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Curing Alfalfa With Artificial Heat

Categories: Grains and Forage Crops

It is current rumor that "out in California they are hauling alfalfa

green and curing it by artificial heat," thus reducing loss through bad

weather and producing a superior hay for feeding or milling purposes.



It is true that alfalfa is being cut green and dried by artificial heat,

but this is only being done in preparation for grinding. No one thinks

of doing it for the making of hay for storage or for feeding. This

method is undertaken, not because the alfalfa hay does not dry quickly

enough in the field, but because after drying in the field so many

leaves are lost in hauling to the mill. We have no trouble sun-drying

alfalfa for ordinary hay purposes; in fact, we have to be very careful

that it does not get too dry.



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