Post harvest application (topdress) of liquid dairy manure to alfalfa has been adopted on Midwest dairy farms as a method to reduce the amount of manure requiring summer storage. Recently, dairy consultants and dairy producers have speculated that topdress manure application on alfalfa may negatively alter alfalfa silage fermentation on subsequent harvest. An exploratory research study was initiated at the Marshfield Agricultural Research Station (MARS) to examine the effects of top-dressed liquid dairy manure on second cutting alfalfa silage fermentation.