Project Overview

Reports

Commodities

• Agronomic: hay, medics/alfalfa

Target Pests

Practices

• Pest Management: chemical control, pesticides

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is an important forage in the North Central region. More than 257 million tons of alfalfa hay was produced from 2018-2022 in the United States, with a value exceeding $47.5 billion (USDA-NASS). More than 44 percent of alfalfa production in the United States from 2018-2022 occurred in the North Central region (USDA-NASS). Diseases, insect pests, and disorders threaten the quality and quantity of alfalfa and can reduce stand duration. Management strategies include planting resistant varieties, seed-applied fungicides, foliar insecticides, foliar fungicides, and cultural practices. Managing disease and insect pests in alfalfa begins with regular field scouting and sampling techniques. An Alfalfa Pest Management (APM) Working Group was created to determine top disease and insect pest priorities and develop outreach. Using working group funding from the North Central Integrated Pest Management Center (NCIPMC), the APM Working Group met and worked towards creating alfalfa resources for two years beginning in March 2021. The current APM Working Group proposal aims to facilitate communication with a multidisciplinary team of alfalfa pest management experts and develop alfalfa management resources. To accomplish the stated goal and address NCIPMC desired outcomes, we propose four objectives: 1) Alfalfa Pest Management Working Group meets to inform outreach activities. The APM Working Group will discuss pest management outreach activities for the North Central region and beyond and review proposed outputs. 2) Develop focused, long-form alfalfa pest management publications. Previous APM Working Group efforts have been published and promoted through the Crop Protection Network (www.cropprotectionnetwork.org). The CPN provides a robust landing place for alfalfa-related information and has offered to house new alfalfa-related outputs. We propose to develop several overview publications on alfalfa diseases. 3) Create an alfalfa fungicide use efficacy guide. We propose to develop an alfalfa fungicide resource to be posted at CPN. Group members have efficacy trials that can provide data for efficacy ratings, and members have alfalfa fungicide data awaiting analysis that could be used to help inform a publication. If we do not have enough information to develop a fungicide efficacy guide, we can develop and publish fungicide use guidelines for alfalfa. 4) Generate funding-assisted alfalfa resource promotion. We propose to elevate alfalfa-related content on X using the Quick Promote 25 times at appropriate times during the season on the CPN X account. Through these objectives, we will continue to create alfalfa pest management outreach available for farmers and crop protection specialists and increase awareness of alfalfa-related resources. If successful, the outputs will increase knowledge and lead to better alfalfa pest management.

1) Alfalfa Pest Management Working Group meets to inform outreach activities; 2) Develop focused, long-form alfalfa pest management publications; 3) Create an alfalfa fungicide use efficacy guide; and 4) Generate funding-assisted alfalfa resource promotion.