Benefits of membership
For 15 years Manitoba Agriculture in Steinbach carried out an Alfalfa monitoring program called Green Gold. With the retirement of John McGregor, the Farm production Advisor for the area, the program was dropped. Because of the importance of this program the Manitoba Forage Council resurrected it for 2011 and hired John back to expand the program beyond the Southeast area of the Province.
The Green Gold (Alfalfa Scissor Clipping Project) is used to help predict the date when pure alfalfa stands are at optimum (150 RFV) quality. Over the past years, due to unusual environmental conditions (cool weather and extreme warming conditions), we have seen alfalfa reach optimum quality well before the traditional early bloom (10% flower) stage. In most cases, had producers waited for the crop to show these signs, harvest would have been delayed by up to 2 weeks and RFV would have been in the 110 range.
Samples were taken at approximately 8:00 a.m., twice a week (Mondays & Thursdays) and delivered to the lab before 11:00 a.m.
The results were communicated via this website, the station Radio Southern Manitoba, the Manitoba Co-operator and the Carillon news. Results were also emailed to producers twice a week through the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba.
Thank you to our sponsors: Dairy Farmers of Manitoba,Feed-Rite Grunthal, Pioneer Hi-Bred Ltd./Marc Hutlet Seeds, Northstar Seed Ltd, Southeastern Farm Equipment, Viterra, Ronson Seeds, Pickseed, Central Testing Lab, and Landmark Feeds.
Final Report: Green Gold 2011