- Author: Ian Grettenberger
- Author: Rachael Long
- Author: Daniel H Putnam
- Author: Rob Wilson
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend" holds true in entomology as well!
The activity of natural enemies of pests (beneficial insects) is a key component of Integrated Pest Management in alfalfa to prevent pest resurgence and secondary pest outbreaks.
This is especially true for blue alfalfa aphid (BAA), a challenging pest in alfalfa (see companion article on managing BAA). Although BAA is frequently the most damaging and troublesome aphid to control, spotted alfalfa aphid, pea aphid, and cowpea aphid can also be problematic.
In alfalfa, aphids have many natural enemies. Some, like lady beetles, syrphid...
- Author: Ian Grettenberger
- Author: Rachael Long
- Author: Michael Rethwisch
- Author: Rob Wilson
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“I'll be back!” And, they are, with a vengeance!
Just like the Terminator, those pesky blue alfalfa aphids are once again wreaking havoc in alfalfa fields, including those just breaking dormancy in colder climates. They are also showing up in the first two cuttings under low-desert conditions in Southern California and Arizona. In some areas, there is a mix of blue alfalfa aphid, pea aphid, and cowpea aphid
How to respond might depend upon where you are, in part due to environment, stage of growth, and role of natural enemies.
Recently, Bill Chounet from Stanislaus Farm Supply contacted us from Nevada, observing alfalfa fields with extensive aphid damage in the very early in...
- Author: Nicholas Clark
- Author: Lynn Sosnoskie
- Author: Joy Hollingsworth
2019 Annual Alfalfa and Forage Field Day
Thursday, September 19, 2019
UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Parlier
9240 S. Riverbend Ave.
NO COST TO ATTEND
Get ready for a half day of forage research demonstrations and educational presentations in the field and in the classroom. The meeting will begin early morning and finish through lunch.
Lunch will be...
- Author: Rachael Freeman Long
- Author: Daniel H Putnam
It is both a blessing and a curse that alfalfa in California's Central Valley essentially grows all winter long. Although we can get very high early yields, if conditions are too wet, the fields look pretty ragged after a winter which saw rains in excess of 130% of normal.
However, alfalfa is a resilient crop and can likely recover from disease infestations.
Here comes the sun. Warmer, drier weather in the coming weeks is just what we need to dry out water-logged alfalfa fields and get them growing. Rainy, cold weather is a double blow for plants, especially in saturated soils where the crop is growing slowly, so it is more susceptible to diseases favored by moisture. This includes foliar diseases,...
- Author: Rachael Freeman Long
- Author: Ian Grettenberger
- Author: Michael Rethwisch
- Author: Dan Putnam
An important change has come to California insect management tools and strategies for alfalfa and other crops.
As of January 1, 2019, new restrictions on the use of chlorpyrifos (e.g., Lorsban and other products) for alfalfa in California have been imposed. This is likely to impact grower practices and strategies to address pest resistance issues.
According to CA-DPR (California Department of Pesticide Regulation), chlorpyrifos can only be used in alfalfa under the following permit conditions:
Chlorpyrifos (e.g., Lorsban) permit conditions (CA) for alfalfa:
- For control of alfalfa weevils, blue alfalfa aphid, and cowpea aphid (no other pests).
- The size of an...
