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Expect delayed pest pressure in alfalfa

Rebecca Vittetoe with Iowa State University says cool conditions slowed growth this spring.

An extension agronomist expects delayed pest pressure in alfalfa.

“Usually when we put out our comment about now is the time that we could potentially start to see alfalfa weevils being active in fields based off of Growing Degree days, I couldn’t even use my sweep net in an alfalfa field because it was only 4 inches tall.”

She tells Brownfield alfalfa has shot up because of warmer weather the past two weeks.

“It’s over a foot tall now, so I think with this heat we’ll kind of catch back up to where we normally are as far as alfalfa growth goes. And I can also confirm I am seeing a little bit of alfalfa weevil (pressure) out there in fields.”

Vittetoe, who covers east central and southeast Iowa, says the numbers aren’t that high yet but she encourages farmers to keep an eye out for alfalfa weevil.