{"id":911,"date":"2026-05-18T06:36:49","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T06:36:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/?p=911"},"modified":"2026-05-18T06:39:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T06:39:32","slug":"alfalfa-cutting-frequency-yield-quality-tradeoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/es\/alfalfa-cutting-frequency-yield-quality-tradeoffs\/","title":{"rendered":"Alfalfa Cutting Frequency: Yield, Quality, and Stand Longevity"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/div>\n
Alfalfa Management Guide<\/span><\/p>\n

Alfalfa Cutting Frequency: Yield, Quality, and Stand Longevity<\/h1>\n

Cutting frequency is the most consequential annual management decision in alfalfa production. Cut too infrequently and you leave high-quality hay days past peak and forfeit RFV points that represent real market premiums. Cut too frequently and you deplete root carbohydrate reserves to the point where stand persistence shortens by 2\u20134 years, turning a 10-year investment into a 6-year investment. Every cutting is a permanent withdrawal from the root carbohydrate account \u2014 this guide shows you how to make those withdrawals sustainably while maximizing the quality and yield return from each one.<\/p>\n

The Root Carbohydrate Cycle<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Root Carbohydrate Cycle: What Every Cutting Interval Decision Depends On<\/h2>\n

Alfalfa is a perennial plant that survives winter and persists between cuttings by drawing on energy reserves stored in its root system as total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC). After each cutting, the plant is temporarily defoliated \u2014 it cannot photosynthesize at full capacity and must draw on root TNC to power the regrowth phase. As new leaves develop and begin photosynthesizing, the root TNC level recovers. If the next cut occurs before TNC has recovered adequately, the plant enters the next cutting cycle with a depleted energy bank. Repeated early cutting progressively exhausts the root reserve until the plant cannot overwinter, cannot tolerate drought, and cannot compete with weeds \u2014 stand failure results from energy starvation.<\/p>\n

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Post-cut minimum<\/div>\n
Root TNC reaches lowest point 7\u201314 days after cutting as regrowth demand peaks. Cutting again at this point is most damaging.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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10% bloom<\/div>\n
Root TNC is recovering but not fully restored. Premium-grade cutting window \u2014 acceptable for high-frequency systems with adequate weather.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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1\/10\u20131\/4 bloom<\/div>\n
Root TNC near full recovery. Standard cutting window \u2014 optimal balance of quality and root health for most systems.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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1\/2\u2013full bloom<\/div>\n
Root TNC fully restored. Maximum stand protection \u2014 lower quality hay but maximum longevity contribution.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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3-Cut vs 4-Cut vs 5-Cut Systems: Regional Suitability and Economics<\/h2>\n

\"commercial<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
System<\/th>\nCutting interval<\/th>\nTypical regions<\/th>\nAnnual yield<\/th>\nQuality\/stand tradeoff<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
3-cut system<\/td>\n50\u201360 days<\/td>\nNorthern states, Canada<\/td>\n4\u20136 T\/acre<\/td>\nBest stand longevity; lower quality per cut; less total income in high-quality markets<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4-cut system<\/td>\n35\u201345 days<\/td>\nMidwest, northern Plains<\/td>\n5\u20138 T\/acre<\/td>\nStandard commercial balance; Premium-grade potential with maturity discipline; good stand life with fall dormancy rule<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5-cut system<\/td>\n28\u201335 days<\/td>\nWestern irrigated (CA, ID, WA)<\/td>\n7\u201310 T\/acre<\/td>\nHigh total yield; consistent Premium quality if timing disciplined; requires careful fall dormancy cutoff<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6\u20139 cut system<\/td>\n21\u201328 days<\/td>\nDesert Southwest (AZ, NM)<\/td>\n9\u201314 T\/acre<\/td>\nMaximum yield; requires high-persistence varieties; aggressive fall dormancy protocol mandatory<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Cutting Interval vs Maturity Stage: Which Should Trigger the Cut?<\/h2>\n

Calendar-interval cutting (cut every 35 days regardless of plant maturity) and maturity-stage cutting (cut when bloom stage reaches target) produce different outcomes in different seasons. In spring, growth is fast \u2014 a 35-day interval may catch alfalfa at 30\u201340% bloom. In summer heat, growth is slower \u2014 the same 35-day interval may catch a stand at 5% bloom. A fixed calendar interval therefore produces variable quality and variable root recovery depending on the season.<\/p>\n

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Maturity-based cutting: the professional standard<\/div>\n

Commercial premium hay producers cut by plant maturity stage \u2014 when 10% of stems carry an open bloom, it is time to cut regardless of the calendar. This approach consistently achieves Premium or Supreme RFV because the quality target determines the cut trigger, not the date. The interval varies (35 days in spring, 40\u201345 days in summer heat, 28 days in warm irrigation season), but the quality and root recovery are more consistent than calendar-based systems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Calendar cutting: practical with modification<\/div>\n

