- Author: Rachael Freeman Long
- Author: Michelle Leinfelder-Miles
- Author: Dan Putnam
We all recognize human health as a goal, but healthy soils is a key goal for farming operations, since healthy soils frequently result in higher yields and economic returns over time. "Health" is often defined with a range of properties including high fertility, good water-holding capacity and drainage, long-term productivity, and sustaining organic matter content.
A joint UC Davis and UC Cooperative Extension research project was recently awarded funding for $250,000 from the
- Author: Nicholas Clark
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Date: September 23, 2020
Time: 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Zoom Meeting
Registration: Click here to register.
Registration fee: $9.23
What: UC Cooperative Extension will provide updates on applied research in alfalfa variety, irrigation, and pest management; sorghum and its use in dairy feeding; sugar beets and safflower as winter forages; and personal protective equipment in a time of...
- 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...
