By Scout Nelson
University of Nebraska Extension experts are encouraging producers to focus on late-season alfalfa management and hunting-right agreements as winter approaches. Updated guidance outlines revised recommendations for timing the final alfalfa harvest and explains how hunting rights are determined on leased agricultural land.
According to Ben Beckman, proper winterization is critical for maintaining alfalfa stand health and reducing the risk of winterkill. While growers have traditionally aimed to make the final cutting about six weeks before the first frost, updated research has refined the growing degree day (GDD) thresholds used to guide those decisions.
Researchers found that earlier GDD recommendations were based on incorrectly converted Celsius values. The corrected thresholds are approximately 900 GDD and 360 GDD, providing producers with more accurate benchmarks for harvest planning.
When more than 900 GDD remain before a killing freeze, alfalfa typically has enough time to regrow and restore root reserves. When fewer than 360 GDD remain, limited regrowth reduces the likelihood of depleting those reserves, while the period between the two values presents the greatest harvest risk.
To support decision-making, producers can use tools such as the University of Wisconsin’s Alfalfa Cutting Tool and the Northeast Regional Climate Center’s CLIMOD2 platform. Beckman also notes that stand condition and stress throughout the growing season should be considered before making final harvest decisions.
The update also addresses hunting rights on leased farmland and pastureland. Shannon Sand explains that hunting rights can provide an additional source of income, making it important for landowners and tenants to understand who controls access to the property.
In written cropland and pasture leases, hunting rights should be clearly specified in the agreement. If those rights are not reserved by the landowner, they generally belong to the tenant during the lease period, and similar rules often apply to verbal cropland leases.
Grazing and pasture leases may operate differently because many expire before hunting season begins. If a lease remains active during hunting season, hunting rights generally stay with the tenant unless a different arrangement has been agreed upon.
Extension specialists emphasize that written lease agreements are the best way to prevent disputes. Clearly defining hunting rights and understanding applicable state laws can help both landowners and tenants protect their interests.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-goodlifestudio
Categories: Nebraska, Crops, Alfalfa