Calendar systems work best when modified with a minimum and maximum bloom check. “Cut at 35 days unless bloom is below 5%” (the minimum \u2014 don’t cut into root depletion zone without adequate recovery) and “cut no later than 25% bloom” (the maximum \u2014 don’t let quality drop below target regardless of calendar). These two bloom check rules applied to a calendar system produce most of the quality and stand protection benefit of a pure maturity system without requiring daily field monitoring.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Fall Dormancy Cutoff: The Most Important Cutting Decision of the Year<\/h2>\n

\"alfalfa<\/p>\n

The “fall rest” or “dormancy cutoff” is the period before expected frost when alfalfa must not be cut \u2014 it needs this time to move carbohydrates from the leaves and stems down into the root system to build the reserves that will power spring regrowth. Cutting during this critical fall accumulation window leaves the root system depleted going into winter, and the stand cannot refill those reserves before dormancy locks in cold temperatures. The result: winterkill, thin stands, and reduced productivity in the years that follow.<\/p>\n

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The Fall Dormancy Rule \u2014 Do Not Cut After These Dates<\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Regi\u00f3n<\/th>\nLast safe cutting date<\/th>\nWeeks before first expected killing frost<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Upper Midwest (MN, WI, MI northern)<\/td>\nAug 10\u201325<\/td>\n6\u20138 weeks before frost<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Midwest \/ Plains (IA, NE, KS, MO)<\/td>\nSept 1\u201315<\/td>\n6\u20138 weeks before frost<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mid-Atlantic \/ Mid-South (PA, OH, IN)<\/td>\nSept 10\u201325<\/td>\n6\u20137 weeks before frost<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Western irrigated (CA, ID, OR)<\/td>\nVaries by elevation<\/td>\n5\u20137 weeks before local frost date; check university extension tables<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

These are guidelines for standard dormancy varieties (FD 3\u20134). Higher dormancy varieties (FD 4\u20136) may have slightly different cutoff dates. Check your state’s university extension alfalfa management recommendations for the most current cutoff table for your county.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Stand Recovery Indicators: When Is It Safe to Recut?<\/h2>\n

Rather than relying exclusively on calendar intervals, stand recovery indicators provide direct evidence that the plant has recovered sufficiently for the next cutting. Two physical indicators are reliable and easy to assess in the field without any equipment.<\/p>\n

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New crown buds at soil surface<\/div>\n

White or pale green buds emerging from the crown zone at the soil surface are the clearest indicator that root TNC has recovered enough to power a new shoot flush. Before these buds are visible, the plant is still in the early root-drawing phase of regrowth. Once visible buds are present AND the stand has reached the minimum calendar interval, recutting is safe. In spring and early summer, bud visibility comes early in the interval. In late summer stress periods, buds may not develop until 45\u201350 days post-cut.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Shoot height and uniformity<\/div>\n

When the stand is 12\u201315 inches tall with uniform plant density across the field (few gaps from plants that failed to regrow), the root reserve recovery is sufficient for recutting. A stand with many visible gaps where plants have failed to send up new shoots after the previous cutting indicates inadequate root reserves \u2014 some plants are too depleted to regrow. Cutting again will further eliminate the weakest plants and accelerate stand thinning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The full cutting frequency management system \u2014 including the dormancy rating interaction with frost date and the cutting-interval tables calibrated by region and growth potential \u2014 is in the alfalfa cutting frequency and stand life guide<\/a>. How to assess existing stand density, diagnose establishment failures, and plan renovation timing is in the Gu\u00eda para el establecimiento de plantaciones de alfalfa<\/a>. The mower-conditioner PTO specifications that apply at each cutting operation are in Especificaciones de los componentes de la caja de cambios y la transmisi\u00f3n de la toma de fuerza (PTO) agr\u00edcolas<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Quality vs Yield vs Stand Life: The Three-Way Optimization<\/h2>\n

\"hay<\/p>\n

The “right” cutting frequency for any operation is determined by which dimension \u2014 quality, yield, or stand life \u2014 produces the highest net revenue per acre over the stand’s life. The three dimensions pull in different directions: maximum quality requires early cutting (low root recovery), maximum yield allows later cutting (more growth per cut), and maximum stand life requires conservative cutting intervals with fall rest. There is no single answer that optimizes all three simultaneously.<\/p>\n

