HarvXtra Alfalfa: Rewriting the rules of quality and yield

The age-old compromise between quality and yield in alfalfa production has frustrated dairy farmers for generations. Harvest too early and you sacrifice yield; harvest too late, and quality suffers, requiring expensive supplements for high-producing dairy cows. This dilemma has pushed farmers toward increasingly frequent cutting schedules just to maintain quality – until now.

Dave Witte and Parker Heise from Forage Genetics International reveal how the revolutionary HarvXtra Alfalfa trait is fundamentally changing alfalfa management on dairy farms. This innovative technology reduces lignin content in the plant, dramatically increasing digestibility and creating unprecedented flexibility for producers. Farmers can now choose between harvesting at traditional 28-day intervals for 15-20% higher quality or extending harvest to 35-36 days to gain 15-25% more yield while maintaining conventional-level quality. A wider harvest window offers valuable operational flexibility around weather events, labor shortages, and equipment breakdowns, while improving plant persistence and natural weed control.

HarvXtra Alfalfa provides dairy nutritionists with a powerful alternative for increasing digestible fiber in dairy rations. Whether you're seeking higher quality to boost milk components or looking to maximize yield while maintaining quality, HarvXtra Alfalfa delivers transformative results that are changing the economics of dairy farming. Ready to revolutionize your alfalfa management? Visit HarvXtra.com to learn more about this game-changing innovation.

This episode is sponsored by HarvXtra® Alfalfa. Every operation has different goals and priorities. There’s no silver bullet that works for everyone. But with the HarvXtra Alfalfa trait, you have options. It’s the first trait of its kind to provide the flexibility to produce higher-quality forage or extend harvest to maximize yield potential, which opens up new ways to optimize the way you grow alfalfa. Visit HarvXtra.com to learn more.