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

Production Update:

Mechanical Conditioning: A major problem with curing hay of any type is that the leaves dry faster than the stems. Mechanical conditioning increases the drying rate for stems. The roller conditioning system is commonly used for alfalfa. A properly adjusted roller should crush or flatten the alfalfa stem but not be so vigorous that it tears the stem. Grass hay can be conditioned more vigorously than alfalfa since it is not subject to the same level of leaf loss as alfalfa.

Insect Management: During September and October many growers will be establishing new stands of alfalfa. Several insect pests can be of concern during stand establishment. When seedling alfalfa plants have emerged, monitor the stand for clipped plants. Cutworms (picture), crickets and earwigs will occasionally be abundant enough to severely thin stands by clipping alfalfa seedlings. 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. The palestripped flea beetle is also occasionally abundant enough to cause severe damage to seedling alfalfa. Treat with an insecticide bait or foliar insecticide when these insects are abundant enough to cause areas of stand loss.

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 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 (Sept. 9 - Sept. 22, 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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