- Author: Vonny M. Barlow
- Author: Daniel Putnam
2015 Western Alfalfa & Forage Symposium will be held in Reno, Nevada on December 2-4 at the Silver Legacy Hotel, with a focus on water, irrigation, pest management and economics.
This is a great opportunity to learn more about alfalfa and other forage crops, and to visit with farmers, scientists, experts in various fields. Eleven Western States have joined forces this year to plan the Symposium. The event will be managed by the California Alfalfa & Forage Association (Sacramento, CA). Typically between 500 and 700 people attend.
Highlights:
- One-Day Alfalfa Irrigation Training Workshop (December 2)
- Economic Trends
- Pest Management...
- Author: Vonny M. Barlow
Basic background and biology of the blue alfalfa aphid:
The blue alfalfa aphid (Acyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji) was first identified by entomologists in the spring of 1975 in the Imperial Valley of California. Since then it has become widespread throughout the state and has become established in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and as far east as Kansas and Oklahoma. Both adults and nymphs feed on photosynthetic fluids from the leaves and stems of the alfalfa plant. Low to moderate populations of blue alfalfa aphid (BAA) may cause little to no visible yellowing of plants. Blue alfalfa aphid feed in the new growth, at the tips and young leaves. After prolonged feeding, leaves will eventually turn yellow,...
- Author: Vonny M. Barlow
- Author: Peter B. Goodell
- Author: Larry Godfrey
The blue alfalfa aphid, Acyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji was first identified by entomologists in the spring of 1975 in the Imperial Valley of California. Since then it has become widespread throughout the state and has become established in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and as far east as Kansas and Oklahoma. Both adults and nymphs feed on photosynthetic fluids from the leaves and stems of the alfalfa plant. Low to moderate populations of blue alfalfa aphid may cause little to no visible yellowing of plants. Blue alfalfa aphid feed in the new growth, at the tips and young leaves. After prolonged feeding, leaves will eventually turn yellow, starting at the veins, leaves will curl and wilt, and turn necrotic...
- Author: Vonny M. Barlow
- Author: Larry Godfrey
Introduction
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) has been cultivated in California since it was first introduced from Chile in 1850. Alfalfa yields can be reduced by several species of insects, such as leafhoppers in the genus Empoasca. These leafhoppers are highly polyphagous and capable of successful reproduction on over 200 plant species in 25 different families. In alfalfa hay in California there is a complex of three species of Empoasca leafhoppers (ELH) that are nearly identical in appearance and behavior. These include the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris), the garden leafhopper, Empoasca solana DeLong, and the Mexican leafhopper,...
/h3>- Author: Rachael Freeman Long
- Author: Steve Orloff
The recent rains were a welcome relief for many parts of our state, but we are still in a serious drought with our reservoirs and snowpack at historical low levels. Ensuring adequate water for crops will be a challenge this year.
In general, perennial crops, such as orchards and vineyards, cannot survive extended periods without irrigation. However, alfalfa is more resilient because it can go into a drought-induced dormancy over the summertime, at least for one year. The tradeoff is that without water there will be little yield, but research has shown that the stand will persist on most soil types and yield will recover the next year once water is applied to the field again.
In most years hay growers...