A34-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 12,2001 New Website Provides Dairy Checkoff Information COLUMBUS, Ohio The American Dairy Association & Dairy Council Mid East recently launched its official dairy farmer Website designed to help dairy farmers and promoters stay up to-date on their dairy checkoff promotion program. The site, found at www.adadc mideast.com, provides informa tion about national and local dairy promotion activities. In the Scouting Is Best Defense Against Potato Leafhoppers In Alfalfa DES MOINES, lowa Potato leafhopper infestation levels in alfalfa fields can vary from year to year. What makes this pest so dangerous is that early symp toms are very subtle and can eas ily be missed. But producers have a good defense against this costly pest by scouting fields for potato leafhopper activity. “Potato leafhoppers damage alfalfa plants, reduce yield, lower forage quality and sometimes re duce stand persistence,’’ said Carl Bannon, technical informa tion manager for Pioneer Hi- Bred International, Inc., in Mt. Joy, Pa. “Economic losses from severe leafhopper infestations can reach up to $5O per acre per cutting or one ton or more per acre a year. Also, potato leafhop per damage can stunt the plants and make them less competitive, allowing weed infestations into the stand. By the time producers see the first signs of damage, which is V shaped yellowing of the leaves, it’s too late to recapture lost yield or quality.” Each year, potato leafhopper frequently causes damage to al falfa fields from the midwest through the east. Scouting alfalfa fields with a sweep net is the only effective method of monitoring leafhopper activity. Bannon recommends scouting weekly begin ning in late May or early June. Fields should be scouted at least two to three times before the first cutting. After cut ting, once re-growth reaches two- to three inches, Bannon recom mends scouting again for at least three con secutive weeks. New stands of alfalfa are more sensitive to pota to leafhopper damage and should have the highest priority for scouting. Most damage takes place on second and third cuttings after po tato leafhopper popu lations have had a chance to increase. However, new seed lings, which are espe cially susceptible to leafhoppers because of underdeveloped root systems, may require earlier and more fre quent inspection. To measure leafhop per activity, Bannon says to make 10 sets of sweeps (10 sweeps per set) from different areas of the field. Make sweeps while walking through an area by moving the net from side to side in a sweeping motion “About AD ADC Mid East” sec tion, dairy farmers can learn about their board of trustees, find answers to frequently asked questions, or obtain background information about the checkoff program. Visiting the “Checkoff Pro gram Highlights” section offers farmers an overview of dairy promotions efforts in areas such as milk, cheese, export and nutri- through the foliage. Count both adult and nymph leafhoppers. After each set of sweeps, measure the height of at least two stems in each area. Economic thresholds follow. If leafhopper numbers are at or above threshold levels, the pest can be managed by cutting immediately, provided the crop is close to the normal harvest time. If threshold levels are pres ent, but the alfalfa isn’t ready to harvest, Bannon recommends producers consider applying an insecticide. “A timely treatment will prevent a yield and quality loss, but early detection is essen tial.” He adds, “If infestations are allowed to continue, yield and quality losses begin to occur. Pro ducers can see significant reduc tions in crude protein from heavy infestations. Leafhopper damage makes it harder for the alfalfa tion marketing. Visitors are en couraged to browse this site for frequent program updates. Included in the “Useful Re sources” section are dairy promotion tips and download able promotion resources such as coloring sheets, word finds and games. Dairy farmers in the ADADC Mid East region can also order promotion materials by simply filling out the online order form. plant to survive the winter and can reduce the overall life of the stand.” Potato leafhoppers thrive in dry weather and when tempera tures are between 70 to 90 de grees Fahrenheit. Growers can also choose to plant alfalfa varieties with resis tance to potato leafhopper as an other effective way to reduce for age losses to this pest. Research at lowa State University indi cates that in established stands, leafhopper resistant alfalfa vari eties may be able to tolerate three to five times higher threshold levels than conventional variet ies. “Overall, solid management and early detection is key to keeping leafhoppers in check Links to other useful Websites and a calendar of upcoming dairy promotions/dairy-related events are also included in this site. ADADC Mid East is the local planning and management or ganization responsible for in creasing demand for U.S.-pro duced dairy products on behalf of America’s dairy farmers. ADADC Mid East works closely with Dairy Management, Inc. 1 ", and growing quality alfalfa,” says Bannon. “While newer vari eties with leafhopper resistance offer improved resistance and yield potential, each grower should assess his or her operation to determine the best approach.” Stem height (inches) 8-11 12-14 I y C.J.&L. Global Furniture needs brochures or other information on anyone that makes furniture in Lancaster County. IP This includes Amish, Mennonites and Englishmen, y C.J.&L Global Furniture is setting up a network to 1 make Lancaster County furniture available to the f world through advertisement and the internet. # Send mail to; C.J.&L Global Furniture Rt. 3, Box 208 Farmville, VA 23901 , You Thought You Needed A Tractor To Mow Your Lawi Keys' now for the best Spring Special ever on a new Suzuki l ' 001 LT4WD ) • Can Run In and Out of 4WO ;e Ranges • IS Speeds Ahead ive • Full Independent Suspension : and Rear Racks • Rear Hitch the national dairy promotion or ganization, to implement dairy promotion, education and re search programs nationwide. The dairy farmer checkoff pro gram funds both organizations. Since the program began in 1984, dairy promotion programs have helped sell more then 225 billion pounds of total milk above the amount projected by the U.S. Department of Agricul ture. For more specific information on potato leafhopper manage ment and leafhopper resistant al falfa varieties for your area, con tact your Pioneer sales professional. Spring $a | | ■ Buy One Now And We’ll Throw in 44” SWISHER MOWER let a s3oo°° debit gas caftTdirect through Suzuki on selected model ATVs thru June 2001 M li ndm W i mm Win ssditmieerlwe fwsM)>Mlnm|cMwMennMe Myeuresshrer ■nd mscWities, wd mlstlm shUiwg UnunimepMdurtMß Hmr nMensuUciMM •nwaim MM IseieneifMileAMhMMnwi OnewSKidcwMiminsinei tyrfmhmt SvMiutfMrsul* el W #• sewewwl W M»i we the ifM «l«Mra Mw tm"M AZEN - RTE. 28 8-2222 • 814-328-2904 - RTE. 322 814-226-4444 18-5 pm; Sun. 12-4 Sundays ir typographical errors _oD Leafhoppers/ net sweep (average) 0.2 adult 0.5 adult 1.0 adult or nymph 2.0 adults or nymphs
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