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As spring rolls into full swing across Nebraska, it’s time to think ahead—specifically, to the first alfalfa cutting of the season. That first harvest is more than just a kickoff to the hay season. It sets the tone for yield, forage quality, and your entire harvest schedule for the rest of the year.
In most years, the target window for first cutting in Nebraska falls between late May and early June, depending on your location and spring temperatures. The goal is to harvest when the plant is in the late bud to early bloom stage—typically when 10% or fewer of the plants are blooming. This stage provides the best balance between forage quality and tonnage. Wait too long, and you’ll get more bulk but lower feed value. Cut too early, and you may sacrifice yield and risk depleting the plant’s energy reserves, especially in younger stands. Personally, with first cutting often having the highest yield of the year and being more stemmy, I’d rather err on the side of cutting a bit earlier than later. Yield will still be adequate, quality will improve, and issues with slow dry down during cool spring weather can be alleviated.
One reliable method to guide timing is growing degree days, or GDD. Starting from spring green-up, alfalfa accumulates heat units. Research suggests that 750 GDD is a good marker for first cutting in Nebraska. But don’t just rely on the calendar or the thermometer—get out and scout your fields. Look for growth stage, stem density, insect pressure, and any signs of disease. Pests like alfalfa weevil or other disease pressure might make cutting earlier than planned worth while.
Finally, don’t forget the weather. First cutting is often the trickiest to get dry in the windrow, especially with spring showers and cooler nights. Harvesting a high-quality crop is no good if it gets rained on after cutting. While a light shower might not be a big issue, a few days’ delay for good drying weather may be better than risking heavy rain and moldy hay.
Why is first cutting so critical? Because poor timing now can snowball. Delaying your first harvest pushes back second cutting, which may then fall in the heat of July or even into drought-stressed periods. That means slower regrowth, lower quality, and possibly losing the chance at a late-summer or fall cutting. On the flip side, cutting too early can weaken the stand and reduce its ability to bounce back for the next harvest.
There’s a lot to balance—yield, quality, plant health, and weather—but the decisions you make now affect every cutting that follows. That’s why it’s important to start planning early. Get your mower blades sharpened, balers serviced, and harvest labor or custom operators lined up before you hit go.
— Ben Beckman is a beef systems Extension Educator serving northeast Nebraska. He is based out of the Cedar County Extension office in Hartington. You can reach him by phone: (402) 254-6821 or email: [email protected]
