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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Fall Dormancy: Shortening daylength and declining temperatures in the fall cause differences in growth among alfalfa cultivars not seen at other times of the year. Fall dormant cultivars have short, prostrate growth compared to tall, erect growth of nondormant cultivars during the fall. Plant breeders have been developing cultivars for mild winter areas that are nondormant in the fall and have increased winter growth ever since the introduction of Hairy Peruvian alfalfa in 1899. Winter survival in the lower elevations in Arizona is influenced more by cutting management and pests than by low temperature.

Insect Management: Cowpea aphid is a black aphid that has become a serious pest of alfalfa. Cowpea aphid may be present throughout the year, but the heaviest infestations usually occur from November through January in western Arizona and southern California. When alfalfa become heavily infested with cowpea aphid, treatment with an insecticide may be warranted to prevent yield loss due to stunting and leaf drop, and to prevent honeydew and sooty mold contamination. Treatment thresholds have not been established for cowpea aphid on alfalfa. Seedling alfalfa may be more susceptible to damage from cowpea aphid.

**WORKSHOP Notice** Arizona Department of Agriculture will conduct Worker Protection Standard workshops to certify Pesticide Safety Trainers (Train the Trainer workshop). 4 hours of CEU credit offered. November 26, in Spanish and November 27 in English. Both are held at the Yuma County Health Department; 2200 W. 28th Street; from 7:30 am - 4:30 pm. Preregister by calling Yuma 928-341-1775 or Phoenix 602-542-0904.

Weed Control: Buctril and Gramoxone are contact herbicides that will kill small weeds and burn back larger ones. They require good coverage and will also burn back any alfalfa foliage that they contact. The crop must be well established to tolerate the herbicide and recover. They work well where the weeds are so thick that the cover and protect the alfalfa.

10 Year Summary (Nov 6, 2001 to Nov. 18, 1992-2001):

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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