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Alfalfa hay planting and harvest datesAlfalfa hay Planting Dates in Iowa
Usual alfalfa hay planting and harvest periods in Iowa, shown as ranges with their source. Use them to frame a plan, then adjust for your own frost dates and soil temperature.
| Activity | Window | Source | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvest | May 24 to Sep 29 usual (most active May 30 to Sep 15) | source | 2026-11-11 |
| Item | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvest | Harvest window, most active in May | Harvest window, most active in June | Harvest window, most active in July | Harvest window, most active in August | Harvest window, most active in September |
What these dates mean in Iowa
Harvest usually runs about 129 days, from May 24 to Sep 29.
Frost-date caveat: these are published ranges for Iowa. A northern or high-elevation site will run later than a southern or low one, and a cold wet spring can push planting past the window. Frost dates and local conditions vary; NASS state-level usual harvest dates (Oct 2010 edition); planting dates not published for alfalfa in most states. Check your last spring frost and soil temperature, and confirm with your county extension office.
Related guides
- Alfalfa Planting Calendar: Establishment and Cutting
- Hay Planting Calendar by Region
- Harvest Timing for Hay and Forage
- Hay Harvest and Storage Calendar
Alfalfa hay dates in other places
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New England 1/
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Other crops in Iowa
Last reviewed: November 2026. Source: USDA NASS, Field Crops Usual Planting and Harvesting Dates (October 2010 edition, copy hosted by Cornell University Mann Library). Dates are the usual start and end of the period when about 5% to 95% of the crop is planted or harvested, from long-run state progress data. They are historic averages, not a forecast.