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

Production Update:

Bale size: Three wire bales of about 120 pounds have been the standard bale size in Arizona for years. During the 1970's, large 1 ton bales were introduced to the state but quickly obtained a bad reputation due to barn fires with these bales. The larger bales required lower moisture content for safe storage. Big bales are currently making a comeback due to ease of handling in total mixed ration feeding. Big bales require a shorter period of time per ton than small bales to break open and remove the twine. Current models of the big balers are different than their predecessors in the ‘70s since they do not constantly pack the hay but a packing stroke is engaged only when the chamber has a certain amount of hay in it. This feature produces a bale that is less likely to spontaneously combust.

Insect Management: Field cricket adults are dark brown to black and up to one inch long. Nymphs look like adults and undergo 8 to 12 instars (picture). Crickets are pests of seedling stands and rarely, if ever, cause problems in established stands. In newly planted fields, crickets clip off seedlings. Control crickets using an insecticide bait spread evenly over the field or by using a broad spectrum insecticide spray. Adult palestriped flea beetles (picture)often migrate to seedling alfalfa stands. Adults feed on the upper leaf tissues leaving windows. Seedling alfalfa can sustain much feeding damage without hurting stand establishment.

Weed Control: EPTAM 7E was the first herbicide registered for water-run applications. It is also available as a 20% granule. The granular formulation is often a more efficient way of applying this highly volatile herbicide as long as it is incorporated with water within 12 hours. Because the granule is more efficiently applied than the water-run 7E application, 2 lbs. active ingredient of the 20G is often equivalent to 3 lbs. active ingredient of the 7E.

10 Year Summary (Oct. 8 - Oct. 21, 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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