'Bugs' in alfalfa

DeltaRed · Jun 2, 2014

We (the area) have a bad problems with
aphids/wevils... in our alfalfa fields this year.
Even the neighbors who spray everything are getting
eaten. The neighbors are telling me that we cant
spray anymore on account of the bees.I havent
personally checked out that 'rumor'.Anyone heard
that?Btw,I'm going to cut today-what little bit of
that is left.....

randallinMo · Jun 2, 2014

We here in North central Missouri have had an unusually bad infestation of weevils this year as well. We had a late hatch as well, so spraying was delayed. When I did have to spray, I really knocked down a lot of growth. There seemed to be "two" hatches this year. The insecticide treatment didn't work nearly as good this year as in previous years. I even wondered if the chemical worked. With your decision to go in and cut "what's left"....I'd sure monitor the field to see if you are getting any regrowth. A really good practice is to spray the field 10 days after you cut it. This will kill the adults that are left. I"ve seen alfalfa fields that "just didn't come back" after the first cutting and this was the problem. I can't address the "bee" situation in your area. It may be a localized thing. The label should state what restrictions are applicable to your area.

Russ from MN · Jun 2, 2014

There is a concern about the overuse of insecticides killing off the bee population, and the bee's pollinate our crops. Last year we had a lot of pumpkin vines but very few pumpkins, possibly from poor pollination.

paul · Jun 2, 2014

Really gets into a land use, ownership, control issue doesn't it? I sympathize with the bee owners, but like other livestock, if the wander off your property they are at the mercy of whatever befalls them.

I try real hard to not overuse insecticides, but if my crop is at risk I need to do what I need to do to protect it.

I imagine bee keepers feel the same about their livestock.

I plant a 4 acre field for relatives, there is a bee keeper that puts 20 hives on the corner of the property, rarely see him. Talked to him once, said boy the aphids are coming on the soybeans, but with so few acres I'll just let it go don't want to hurt your bees.

He said no problem, won't bother, watch the wind maybe but not a big deal. The hives are less than 100 feet off the corner of the field....

Paul

Fergienewbee · Jun 2, 2014

I have noticed a dramatic drop in the number of honey bees in particular. Used to see lots in the goldenrod, mullein, wild fruit trees, etc. About all I've seen this year are bumble bees. That said, my wildlife crab apples are setting fruit as are the black raspberries. The sky may not be falling, but there is reason for concern, IMO.

Larry

Wheatfarmer · Jun 2, 2014

No Crop Bloom also kills bee's. Then there are loose windshields too. I am all for saving bee's but we have to think, and plan.

Dick2 · Jun 2, 2014

Honey Bees are being killed by a parasite called a Verola Mite that have invaded the country. My wife worked for the AZ Dept.of Agriculture and attended a lot of meetings with the bee keepers trying to come up with a solution to eradicate the mites, but so far they haven't come up with anything that works.

Bob Harvey · Jun 2, 2014

Man ! I thought you meant 'Bugs Bunny'. Dude proly wouldn't bother your crop, carrots - "watch out!"

71ford100 · Jun 2, 2014

You can still spray insecticides. Colorado (and maybe other states?) does have a website that you can look on to see if their are any active hives within 3 miles of where you are going to spray. I want to say it is called bee watch? We check it all the time over here in the Greeley area.

'Bugs' in alfalfa

DeltaRed

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randallinMo

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Russ from MN

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paul

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Fergienewbee

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Wheatfarmer

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Dick2

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Bob Harvey

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71ford100

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