Yuma County Office
2200 W. 28^th Street, Ste. 102
Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 726-3904
(928) 726-8472 FAX

Production Update:
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Alfalfa seeding rate: The optimum alfalfa seeding rate is difficult to define due to variations in seedbed conditions. Emergence of 50 seedlings per square foot is considered a good initial stand. Survival of half the emerged seedlings resulting in a stand of 25 seedlings per square foot during the first year should be adequate. A seeding rate of 20 pounds per acre is equivalent to approximately 100 seeds per square foot for raw seed and 67 seeds per square foot for coated seed. The rate of emergence and seedling survival may both average 50%, although the range may be from 20 to 70%. Plants are lost faster in higher compared to lower seeding rates, and stands after one year are often similar regardless of seeding rate.

Insect Management: Growers establish new stands of alfalfa and replant areas of established fields during the fall months. Several insect pests can be clip seedling alfalfa plants during stand establishment. Monitor new stands for cutworms, crickets as these pests are occasionally abundant enough to thin seedling alfalfa. Sowbugs and pillbugs are crustaceans that damage seedling fields that have not been well tilled, but are most common as pests in re-seeded fields. Palestripped flea beetle is an occasional that damage seedling alfalfa. Treat with an insecticide bait or foliar insecticide when these pests are abundant enough to cause areas of stand loss.

Weed Control: Sencor will control many broadleaf and grass weeds in alfalfa but causes crop injury when much foliage is present at the time of application. The best time to apply Sencor is after sheeping. It works best during the winter months when irrigations are less frequent. It will leach with frequent summer irrigations.

10 Year Summary (September 24, to October 8,1992-2001):

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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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