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Predictive Equation for Alfalfa Quality (PEAQ) is an in-field predictor of forage quality by monitoring plant height and maturity. The plant height and maturity provides a close estimate of the Relative Feed Value (RFV) in the field. The PEAQ program, developed by the Department of Agronomy at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, guides producers in determining the optimum harvest date for 1st cutting alfalfa. By determining the RFV of standing alfalfa, producers can more accurately gauge when to begin the 1st crop harvest schedule. First cutting alfalfa needs to be harvested in the bud stage as soon as the RFV in the field reaches 170 in order to achieve high quality and to set-up the cutting schedule for the rest of the growing season.
Previous on-farm studies conducted by University of Illinois Extension compared the PEAQ calculated values to actual scissor clip/wet chemistry values and determined that PEAQ is a viable option to producers in Illinois. During past years, University of Illinois Extension has coordinated and monitored the PEAQ measurements throughout Illinois and recorded the average values by regions on the Illini PEAQ web site. This technique was certainly helpful and brought awareness to growers on the importance of monitoring in-field alfalfa quality. However, due to varying soil types and fertility conditions, the PEAQ monitoring is suggested to be done by the individual grower on every field to more accurately determine when to harvest each particular field.
Therefore, the average PEAQ values collected by regions and recorded on the "Alfalfa Watch" map of Illinois will be discontinued and the Illini PEAQ web site has been revised to encourage individual field RFV calculations and tracking. This web site will assist you in calculating and tracking your own PEAQ values. In past years approximately 30 U of I Extension staff, industry representatives, and alfalfa producers have served as field monitors throughout Illinois. Sincere thanks for their dedication in providing this useful information to all Illinois alfalfa growers.
