—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 7.1975 90 From Local Ag Teacher*: Why Are Leafhopper* Such a Problem In Alfalfa? by: Don Robinson Garden Spot High School The Potato Leafhopper causes more economic loss in Pa. alfalfa fields than any other alfalfa insect. Why? Number one reason is that leafhopper damage symp toms are not easily detected and never show up until it is too late to protect the crop. Second, most alfalfa growers cannot identify the leafhopper, therefore they do not know when the in festation is great enough to control. Third, producers and many custom spray operators do not know with what and when to spray. Add to this the producers’ fear of “running down” too much SCHULD BULK FEED BINS and MECHANICAL FEEDING SYSTEMS A? From 3 Ton To 125 Ton Capacity I LOCALLY MANUFACTURED • AVAILABLE FOR DELIVERY FROM - LANDIS FARMSTEAD (~) AUTOMATION hay while spraying, and we have a situation where control measures are not taken. And finally, producers do not realize the savings in $ value of in creased production and longer life of the stand, to be concerned enough to control this pest. Good control of this pest can net you $l5 an acre or more from your alfalfa. Let’s leam a little more about this pest so that we can reap some of those ad ditional profits. Potato leafhopper does not over-winter in Pa. but moves in from the South, arriving in early to mid-June. So the first cutting escapes direct damage. It is the new seedings and the second cutting that are most seriously damaged. Third SCHULD RD2, Milton, PA Phone 437-2375 and fourth cuttingi are often hurt too. And it la the damage to these cuttings that weaken the plants sufficiently to cause “fading out’* of stands several years prematurely. So you not only lose V« Ton of hay or more per acre per year, you also lose quality and a year or more in stand survival. The leafhopper causes damage by sucking Juices from the plant. This damage is not apparent at the time tiie insect is feeding like damage from the alfalfa weevil. In fact, unless the alfalfa comes under moisture stress or other stress, many of the symp toms may not be seen. Just a very slight reduction in yield, quality, and thrif tyness of the plants will occur, oft& not even per ceptible to most producers unless they regularly yield check and analyze. The major symptoms are stunted growth with a yellowish color. This is not unlike drought symptoms. Protein and carotene content of infested alfalfa are well below the levels of clean alfalfa. When and how can you determine if you need to spray? Check new seedings during first few weeks of June and second cuttings of established stands when the new growth is about 2-4” tall. You should have an insect net to catch the leafhopper. It is almost impossible to catch him any other way; and determination of when to spray is based on number of hoppers per sweep of a net. Make 10 sweeps per field with an insect net. Swing the net through the alfalfa plants just as if you were sweeping dust off the plants with a broom. One swing counts as one sweep. Make sweeps at 10 different sites throughout the field. Count the light green, wedge-shaped, very active leafhoppers by slowly opening the net. Be alert, some will fly out. Remem ber, they are tiny, about one eight inch long or about the size of a seed of bluegraaa. If you are doubtful what they look like, check with the Extension Service or your local agriculture department teacher. Remember these guidelines: An average of one or more leafhoppera per net sweep on established stands and half that number on new seedlngs will usually warrent spray protection if this level is reached 14 days before harvest on established fields, and 10 days before cutting new seedings. Check fields at regular intervals of 5 to 7 days. Then apply in secticides only to those fields where and when leafhopper populations are abundant enough to warrent control. Just a word about spray Combine can The DeLaval Compact Combine gives you all the labor-saving, time-saving, better-milking of a full pipeline at half the cost Or about the same cost as a bucket andtransfer system. With a Compact Combine, there are no more buckets toJug and no more buckets to scrub * r> The DeLaval Compact Combine was designed and built by DeLaval to meet the needs and’the pocketbooks of dairymen milking up to 50 cows See your DeLaval Dealer about our “Compact" today It costs about half what you’d expect to pay for a pipeline I. B. ZIMMERMAN & SMS West of Blue Ball, PA on Route 23 Phone: (717) 354-4955 selection. Sprays like Methoxychlor or Malathlon ■ Methoxochlor combinations do an excellent Job of control and protect those leaves that are sprayed. But, If you are spraying when regrowth is Just 44” tall, or over a dry period when growth is slowed down, your protec tion is limited to those leaves that are hit with the spray for the period of time the spray is effective. These sprays are fine if you plan to harvest soon. Consider some of the systemic tyjfc sprays like Dimethoate or (Hi TRAMISOL-fel levamisole HCI I | | *».»«**■*♦*■ most effective —: swine wormer Till Tl« you can use l i <o> * k 3 Mwm um MUTM CONTROLS LUNGWORMS, LARGE ROUNDWORMS. AND NODULAR WORMS. NO OTHER WORMER GETS ALL THREE. AVAILABLE FROM YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL HEALTH SUPPLIER The DeLaval Compact keep you Supraclde that will give protection to the entire plant if you are going for longer term protection. Only one application of Dimethoate can be made per year. Continue to check your fields and consult knowledgeable dealers, County Agents, or Vo-ag teachers for latest recommendations for your situations. What will the neighbors think when they see you In the field with a bug net? Tell them you’ll listen to them laugh-all the way to the bank. in dairying. LANDIS BROS., INC. 1305 Manh,eifn Pike Lancaster, PA Phone: (717)393-3906
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers