Sheep and Goat Production

Sheep and Goat Production

Discussing current topics in Ontario sheep and goat production

All posts tagged haylage

How do I manage alfalfa weevil?

How do I manage alfalfa weevil?

Posted on Author Christine O'Reilly, OMAFRA Forage & Grazing SpecialistPosted in Forage, ForageLeave a Reply

Alfalfa weevil is a major alfalfa pest in Ontario. Larvae feeding on alfalfa leaves can reduce both yield and forage quality.  The simple answer As alfalfa gets taller it can tolerate more weevils before action is necessary to protect forage yield and quality. Action thresholds for managing alfalfa weevil are as follows:  Stem Height Number of larvae per stem Up to 30 cm (12 in.) More than 1 Up to 40 cm (16 in.) 2 or more Any height More than 3 A little more information Alfalfa weevil larvae begin feeding in mid- to late-May, beginning with the leaf buds. The larvae then move to leaves near the stem tips, where damage starts off as pinholes (Figure 1) and progresses…

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Ontario Forage Review 2018

Ontario Forage Review 2018

Posted on Author Christine O'Reilly, OMAFRA Forage & Grazing SpecialistPosted in ForageLeave a Reply

Fall and Winter Conditions Rain delays in 2017 pushed harvest in some areas into the critical fall harvest period. Root reserves that contribute to winter hardiness and promote spring growth were reduced. Many fields across the province were harvested when soils were still wet from frequent rainfall. Soil compaction in forage fields was a silent yield thief in 2018; research has shown compaction can reduce yields between 6-75% in grass stands. Winter conditions were equally challenging: across the province, several freeze-thaw cycles occurred between January and April. While agronomists report most of the province experienced less alfalfa winter-kill than expected, northeastern Ontario had severe winter-kill in alfalfa and grasses. Winter injury was most common in low-lying areas, heavy-textured soils, and…

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