Survey Responses

The Oklahoma Alfalfa Hay & Seed Association has been in existence since 1977. During these 26 years, the amount activity and accomplishments have varied widely. Over the years the Association has played an important role of bringing together alfalfa producers, researchers, extension personnel, and industry representatives. The last issue of the NEWS contained a survey to help understand what the membership wants. A summary of the results follows:

NR* = No Response

Rank the importance to you of the following  offerings/activities at HAY-DAY. (1 = high, 5 = low)	1	2	3	4	5	NR*
Stationary machinery exhibits	3	12	2	4	1	5
Stationary products exhibits	3	11	4	3	0	6
Machinery field demonstrations	7	11	2	1	1	5
Educational presentations	8	8	4	1	0	6
Viewing test plots on the research station	8	7	2	4	0	6
Interacting with -
Fellow producers	10	7	2	1	1	6
Equipment & material suppliers	9	7	2	0	1	8
OSU personnel	14	7	1	0	1	4
	Yes	No	NR*
Will you probably attend HAY-DAY in 2003 if possible?	22	4	1
RESPONSES TO ANNUAL MEETING QUESTIONS
	Yes	No	NR*
Should there be an Annual Meeting?	23	0	4
Where should Annual Meetings be held?	No. of response
"Oklahoma City" or "a central location"	--	10
Chickasha	--	6.5
Stillwater	--	1.5
No response	--	6
What should be included on the program, in addition to the business meeting?	Number of responses
Nothing, just election of board members	3
No response	5
Others (suggestions included with comments below)	19
	Yes	No	NR*
Are you willing to serve on the Board of Directors?	11	8	8

* NR = No response

The membership of the Association should not hesitate to contact any of the members of the board of directors to let them know what you think about the Association and its activities.

Comments and Suggestions from the Membership
(each bold number is another persons remarks)

1. Statewide meetings are not as important as regional meetings. The Annual Meeting should be only board of directors only. 2. The newsletter is excellent. It gives timely information, easy to read. 3. The Annual Meeting should be at a field day, every other year. 4. The Association does a good job of pulling together research, producers, etc., but it should work on marketing and teaching cattlemen the value of alfalfa. 5. Rotate the Annual Meeting statewide. 6. Advertise meetings in regional newspapers, concentrate education program on "back to the basics". 7. Comparison of machinery rather than just view. The Annual Meeting should not be during the growing season and should include a field tour. 8. Include machinery exhibit at the Annual Meeting. 9. The Annual Meeting should have an intense management meeting on soil fertility. 10. The Association should have central business meetings with board members and anyone else who may wants to attend; Educational meetings should be organized with the extension centers or other organizations who can get a crowd of individuals interested in alfalfa production. 11. We need information about super conditioners. 12. A speaker outside OSU (another university or farm business or an out-of-state producer) should be considered for the Annual Meeting. 13. President of the board is the problem with the Association. 14. The Annual Meeting program should be anything to enhance return or economics of new technology. 15. New chemicals or films from industry about equipment would be good topics for the Annual Meeting. 16. Have a trade show. 17. Have the Annual Meeting and Hay-Day together. It is important to keep the state Association. 18. The Annual Meeting should include an educational presentation. 19. Nominations of directors should be requested in the NEWS and voting for directors should be by mail. There is no need to have directors from non-alfalfa areas. The Annual Meeting program should include directions of alfalfa research; duties and responsibilities of being involved in the Association; and comparative research on types of haying and hauling equipment. The only time I know anything about Hay-Day is the day the agenda arrives (with all the decisions already made). If there is to be an election of a new board member, no one will know it until you get to the meeting. If you don’t watch out, someone may cancel the board meeting without consulting with the board. I don’t know my purpose as a director of the Association.

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Alfalfa Weevil Model

With spring approaching it is time for alfalfa producers in Oklahoma to consult the newly revised agricultural weather site designed and maintained by the Oklahoma Mesonet. Many of you may be familiar with the Mesonet's diverse array of agricultural products, including the Alfalfa Weevil model. These models have been available to Oklahoma's agricultural community for several years, but with the new site accessing these products has never been easier. The AgWeather web site is a free public site that provides agricultural producers with information on current weather, soil information, commodity information, market links and much more.

