A dairy farm west of Grunthal is reporting a very good first cut of hay.
Reutter Dairy is located between Grunthal and St. Pierre. Lukas Reutter says they cut about 400 acres a little earlier than usual this year. He says May 30th and June 1st were their cut and harvest days.
Reutter says even though it was a cool spring, the crop seemed to wake up quickly and when the plant is ready to go, it is ready to go.
"Alfalfa is kind of what we grow for first cut," he says. "And when it's in the budding stage we like to go for it."
Reutter says the timing for first cut is highly variable from year to year, but notes this year was probably seven to 10 days sooner than normal.
According to Reutter, the quality of the first cut was right where they wanted it to be. He notes they will get the lab to confirm that in the next couple of weeks. Reutter says the fact they were able to harvest when they did, without weather delays, is why the quality was so good.
As for quantity, he says it was variable.
"Some of our lighter lands seem to have higher tonnage," he says. "And some of the heavier clay seems to be struggling with water a little bit, and so therefore the tonnage was a little bit lower."
Yet, overall, he says they are very happy with how the first cut turned out. All of the hay is used on their farm as dairy feed.
Reutter says following the first cut, the alfalfa seemed to go dormant for a couple of days until it rained again. He notes that really woke up the crop and their fields are now looking good again. Having said that, he says nobody will argue that more rain is needed.
"But overall, we're going to head into a nice second cut as well," he says. "Maybe a little lower on tonnes, but it will also be good."
Reutter says they are probably now halfway to their second cut of hay, which should happen in early July. He notes they do not generally go for four cuts but rather try to give the plant a break.
"But with how early we are this year, it will really be up to the weather, if we get that rain or not," he says. "So, we'll see, time will tell."
Meanwhile, Reutter says they were very fortunate to have no winter kill this year.