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

Production Update:

Arizona Silage Acreage: Corn silage acreage in Arizona has averaged about 8,000 acres since 1919 when first reported. Corn silage acreage has increased in the past 11 years from 5,000 acres in 1992 to 33,000 acres in 2002. Corn silage acreage has never been higher than in 2002, and seven of the top eight years for corn silage acreage have been reported from 1996 to 2002. Sorghum silage acreage has averaged about 10,000 acres since the first year of record in 1929. Sorghum silage acreage peaked at 50,000 acres in 1957, and is currently 7,000 acres.

Insect Management: Three-cornered alfalfa hoppers (picture)are found in alfalfa from spring into the fall. They feed by inserting their needle-like mouth parts into stems and sucking out juices. Adult female hoppers girdle stems by depositing eggs causing the stem and leaves to turn red, purple or yellow above the girdle. Adults are light-green, thick-bodied, triangular insects about one-fourth inch long which move about the plants and fly when disturbed. Nymphs are grayish-white, soft-bodied, with saw-toothed spines on their backs and are confined to the lower portions of the plant. Nymphs may not be picked up in a sweep net. There are rarely enough three-cornered alfalfa hoppers in alfalfa fields to cause economic damage. An economic threshold has not been established, but if there are fewer than 15 three-cornered hoppers per sweep, it may not be economical to treat with insecticides.

Weed Control: Preplant incorporated treatments of eptam or balan can cause crop injury. At a seeding rate of 20-30 lbs./A, you start out with many more seedlings than are needed and some stand reduction will not normally result in yield reductions. These treatments are most useful when heavy weed infestations are expected to emerge with the crop.

10 Year Summary (March 26, to April 9, 1993-2002):

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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