Yuma County Office
2200 W. 28^th Street, Ste. 102
Yuma, AZ 85364
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Production Update:
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Stand Replacement: The decision to replace alfalfa stands is based on stand establishment costs, opportunities in other crops, hay price, and yield of the alfalfa stand in question. Historical yields for the farm can provide a good idea whether or not a stand should be replaced. A stand should be replaced if plant density is less than 4 to 6 plants per square foot or if the number of stems is less than 40 per square foot. Optimum plant density can be considerably higher if the plants are not distributed uniformly. Renovating alfalfa stands by overseeding with alfalfa is rarely effective except in relatively large bare spots. Delay seeding alfalfa into a field previously in alfalfa by 2 to 4 weeks to avoid autotoxicity.

Insect Management: Infestations of silverleaf whitefly reduce alfalfa hay quality via honeydew contamination. Honeydew is a whitefly excrement composed of sugar, water and amino acids. Sooty molds, molds that produce black spores, often grow on honeydew. Sooty molds are not known to harm cattle or horses, but resemble molds from water damaged hay that produce toxins. Hay buyers are not likely to buy moldy looking hay or will discount the price of the hay. If insecticides were registered whitefly control in alfalfa, they would not be cost effective. An alfalfa resistant to silverleaf whitefly has developed at the University of California Desert Research and Extension Center. Seed increases are currently being completed in Imperial Valley, California and a new alfalfa variety resistant to silverleaf whitefly will likely be released next year.

Weed Control: Don't use trifluralin granules preplant unless you are prepared to lose about half of the new stand. You need to wait until the one trifoliate leaf stage for good crop safety. Any weeds that have germinated by then will not be controlled.

10 Year Summary (September 26, to October 9, 1991-2000):

Full Disclaimers

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona.

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