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Net Revenue Comparison \u2014 10-Year Stand, 6 T\/acre Base Yield Potential<\/div>\n
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Conservative 3-cut (maximize stand life):<\/strong>
\n6 T\/acre \u00d7 $165\/ton \u00d7 10 yr = $9,900 gross. Stand lasts 10+ years \u2014 establishment cost $280\/10 yr = $28\/acre\/yr. Net \u2248 $137\/acre\/yr.<\/strong><\/div>\n
Standard 4-cut Premium (balance):<\/strong>
\n7 T\/acre \u00d7 $200\/ton \u00d7 8 yr = $11,200 gross. Stand 8 years \u2014 establishment $280\/8 = $35\/yr. Net \u2248 $165\/acre\/yr.<\/strong><\/div>\n
Aggressive 5-cut Supreme (max quality):<\/strong>
\n7.5 T \u00d7 $230\/ton \u00d7 6 yr = $10,350 gross. Stand only 6 yr \u2014 establishment $280\/6 = $47\/yr. Net \u2248 $158\/acre\/yr.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Simplified model \u2014 actual results vary by market price, input cost, and stand condition. Demonstrates that the standard 4-cut Premium system often produces the best net return over a full stand life compared to both more and less aggressive systems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Irrigation and Cutting Frequency: How Water Changes the System<\/h2>\n

Irrigated alfalfa in the western U.S. operates under fundamentally different cutting frequency rules than dryland alfalfa in the Midwest and East. With assured water supply, plant growth between cuttings is consistent regardless of precipitation variability. This consistency allows more reliable calendar scheduling and supports higher cutting frequency because the plants always have water for recovery \u2014 the limiting factor is temperature and growing degree days, not moisture.<\/p>\n

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Irrigated western alfalfa<\/div>\n

With furrow, flood, or sprinkler irrigation providing consistent soil moisture, California’s San Joaquin Valley and Idaho Snake River Plain operations reliably execute 7\u20139 cuts per season on highly productive varieties. The cutting interval is calibrated to growing degree accumulation rather than calendar days \u2014 each 600\u2013700 growing degree days (GDD) above 41\u00b0F base produces a recoverable cutting in these climates. When GDD accumulation is the trigger, cutting frequency naturally adjusts to the season’s temperature profile.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Dryland alfalfa variable-frequency systems<\/div>\n

Without irrigation, summer cutting decisions must account for soil moisture availability. A dry July with no rain and soil moisture near field capacity after spring rains supports normal cutting frequency. A July with 45-day drought and subsoil moisture depletion requires extended cutting intervals \u2014 the plant is simultaneously drought-stressed and root-carbohydrate-depleted if cut at the normal schedule. In drought summers, delay cuttings until you see visible crown bud development and consistent new shoot emergence regardless of calendar.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Weed Pressure and Cutting Frequency: A Two-Way Relationship<\/h2>\n

Cutting frequency and weed pressure interact in both directions. Aggressive cutting that thins the stand creates canopy gaps that weeds colonize \u2014 the weed then competes with the alfalfa for light, water, and nutrients, further weakening the stand in a downward cycle. Conversely, correct cutting frequency that maintains stand density keeps the canopy closed, shading out the light that weed seeds require to germinate in the row middles.<\/p>\n

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Annual grass weeds (foxtail, crabgrass)<\/div>\n

Germinate in gaps created by thin or damaged alfalfa stand. Once established, they are difficult to control without herbicides. Maintaining stand density above 4 plants\/sq ft through correct cutting management is the most effective long-term weed management tool in alfalfa \u2014 prevention through stand vigor outperforms post-germination herbicide management.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Broadleaf weeds (thistle, pigweed, lambsquarters)<\/div>\n

