SIGN UP FOR THE GREEN GOLD PROGRAM NOW! Maximize your hay quality by harvesting your alfalfa stand at the optimum time!

E-mail John McGregor, Green Gold Program Coordinator now, to receive tested results twice weekly from numerous regions across the province and know the best window to cut your hay.

Sponsorship:

Through this year’s sponsorship, Manitoba Forage Council has been able to expand the regional testing to include Arborg, Beausejour (x2), Dauphin, Hazelridge, Somerset (x2), Virden, and the southeast area of the province (LaBroquerie, Ile de Chene, Kleefeld, New Bothwell, Grunthal).

The Dairy Farmers of Manitoba is a major supporter of the Green Gold Program once again for 2013.

The 2013 Green Gold Sponsors are:

Background:

Over the past 19 years alfalfa producers, dairy, beef and sheep producers have used the program to help predict when their alfalfa is at the optimum stage for their specific use. Presently approximately 500 producers and industry people have been receiving the information from the program.

Objective:

The Green Gold Program (Alfalfa Scissor Clipping Project) is used to help predict the date when pure alfalfa stands are at optimum quality (150 RFV) is planned again for 2013. 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 are taken at approximately 8:00 a.m., twice a week (Mondays & Thursdays) and delivered to the lab before 11:00 a.m.

Regional results are posted here and communicated via Radio Southern Manitoba, the Manitoba Co-operator and the Carillon News. Results are also emailed to producers twice a week through Coordinator John McGregor.

If you would like to be added to the mailing list or wish to be a sponsor of the Green Gold Program, please e-mail John with your contact information.

Visit the MAFRI Green Gold Program page for more information.

2013 Green Gold Program Reports

The Dairy Farmers of Manitoba is a major supporter of the Green Gold Program once again for 2013.

Funding is provided, in part, through sponsorship from the following participants:  Central Testing Laboratories, Enns Brothers, Landmark Feeds, Manitoba Forage Council, Marc Hutlet Seeds Ltd-Dupont Pioneer, Masterfeed, Niverville Credit Union, Northstar Seeds, Prairies East Sustainable Agriculture Initiative, Inc. (PESAI),Pickseed, Steinbach Credit Union, Viterra.

Please check back here for regional and final reports.

View final reports from recent years.