About the MFGA Green Gold Program

The goal of this program is to encourage growers to be strategic with their alfalfa hay crop harvest, making decisions based on specific feed and market needs and field observations.

MFGA’s Green Gold Program (Optimum Alfalfa Harvest Date) represents MFGA's longest-running producer-based program for Manitoba forage producers. Since 1995, during the months of May and June, this yearly program has been used to help predict the date when pure alfalfa stands are at optimum quality (150 RFV). Due to unusual environmental conditions (cool weather and extreme warming conditions), we have seen alfalfa reach optimum quality well before the traditional early bloom (10% flower) stage. In most cases, had producers waited for the crop to show these signs, harvest would have been delayed by up to 2 weeks and RFV would have been in the 110 range.
Each year Green Gold seeks producers across the province with hay fields that are mostly alfalfa, fairly new, and in good condition for testing. These producer fields are tested during May and June and twice-weekly reports are sent free of charge to subscribers throughout the testing period. It’s easy to sign-up!

READ The 2026 reports here

“Thanks for putting this together. It helps give us some good insight on health and maturity of the hay crops.”
- Caleb Siemens, Owner, Red River Forage

“Thanks for the reports and the program, we find it quite helpful in deciding when to cut. Its interesting to see the differences in each area and how rains can affect the growing process.”
- Richard Boonstoppel

Calling all Alfalfa Producers: We need your fields!

Each year, MFGA’s Green Gold Program calls for assistance from producers with hay fields that are mostly alfalfa, fairly new, and in good condition for testing through the May/June growing season until the first cut.
Your Benefits: Receive results from Green Gold fields twice weekly from the beginning of sampling until first cut, providing you with insights and real time information on when might be the best first cut for your alfalfa field. Eligibility: Agree to sample your field twice weekly (Mon/Wed) and submit to Central Testing Laboratory Ltd. via courier. (Costs covered by MFGA). View the sampling checklist.

Email Terra

SIGN-UP and receive free tested results!

Find your Optimum First-Cut Alfalfa Date when you signup for MFGA's Green Gold! Receive tested results from across the province twice weekly and know the best window to cut your hay. MFGA provides this service free thanks in part to Central Testing Laboratory who performs real time testing of the samples. Sign up now for 2026!

VIEW Green Gold Reports here

MFGA has fields enrolled across eastern, central and western Manitoba. Regional results were emailed to subscribers free of charge and posted here. Over 500 producers and industry people receive this information, including alfalfa producers, dairy, beef and sheep producers.

view reports