Conditioning Alfalfa

I want to try a small alfalfa patch, a little over two acres. I have a bailer, can borrow a neighbor’s mower, but it doesn’t have a conditioner. Question: does alfalfa have to be conditioned, or is just mowing and then raking it into windrows good enough? I’m thinking the stems will dry much slower than the leaves, and then the leaves will be brittle and crack into pieces when raked. Any input will help…