University of Arizona a dot Cooperative Extension


Alfalfa Report
Yuma County, Arizona
December 16, 2002


Yuma County Office
2200 W. 28th 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 decreased 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: Pea aphid (Detour signpicture), a pest of alfalfa during the spring months, can be distinguished from blue alfalfa aphid by lighter antennae with dark bands at each joint (Detour signpicture). Blue alfalfa aphids (Detour signpicture) have uniformly dark antennae. Pea aphids first appear in December or January but are usually less abundant than blue alfalfa aphid until later in the spring, but pea aphid may persist into early summer as they are more heat tolerant. They are found over most of the plant with heavy infestations and can deposit large quantities of honeydew which can foul harvesting equipment and supports the growth of sooty molds lowering hay quality. Regrowth may be stunted following cuttings with moderate to heavy aphid populations. Several species of predacious bugs and parasitic wasps attack these aphids. Sample alfalfa fields by taking 5 to 6 stem samples in at least 5 locations per field weekly when aphids appear, then every 2 to 3 days as numbers approach the treatment threshold of 40 to 50 aphids per stem for plants under 10 inches, 70 to 80 per stem for plants 10 to 20 inches tall and more than 100 aphids per stem for plants over 20 inches tall.

Weed Control: Raptor, the new broadleaf and grass herbicide developed by BASF, seems to work even slower than Pursuit. After one week, you may think it didn't get sprayed. After two weeks you probably will think it was sprayed but didn't work. The third and fourth week will bring some hope and it may be five to seven weeks before you're pleased with the control. Cold, slow growing periods are when it takes the longest. It is always a good idea to leave even a small area untreated for comparison.


Market Summary
High
Low
Average
Off grade
Past 2 Weeks (Dec. 3 - Dec. 16, 2002)
105
95
103
70-90
Last Year (Dec. 3 - Dec. 16, 2001)
110
95
105
70-90

 

10 Year Summary (Dec. 3 to Dec. 16, 1993 - 2002):

Graph of 10 year summary Dec. 3 - Dec 16, 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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Information provided by:
Barry Tickes, btickes@ag.arizona.edu Extension Agent, Yuma County
Michael Ottman, mottman@ag.arizona.edu Agronomy Specialist
College of Agriculture, The University of Arizona.
Eric Natwick, etnatwick@ucdavis.edu UCCE Imperial County - Farm Advisor
University of California, Davis, CA.


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document located at: http://cals.arizona.edu/crops/counties/yuma/alfalfareports/afalfarpt121602.html
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College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
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