Watch for alfalfa pests
NEWARK, DE - Over the next
few weeks, many farmers will be
busy planting corn. But alfalfa has
already begun to grow rapidly, so
it’s important to take time to scout
these fields for early signs of pest
activity.
One disease to watch for is
Sclerotinla crown and stem rot,
which can cause significant stand
losses ui fall-seeded fields. Ac
cording to University of Delaware
extension plant pathologist Bob
Mulrooney, this fungus attacks
new seedlings in the fall and
overwinters in infected plants.
Come spring, it starts to grow
agam-especially in cool, wet
weather.
New infections appear as pin
point watersoaked spots on alfalfa
leaves and stems, which even
tually turn yellow and collapse.
Mulrooney says the only way to
control this disease is to avoid
contact with the fungus. He
recommends; (1) avoiding fall
seeding on sites where the fungus
was present the previous spring,
(2) a three to four year rotation
between forage legumes if spring
symptoms are present, and (3)
deep plowing to bury the fungus
source.
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While scouting for alfalfa
diseases, alse check for insect
pests. The alfalfa weevil is the
biggest problem on the first cut
ting, says extension pest
management specialist Joanne
Whalen. Research has shown that
this insect can severely reduce the
yield and quality of an alfalfa
stand, so close monitoring and
early detection are needed to keep
populations at low levels.
Larval feeding generally begins
shortly after plant growth starts in
the spring. Damage initially ap
pears as small pinholes in newly
opened leaves. As the larvae
mature, these feeding holes
enlarge and the leaves appear
shredded and skeletonized.
Heavily infested fields may look
gray.
Whalen says growers should
start checking for alfalfa weevil
larvae and tip feeding in rmd-
Apnl. While scouting fields the
first week of the month, she found
feeding signs on only 5 to 10 per
cent of plants checked. With
favorable growing conditions over
the next few weeks, the alfalfa
could stay one step ahead of the
weevil, she says.
Alfalfa growers should base
1-800-448-4511 EXT. 346
IN NY 1-800-962-1480 EXTENSION 346
CALL TOLL FREE
their treatment decisions on a
random sample of 30 stems
collected throughout a field, the
specialist advises.
“Place stems in a bucket and
beat them against the inside to
dislodge larvae. Ip general, we
recommend an insecticide
treatment if two or more larvae
are found per stem. Remember,
long-lasting residual materials are
more likely to kill parasites of the
weevil, so use short-lived in
secticides.”
Growers often ask Whalen if they
should cut or spray their alfalfa
when they find a threshold level of
weevils.
“In general,” she says, “if the
crop is in the full bud stage and a
threshold level is reached, we
recommend harvesting the field
instead of spraying. However, if
the population level is steady and
you can’t harvest in the next three
to five days, apply a short residual
insecticide immediately.”
While scouting for alfalfa
weevils, growers may also find pea
aphids feeding on plant stems.
Because these are cool-season
pests, outbreaks generally occur
on the first cutting of alfalfa. Even
though the aphids seldom reach
economically important levels,
high populations can cause
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 27,1M5-A43
significant stand reduction
Make control decisions on a
random sample of 30 plants
collected throughout the field.
Whalen recommends an in
secticide treatment if 50 to 75
aphids are found per stem.
Delaware residents who want
further information on in-season
crop pest activity can call the
University of Delaware
Cooperative Extension Service
CROP PEST HOTLINE at 1-800-
345-7544. Out-of-state residents
should call 1-302-451-8851.
How
much
rent?
NEWARK, De
‘Land rental rates, like
my other production
actor, should be tied to
.he productivity of that
actor. You can only
afford to pay high rent
: or highly productive
soils,” says University
af Delaware extension
farm management
specialist Dr. Don
rilmon.
He suggests farmers
take a close look at the
rates they’re paymg for
rented land. “If the rate
is too high, next year try
to re-negotiate your
rental agreement to
either a lower rate, a
flexible cash lease or a
share lease that spreads
some of your risk bet
ween you and your
landlord,” he advises.
‘lf all else fails, give up
the rented land. It’s
better to farm smarter
than bigger.”
Location of rented
fields is another con
sideration for farmers
who are trying to reduce
costs. “How far do you
travel to your most
distant piece of land?”
the specialist asks.
“Rented land that’s far
away should be
evaluated closely for its
profit potential.”
How about renting
new land? Don’t do it if
the move will require
the purchase of ad
ditional capital items or
the commitment of
additional full-time
labor, Tilmon advises.
He suggests farmers
use the following
residual approach in
deciding how much to
pay for rented land;
• Calculate the cost of
production, excluding
rent.
• Calculate returns
based on low
(pessimistic), expected
(average), and good
(optimistic) yields
times the expected
(contract) price for fall
delivery.
• The balance, after
subtracting the
production cost from the
range of revenues
possible, is the range of
dollar values available
for rent.
For more information
on rental agreements
and financial
arrangements, contact
your local extension