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

Production Update:
Leaf distribution in bales: Leaves are not necessarily evenly distributed in hay bales. In small balers, leaves tend to settle to the bottom of the bale chamber producing a bale with more leaves near the bottom than the top. In some large square balers, leaves may be distributed toward the outside of the bale. Thus, it is important to consider leaf distribution in a bale when sampling for hay quality.

Insect Management: Grasshoppers are normally of little concern in desert alfalfa. Damage is usually limited to a few weeks of infestation after weeds dry up in the foothills or deserts. Grasshopper migrations to irrigated crops usually occurs when the natural vegetation begins to dry in late spring or early summer. Monitor known grasshopper overwintering areas for potential problems. Eliminate weedy habitats by tillage of herbicides along field margins, roadsides, and along fence rows. Control can sometimes be achieved by spraying an insecticide around fields closest to the source of migration or by broadcasting insecticide bait over a vegetation free, 60-foot buffer strip, in advance of the migrating grasshoppers.

Weed Control: Alfalfa goes into a "summer slump" in late July and August and weeds like nutsedge and bermudagrass can take over at this time. Repeated applications of Eptam can supress these weeds if it is started now and continued into October.

10 Year Summary (June 3 - June 16, 1994-2003):

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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