when does alfalfa turn

I have a spot where the farmer has planted a big like 20 acre plot mixed in with a few other crops for the horses. I was wondering when deer start to feed on alfalfa in the fall or when it becomes “ripe”?

We were seeing all kinds of deer 2 weeks ago near Rice Lake WI in alfalfa. Not sure, but I think it just depends on the quality of alfalfa or other available food sources.

It is a lot like other perrenials I believe (clover etc). The deer like it when it is young, green and more tender. There is a time where it can be “too ripe” and they may choose a other food soucre until the alfalfa gets cut again or the other food sources go away. Not a 100% sure on this but I believe this is true.

Rob’s right on. As a son of an alfalfa farmer, we see quite a bit of deer in the alfalfa when the youngest and most tender shoots are readily available. The tough part with alfalfa, is that it doesn’t have many tell-tale characteristics like other crops do in terms of quality. You almost have to check it out and inspect it personally.

Most farmers in our area get 3-4 crops. For those guys seeking a 4th crop, much will depend on when they’ll cut the last crop as to how it’ll perform in terms of a late-fall food source.

With all the rain, you’ll have good growth and tender shoots, esp. for farmers stopping at a 3rd crop. Many will be tempted to take a 4th though with the favorable weather we’ve been having at least in my neck of the woods. Drought conditions force more growth in the stalk area, and you get the really woody stems that horses (and deer is my guess) won’t prefer.

Also like horses, I think deer prefer the more grassy hays that are more prevalent in the northern part of the state (Mille Lacs area). Pure alfalfa is rather hard for many animals to digest well, and is somewhat of a biological desert.

At least for turkeys, I like to see forbs and weeds of many/all types in a chunk of hay ground. It’ll have the most bugs, the latest into the fall, and that’s especially where hens/poults will be.

Deer in my neck of the woods are picky with all the crops that are up, and will prefer to feed on bean leaves until they turn. Then alot of them will be focusing on alfalfa until corn is ready. Some years, they’re eating corn by the time the beans turn in early Sept.

These are purely my observations, and who knows how well they hold elsewhere. That and I’m not a deer hunter, that’s my other disclaimer.

Joel

Norm used to contour plant his fields with varying rows of corn then alfalfa and so on. The deer I have taken on Norms place were eating alfalfa and dropping it on the ground, the weeks I was there they were eating a pretty steady diet of it. Earlier in the season when the leaves are starting to change I’ve sat in cornfields after getting out of my stand and seen them eating the leaves on the stalks and passing up the corn after it has started to harden, earlier they will eat the silk when it forms and that shoots the whole ear. After its snowed they eat alfalfa alot because its still green, down this way its green under the snow all winter. Winter is when thier also heavy browsers on small limbs on bushes and limb of trees that are within reach. I’ve cleaned deer that has stomachs full of browse and nothing else, full of small sticks the size of martini straws.

How bout when the farmer cuts it, is it “ripe” then and deer prefer it rather then when it is standing?

It may take a few days after he cuts it for new growth to sprout (depending on rain, sun, soil moisture, etc.), but once that happens is when deer tend to really key into the new/tender greens it produces. They will eat it pretty much all year long but prefer it when it is green and tender.

does anyone know when harvest time is in the fall?

It’s variable, depending on the weather, but we probably won’t cut hay again for another week or two.

Joel

On our north field we have been doing a lot of wildlife watching these last few weeks. Our renter had planted it this spring with alfalfa, and used wheat as the cover crop.

About a month ago the wheat started to choke out the alfalfa so he cut, and bailed it off. The alfalfa started to come back well, along with some volunteer wheat. When the plants were young we had several deer visiting every day. About two weeks ago the birds found the free buffet, and that was about the time the deer seemed to have let up on foraging in the daytime. Some nights just before twilight a doe would bring her fawns out, but the daytime feeding stopped. Today I saw the same doe and the twins out in the soybean field 30 yrds from the house.

I’m not sure if it is them thunder chickens that are keeping them out, or if the alfalfa isn’t right now. I’d have to say with the all the spurs (about 150″ worth) out there the deer best stay away. Hate to see bambi get thumped by one of those mean old birds.

Chris:

Dang right, no self-respecting turkey would allow a deer to upstage him.

Joel

Joel the problem is with that is; There is no such thing as a self respecting or any respected turkey.

I work in alfalfa seed research and as soon as the plants flower – the quality drops off the table.

Drought or other stresses can cause this to happen sooner, but it’s usually at about a month of growth.

Dave

Thanks, good to know the exact timing of it Dave.