Taller broadleaf weeds in the alfalfa canopy are most effectively controlled by a cutting that occurs when they are actively growing \u2014 the cutting disrupts their growth cycle and removes above-ground mass. Many producers use one cutting per season timed primarily to disrupt weed populations rather than to optimize alfalfa maturity. This targeted cut is an economically justified management tool even if the alfalfa quality is slightly past optimal at that specific cut.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Preguntas frecuentes sobre la frecuencia de corte de la alfalfa<\/h2>\n
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\nHow do I know if my current cutting frequency is shortening my stand life?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Track plant density by counting plants per square foot in the same 10 marked locations each spring, measuring after the first cutting shows new growth. A productive stand maintains 4+ plants per square foot in years 3\u20135 with sustainable cutting management. If density is declining by more than 0.5 plants per square foot per year, cutting frequency is likely too aggressive. Additional signals: stands that show slow, uneven regrowth after the previous cutting (some areas recovering quickly, others slowly or not at all), yellowing leaves early in the regrowth period (depleted root TNC), or crown rot on otherwise apparently healthy plants. A soil test at this point is also worthwhile \u2014 declining stand density caused by pH change will also look like cutting frequency damage, and the two causes require different solutions.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nCan I cut alfalfa the same year I establish it?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
In spring-seeded alfalfa, yes \u2014 one establishment-year cutting is appropriate and even beneficial if the stand is strong and the timing is right. The establishment year’s first cutting should occur when the plants are at 25\u201350% bloom (later than normal production cuts) and at least 60\u201370 days after vigorous emergence \u2014 allowing the root system to reach the development stage where a single cutting can be tolerated without stand-endangering root depletion. Cut at 3.5\u20134 inches height (slightly above normal production height) to leave adequate photosynthetic surface for rapid recovery. Do not take a second cutting from establishment-year alfalfa \u2014 the root system has not experienced a full growing season’s carbohydrate accumulation cycle and cannot safely withstand multiple cutting cycles in the establishment year.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nMy stand skipped the fall dormancy rest last year due to weather delays. How does this affect this season?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
A single missed fall rest \u2014 cutting within the dormancy cutoff window \u2014 reduces root TNC going into winter and typically manifests as one or more of these observable outcomes: slower spring green-up the following April compared to uncut or properly timed neighbors; thin or patchy stand after winter with more gaps than prior years; and first-cut yield in the following year below the previous year’s equivalent. The stand does not immediately fail \u2014 a single dormancy violation is survivable for most stands in good soil condition and with mild winter weather. The correct response for this season: cut the first spring cutting slightly later than usual (25\u201330% bloom rather than 10%), reduce total cutting count by one if possible, and be disciplined about the fall dormancy cutoff this year. One year of recovery management typically restores the stand’s TNC reserves adequately for continued productive life.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nDoes cutting height affect root carbohydrate recovery?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Cutting height affects the speed of recovery but not the ultimate root TNC level achieved. A higher cut (3.5\u20134 inches vs 2.5 inches) leaves more leaf area on the plant after cutting, allowing faster initial photosynthesis and slightly faster early-stage recovery. However, if the next cutting is made at the same maturity stage regardless of cutting height, the root TNC at the next cutting is similar whether cut at 2.5 or 3.5 inches, because the plant had the same total growing time in both cases. The practical benefit of higher cutting height is primarily stand longevity through two mechanisms: it protects the crown zone from direct mower damage (mower scalping injuries to crowns cause entry points for crown rot); and it leaves some stem tissue and stored nutrients that the plant can mobilize for initial regrowth without fully drawing on root reserves. Maintain 2.5\u20133.5 inch cutting height consistently \u2014 below 2.0 inches risks direct crown damage.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nShould I cut alfalfa at a shorter interval to get higher-grade hay, even if it reduces stand life?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
This is the core tradeoff of alfalfa management and the answer depends on the economic value of the premium quality vs the cost of earlier renovation. If the quality premium for Supreme vs Premium grade is $30\u2013$40\/ton and your operation can access that premium consistently, the calculation can favor an aggressive cutting system even with a shorter stand life \u2014 provided the economics of renovation are factored into the comparison. The stand-life and revenue model earlier in this article shows a 4-cut Premium system often outperforms both 3-cut and 5-cut on a 10-year net revenue basis because the stand-life damage from 5-cut systems is not fully offset by the quality premium over the full stand life. Before committing to an aggressive system, confirm: (1) your market actually pays the Supreme premium for the additional quality; (2) the premium is consistent enough across seasons to plan around; and (3) you have the management discipline to execute the fall dormancy cutoff every year \u2014 one miss in a 5-cut system can cause significant stand damage that erodes the cumulative premium benefit.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nHow does drought or heat stress affect the cutting interval?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Drought and heat stress slow alfalfa regrowth and root TNC recovery \u2014 the same calendar interval that works in normal seasons is too short during stress periods. If your alfalfa is growing slowly after a cutting due to drought or heat (visual: sparse, slow, uneven regrowth), extend the cutting interval by 7\u201314 days beyond your normal schedule regardless of the calendar. Cutting into a drought-stressed stand at the normal 35-day interval when the plants are only 8 inches tall and showing sparse regrowth depletes the already-stressed root system to a dangerous level. Wait for the crown bud indicator and visible uniform regrowth to 10+ inches before cutting under stress conditions, even if this pushes the stand past 25% bloom. The quality penalty from a later cut under stress is far less expensive than the stand damage from cutting a depleted stand on schedule.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"foragebaler.com<\/p>\n

Get Equipment Specifications for Your Cutting System and Quality Target<\/h3>\n

Tell us your planned cutting system (number of cuts\/year), target quality grade, and annual acreage. We recommend the mower-conditioner and baler configuration that maximizes quality capture at each cutting interval for your specific system.<\/p>\n

Get Cutting System Guidance<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Editor: Cxm<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Alfalfa Management Guide Alfalfa Cutting Frequency: Yield, Quality, and Stand Longevity Cutting frequency is the most consequential annual management decision in alfalfa production. Cut too infrequently and you leave high-quality hay days past peak and forfeit RFV points that represent real market premiums. Cut too frequently and you deplete root carbohydrate reserves to the point […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-911","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-forage-baler"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/911","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=911"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/911\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":915,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/911\/revisions\/915"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=911"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}