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

Production Update:

Frost Management: Frost-damaged alfalfa has lower quality due to leaf loss, lower digestibility, and deceased mineral content. Frost-damaged alfalfa may also accumulate toxic levels of nitrates in rare cases. Water application during freezing temperatures can raise the temperature, but waterlogging can produce negative effects. In the case of alfalfa, the best protection against frost is a healthy crop. Severe frosts can kill the tops of the alfalfa plant and new growth must occur from the base of the plant. Cutting alfalfa after a frost can stimulate this new growth near the base of the plant, but the new growth is then susceptible to subsequent frosts.

Insect Management: Adult palestriped flea beetles often migrate to seedling alfalfa stands. Adults feed on the upper leaf tissues leaving windows. Seedling alfalfa can often sustain much feeding damage without hurting stand establishment.

Weed Control: Both Raptor and Pursuit can be used on seedling alfalfa. The advantages of Raptor are that it will control lambs quarter, sowthistle and grasses which are not controlled by Pursuit. It also has less soil residue and is not as much of a problem to sensitive crops grown in rotation. The advantage of Pursuit is that it has long soil residue and will control multiple flushes of broadleaf weeds. In some cases, combining these two herbicides will be a good option.

10 Year Summary (Oct 21 - Nov 3, 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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