Alfalfa question?

Question

is it safer to buy the wrapped alfalfa bales in the store? then to buy from a farmer?

I only need it for winter to mix into my regular hay so i don't need alot of bales and the store carries about 10 bales of it at a time

thanks if you answer!

i always choose a best answer

=)

Answer 1

Farmer. Then you can look them over good.

Answer 2

I would never buy hay that I couldn't open up and inspect....so I'd buy from the farmer unless the wrapped bales can be inspected somehow.

Answer 3

I'm sure you would be well advised to cut out the middle man and buy direct from a farmer and price wise you would probably be better off buying an alfalfa and grass mix. But anytime you are buying alfalfa you must be mindful that blister beetles are most active in mid and late summer and so it is advisable to buy first cut spring hay to lessen the risk of blister beetle infestation. I don't guess you will have too much difficulty finding first cut still available for sale.

Answer 4

i buy it from a farmer because its easier to look at it and see if there is any imperfections

Answer 5

I prefer from the farmer also.

I can look at the bale and see the 'quality'.  Does it have alot of leaves, stems, or any weeds?  If it's mixed grass and alfalfa...what does it look like?  For instance...mostly grass or alfalfa, or about even?

I also like to do 'drive bys' on the farmer's field before cutting and baling.  I can see if the field is weedy, or what it looks like as it is growing...and at what time he cut it.  

I watched a beautiful field of alfalfa...go to burnt garbage because the 'owners' let it go about a month too long in the summer without watering.  So, I knew when they advertised to sell...I wouldn't buy it.

I also like knowing where my hay comes from.  If it's covered and shipped in...Does it come from different farmers?  Is the quality approximately the same from bale to bale?  These are questions that I like to have answers to.

The only thing I'd be concerned about with alfalfa...is blister beetles.  If you're in a part of the country that has a problem with that...then I might go with store brand.  Unless I knew for sure that the farmer's hay was DEFINITELY blister beetle free.

Answer 6

Personally, I would rather purchase from the farmer than a feed store. You are more likely to get a lower price from the farmer than you are the feed store as they add on so they can make profit. Also, many feed stores also dye their alfalfa with food coloring to make the bales appear greener instead of blond or stripped hay. Despite people thinking that sunburned or blond hay is poorer quality or doesn't have the same amount of protein, this is not true. The protein may go down 1% but the leaf and the inside of the bale is what matters.