We experienced very low temperatures the first couple days of April and some are wondering what damage might have been experienced on forage crops.
According to Univeristy of Kentucky extension forage specialists, while the damage is impossible to predict with 100 percent accuracy, we can make strong inferences based on past years, using Growing Degree Days base 50 degrees.
In the worst case of forage damage in recent years (2007), we had reached and exceeded 300 GDD50 by the time of the freeze April 8. In 2007, temperatures reached the low 20s and alfalfa and red clover severely were hurt. This year our GDD50 accumulations still are less than 200 statewide.