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
Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist with StoneX, says the additional cut in winter wheat acres was a surprise but there were others as well.
Mike Zuzolo, Global Commodity Analytics, says grains were pressured by a host of factors including weather and fund liquidation.
Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek says cattle futures are down with a risk off day in the ag markets. End of quarter profit taking and talk of a packer bailout is also weighing on futures.
Read Next
Incredibly surviving the Civil War, world wars, depressions, epidemics, and every milestone for two centuries, the Taylor gathering may be the oldest reunion on the planet.
Get News Daily
Get Market Alerts
Get News & Markets App