Significant Alfalfa Losses Experienced in Eastern Wisconsin

Significant alfalfa losses experienced in eastern Wisconsin

alfalfa
alfalfa
(Troy Walz, Nebraska Extension)

Unusual seasonal weather variations have made it tough on alfalfa crops in some parts of Wisconsin.

A warmer-than-usual winter and a cold wet spring have caused a significant portion of the alfalfa crop to fail in Manitowoc County. University of Wisconsin Extension agriculture specialist Scott Gunderson says at least 10,000 of the 18,000 acres of alfalfa have failed in the county.

USA Today Network-Wisconsin says February temperatures climbed into the 60s, encouraging the alfalfa to grow, then dropped down to the 20s causing harmful sheets of ice to form on the plantings.

Dairy farmers may struggle to find feed for their cows in the months ahead and will likely spend more to buy forage for their herds.

AgWeb-Logo crop
Related Stories
Oliver Sloup with Blue Line Futures says grain markets were trying to divorce from the war headlines and crude oil the last few weeks but now are right back trading with the energy moves.
Greg McBride of Allendale, says grains markets saw profit taking, also saw some farmer selling and hedge pressure on Tuesday.
Grain markets were all lower to start Tuesday seeing some routine profit taking after hitting new highs for the move and even some new contract highs in parts of the corn and soybean complex, according to Brady Huck with Empower Ag Trading.
Read Next
Get News Daily
Get Market Alerts
Get News & Markets App