

Dragging it across the dirt for three days before giving up and chopping it wet anyway is not how you make high-quality forage.

It’s bound to happen … corn silage harvest is in full swing, harvesters are rolling, trucks are busy hauling and the pack tractors are moving back and forth when the nutritionist pulls in the driveway.

They get out of the truck, walk up to the bunker, take a look at the freshly chopped forage and pronounce that the processor needs to be tightened and the cut lengthened.

“If that’s the time that we’re making those decisions, we’re too late,” Chris Wacek-Driver told a room full of custom harvesters at a Vita Plus meeting Feb. 20.

Scroll down or click here to view a video of Wacek-Driver discussing this presentation.