Alfalfa crop not exempt from insect pressure

By Kylene Scott

A mild winter and an unusually warm spring have created a perfect storm for the insect population in many crops. Alfalfa is no different this year.

Insect scouting in alfalfa is an important part of the management process, and can help or hinder the quality of the hay resulting.

"Crop monitoring/scouting is extremely important for all crops but especially alfalfa," Jeff Whitworth, associate professor of entomology, Kansas State University, said. "Because alfalfa is a perennial and usually has a canopy, it provides a great habitat for all kinds of insects, including beneficials and pests, but mostly insects that are neither. So, it is imperative that the insects are correctly identified."

Bruce Bosley, a cropping systems and natural resources Colorado State University Extension agent in Logan and Morgan counties, said walking the fields and pulling samples of plants to see what is out there is key. In his area of Colorado, the alfalfa weevil is No. 1 on the list of insect enemies.

"With alfalfa weevil, the timing is pretty important and the reason that you scout for it is you are looking to reduce the amount of skeletalization that you usually get," Bosley said. "With alfalfa weevil you lose a fair amount of the quality of the alfalfa."

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