Year-Round IPM Program Pages
Established Stands
This year-round program covers the major pests of established stands of alfalfa hay in California. For planting and establishing stands of alfalfa see Planting and Establishing a Stand.
About Fall
- Special issues of concern related to water quality: drift, runoff due to rain, irrigation.
What should you be doing during this time?
Time harvests by evaluating pest problems, irrigation, and weather.
Survey weeds just after the alfalfa is cut.
- Keep records on a monitoring form .
- Plan on late fall through winter weed management strategies.
Monitor aphids and their natural enemies.
- Keep records on a monitoring form.
- Manage if needed according to the Pest Management Guidelines.
Monitor caterpillars. Consider early harvest to reduce losses.
- Keep records on a monitoring form .
- Manage if needed according to the Pest Management Guidelines.
Consider field sanitation:
- Harvest disease- and stem nematode-free fields before infested fields.
- Avoid moving contaminated farm machinery or livestock from a field infested with stem nematodes or disease to a clean field.
- Be careful when using return water because pathogens and nematodes can be carried in recirculated irrigation water.
Look for signs of vertebrates, such as gophers, meadow voles, or ground squirrels.
- Manage if needed according to the Pest Management Guidelines