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Show Alfalfa Yields in Utah By Cleon M. Hotter, Agricultural Information Specialist Utah State University Utah farm income could be increased by over 68 million dollars simply by boosting alfalfa yields from the present . average of about 3.3 tons up to six tons per acre. Plant and soil scientists at Utah State University feel that this is not at all an unrealistic goal. Paul R. Daniels, USU Extension Ex-tension area agronomist, says, "We have some good varieties on the market now and more will be on the market within about two years. With proper education on cultural practices, insect and weed control, and harvesting, there is no reason why we can't produce six ton yields in our state as an average. do have good means of control for weeds in alfalfa and it is not all done with herbicides. Having a good, start, maintaining fertility fer-tility and cutting at the right time help a great deal. A lot of weed control by chemicals is . not necessary in established alfalfa." Suggestions are given for controlling various weeds in alfalfa, including the highly persistent perennial weeds such as quackgrass. These are contained con-tained in Extension Circular 301, Chemical Weed Control Guide Utah 1976 (price 50 cents). Harvesting is criticalfor getting high yields of top quality alfalfa hay. Daniels advises, "Watch to see when the alfalfa is ready .to cut. With the better varieties we have today, we should not delay cutting much beyond the bud stage and never beyond one-tenth bloom. in quality and stop the next crop from getting started." Daniels also advises allowing enough regrowth time after the last cutting of the season to get ample storage of nutrients in the roots before freezing. Cutting just before the frost, as many farmers in the colder areas do, weakens the plants and results in a lot of winter kill. After the alfalfa freezes and is beyond danger of bloating the animals, it can be pastured if the feed is needed. Some 20 varieties of alfalfa are being tested in alfalfa variety . trials conducted by USU Extension Ex-tension in various localities over the state. Growers are invited to observe these and follow the results. This information on varieties and on weed and insect control and other recommendations recom-mendations for improving alfalfa production may be obtained from the local county Extension office. "When you cut your hay, keep at it until it is aU harvested and off the field. Some of the better varieties of alfalfa bounce back with regrowth quickly after harvesting if they have opportunity. op-portunity. However, too many farmers using highly expensive harvesting equipment to cut their hay will let the bales sit in the field until the next crop is growing up around the bales, or they may leave the hay in windrows win-drows to bleach and deteriorate "That increase would be mostly profit for the farmers. It would only take a little more water, a little more wire or twine for baling, and a bit more labor to haul it. Actually, the big expenses ex-penses for land and harvesting equipment would be the same, so most of the increase would be profit." The first suggestion he gives is to rotate the fields more often than many farmers do. He says there are too many fields of old hay, some 20 years old. These yield poorly because they have gone largely to weeds and grass. When alfalfa is to be planted, get the soil tested to make sure the phosphorous levels are adequate. Then select an alfalfa variety that does well in the particular locality. Use a nematode resistant and disease resistant variety if these are problems in the area; otherwise, the alfalfa will die out in four or five years, fertilize the new and old starts of alfalfa as needed. USU Extension Entomologist, Reed Roberts, points out that there are more than 400 different kinds of insects common to alfalfa fields. Many are beneficial and most do not present any problem to the growers. In Utah, the major insect pests of alfalfa are alfalfa weevil, lygus bugs, aphids, caterpillars, grasshoppers and nearly a dozen other common pests. The most important in Utah is the alfalfa weevil. It costs Utah growers about five million dollars annually. Many growers lose $25 to $50 an acre from the damage it does on first crop , alfalfa. These losses can be cut to a minimum by using pest management procedures or chemicals to control the alfalfa weevil. In pest management, the aim is to preserve the weevil parasite and other beneficial insects while controlling the alfalfa weevil. He gives suggestions in an alfalfa weevil control circular, control series No. 22, revised March 1976. One of the suggestions given, to stop weevil damage while minimizing harm to beneficial insects is to cut the alfalfa early and then spray the stubble with an insecticide recommended for this purpose. Daniels says irrigation is not so critical with alfalfa as with many crops since it is a deep rooted crop. However, drought stress should be avoided where possible ' and over irrigation and ponding must be avoided so as not to drown out the alfalfa. Louis A. Jensen, USU Extension Ex-tension agronomist in charge of weed control education programs, says, "In general, we |
