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Show MILLARD COl'NTY PROGRESS Annual Farm - Home Supplement ALFAFLA SEED GROWINB A number of Utah alfalfa growers are looking with renewed Interest this year to alfalfa seed production. and prices High yields growers obtained from their 1972 crop are regenerating Interest In producing alfalfa seed. Over the years the Interest has fluctuated and waned. Due to poor yields and low prices production dropped 78 percent In the nine last years. The estimated 11,000 acres superb plant bugs and mites. Since certain insecticides have been banned, alfalfa growers have lost some of their insect control tools, but they still have available a number of effective products that can be used. Information on these can be obtained from the County Extension Agents.1' . To get a high yielding" crop of alfalfa peed, lygus bugs must be controlledbe-for- e the alfalfa starts to bloom and before significant damage occurs to the buds. Often, they can be controlled In conjunction with control measures used on other Insect pests, such as weevil and aphids. Dr. Carlson reported that In 1972 they controlled Insect pests such as grasshoppers, armyworms and aphids with three spraythe ings used to control lygus bugs and alfalfa weevlL At the bud stage they sprayed with B.llC. (benzene hexochlorlde) at two (Juarts per acre. The other sprayings were with malathion. The sprayings after the crop was In bloom were done after sundown when the pollinating bees were out of the field. He determined the appropriate time to apply the Insecticide by using the Insect net to get a count on the Insect populations. There Is no standard number of sprayings. Some seasons have required up to seven spray applications to protect the seed crop. He fcays you must check the har- vested In 1972 is the smallest acreage in the past 50 years. High alfalfa hay prices had taken further toll of the seed growers Interest. However, better growing techniques used by those growers tenacious enough to stay in the business, generally favorable growing conditions and use of the an efleaf cutter bee, ficient alfalfa pollinator, all Increased have favored yields this past year. These were estimated at 320 pounds of clean seed per acre, compared to state average yields that have ranged from 115 to 290 pounds per acre since 195L Even considerably higher yields can be obtained consistently. Dr. John W. Carlson, professor emeritus of agronony, now In his 80s, former superintendent of the Uintah Basin Alfalfa Seed Experimental Farm, has demonstrated this In work with a dry farmer In Northern Utah. They have averaged 600 pounds of seed per acre during the past six years. The yields ranged from 580 to 740 pounds per acre over that period. In 1972, they obtained 6,142 pounds of seed on 10 acres. Prices received by growers for their 1972 crop sold to date have been well above recent years. Immediately following harvest In Nov. 1972 the seed was valued at 46 cents a pound, compared to 32 cents a year earlier. We cant overlook the Impact that Insects have had on alfalfa seed production. County Extenslonagents responding to a survey Indicated that there are 12 major insect pests of alfalfa In the state: alfalfa weevil, lygus bugs, pea aphids, alfalfa aphids, spotted seed alfalfa chalclds, yellos-strlpe- grasshoppers, Fillmore. fields for insects at least every other day since a damaging population build up can occur almost over night. We at Utah State Unlv-eratrecognize that pest management Is an Important key to successful production of alfalfa seed, even as U Is for other crops. However more work needs to be done to develop most effective Insect pest management programs for control of Insect pests on alfalfa grown for seed. This can be done as more growers gain Interest and request our tnvolvment. If the Insects are adequately managed and other Important practices are followed, there Is no ty reason real d why Utah growers Interested In producing alfalfa seed cant produce profitable bumper yields. cutarmyworms, worms, leafhoppers, thrlps, P A. G. CORN SEED L'tah 84S1 Every portion of a Nasturis good to tat the flow, Menu and the leasts trv are great in salads, while the seeds art delirious pickled. tium ie -- NASTURTIUMS -GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT Tor nasturtium flower and eat it. The combination of sweet nectar and mildly pungent flavor of the plant mingle to produce a delicious taste. Actually, the entire nasturtium plant, including stems, leaves, flowers and seeds are great to eat. Ihe spicy leaves are good in sandwiches and salads. imparting a flavor similar to garden cress. The seed: make a good winter snack. 1 hey grow large as peas and are easy to handle, lust clean and bottle them with freshly boiled vinegar. Then seal and store for w inter. Of course, nasturtiums are beautiful in the flower garden. Choose dwarf varieties for low beds and borders, and tall types to climb up trellis and netting. H , Marilyn Felt, the current Miss Provo recently visited him and asked all about harvesting With a pretty girl gifalfa. VARIETY SHOPPE Announces Conteit to NAME THE FURFLE COW GIFT CERTIFICATES to be awarded. Visit new store for particulars and look around Winners names to be posted. Flowers are mostly yellow, orange and red on long -rstems arexcellent for dainty flow- 22 Patrick Sorghum F r rangements. Cultivate soil well before planting seed in spring after danger of frost. When planted in shade or a soil that's too rich and moist, they have a tendency to produce more leaves than flower. Children iove to plant nasturtium seeds because the seeds are very easy to handle, and the resulting plants have other attractions. For instance, hummingbirds love nasturtium nectar, and if you have never seen a hummingbird m your garden a bed of nasturtiums might well attract them. Two popular varieties of nasturtums are the Gleam and Jewel sene. Flowers of Gleam are extra-largand growing J ft. tall with stems long enough to make beautiful flower arrangements. The Jewel series are just 1 ft. high, each plant creating a neat dome of Rowels and foliage. tomorrow is being made today. sweet-scente- CktotKel, UtnwniM m tocitMiefT, it wwfcteif wt WiuMi tbenul Straw flowers are a recent addition to the flower garden. Discovered growing wild in the meadows of Western Australia, In addithey are tion to creating a magnificent garden display during lummer, (bey can be dried to last all winter in dried flower arrangements, Colors include crimson, yellow, orange, pink and white. Parsley is one of Ihe most useful herbs you can grow, and some gardeners even use it as edging to a flower border. T he seed can be direct-sowinto the garden, and although seed is generally slow to germinate, it is quite reliable. As the plants fill out you can snip sprigs to add flavor to so many dishes. Parsley is a biennial, and it wilf slay green in the garden even during winter, hut Ihe second season it will go to seed. .. other good idea with parsley is la iot up some plants in the fall to keep indoor on a kitchen window. Cl yet Irrigated Pasture Grass Australian Pea Seed for Alfalfa Mother .Crop Legume Hi Protein Feed. KESSLER MILLING FILLMORE wiiem ceplei ! todey . , , fiedM better Him ever I It YOU 743-651- 9 WASCO fee wpwttitrtt FERTILIZERS iNucTiaoES - casy-to-gro- Some Moturity 60 bushels of grain per acre. Nurse Aetmi'i Sudan Gross Seed Sorghum (hybrid) to plant with CORN for SILAGE All Dryland & Del Patio Building Main Street feeftd wtyi ted tew pftdecti Rudy like this sitting next to me, I'd like to nm this tractor 24 hours a day, said Murry. Photo, courtesy Germains Inc. MURRY rETERSON, R1CH-eld is a very lucky farmer. really delicious taste-thril- l. snap oil the spur of a a DAIRY CLIANIIS timociou A SUPPLIES EQUIPMENT CHEMICALS A LARORATORY SUPPLIES DCTtRCINTS- - INDUSTRIAL MORCRO CARDEN SUPPLIES WASATCH CHEMICAL... ... drpmdmbUtty svn 5 . ft fAe Aerie ted tkemiemi ltdtifry. TbttZAYCST C&XXXXM. ECVjCM iot it tout turn attt'twf uwl on CtMmU, I lake Falk ti Rupavs, Idaho Orra, Utah |