The alfalfa weevil model is a management tool to help you determine the need for and proper timing of insecticide applications to avoid serious alfalfa weevil damage. The model will calculate the degree-day totals (base of 48 degrees Fahrenheit) since January 1. If the degree-day total exceeds 150, scouting will have to be done to determine the current height of the alfalfa, and the number of alfalfa weevil larvae in a 30-stem sample.

With 115 towers spread across the state of Oklahoma, producers can simply select the tower closest to their field and get the current degree-day totals. To access the model, simply go to the web address http://agweather.mesonet.org. Users will need to download the free WxScope plugin displayed on the home page.

After you have loaded the plugin, click on "crops" then on "Alfalfa" and on the "Alfalfa Weevil Model". First time users are encouraged to read the "model description" section on the web page to fully understand how the model is designed and the proper scouting procedures that will need to be completed. Once the scouting information is at hand, the grower can obtain the model's recommendation through use of the "Interactive Spraying Recommendation Form." Simply click on the Mesonet site closest to your location, fill in the larvae numbers and alfalfa height, and click on "submit". Other information contained in this model include the current output, seasonal output, a spraying recommendation table, alfalfa weevil pictures for identification, and links to related alfalfa sites.

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ALFALFA WEEVIL LARVAE ARE HATCHING throughout most of Oklahoma, and despite the cold temperatures experienced statewide during the last two weeks, some larvae are surviving and beginning to cause feeding damage. Also, the degree-day accumulations from January 1 are above 150 for most parts of the State. The Bottom Line!! It is time to check alfalfa fields for weevils virtually anywhere in Oklahoma.

Damaging populations are most likely at the current time in southern Oklahoma. However, the latest samples in northern Oklahoma had up to 35% of plant terminals infested with first instar larvae. With the cold weather that has occurred, and the egg counts reported by Phil Mulder at much lower levels than last year, it is critical to sample fields carefully using the "shake-bucket" method to determine if and when spraying may be necessary.

–Richard Berberet
Alfalfa Entomologist
Entomology & Plant Pathology

INSECT ALERT - APHIDS

APHIDS INFESTATIONS ARE PRESENT in many parts of Oklahoma. The most common species observed at the present time is the cowpea aphid, which is easily recognized by its black color. Although the cowpea aphid does not have the potential to kill plants as often occurs with the spotted alfalfa aphid and blue alfalfa aphid, with high numbers it can cause stunting and delay new growth of alfalfa. The economic threshold for the cowpea aphid is similar to that for the pea aphid; which for alfalfa that is only 1-3 inches tall would be less than 40 aphids per stem. When alfalfa is very short, treatment should be considered when aphid numbers exceed 50 per crown. In some areas of central Oklahoma, very high numbers of cowpea aphids have been observed, and some fields have been sprayed.

–Richard Berberet
Alfalfa Entomologist
Entomology & Plant Pathology

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Alfalfa weevil egg populations and viabilities for both January and February are in Table 1. In addition, the degree days through March 5, 2003 are presented in the last column. On February 19 and 20, 2003 we sampled sites across the state for alfalfa weevil eggs and found that numbers had decreased from the January counts in six of the 11 counties sampled. In addition, egg viability readings remained quite steady at around 80% on average. Degree-days suggest that we are at or near hatch in seven of the eleven locations. This weather forecast has change that dramatically, with a forecast of warm temperatures. Continue to be on the watch for aphids, particularly cowpea aphids. Populations of cowpea aphids, have been quite alarming, with numbers approaching several hundred per stem in Grady County. High populations have also been noted in Garvin county. The recent snows, rain and colder temperatures hopefully decreased these populations somewhat.

Remember, as far as alfalfa weevil populations are concerned, 150 degree days represents the level that serves as an indicator for growers and consultants to begin scouting for larvae which have already been seen in some of these southern locations. Most of these young larvae are too small and the numbers are too light to justify treatment; however, weekly scouting will help growers anticipate the best treatment timing.

- - Phil Mulder and Kelly Seuhs
Extension Entomologist and Extension Assistant

* If no viability in a specific county means that numbers of eggs recovered were insufficient to conduct an assessment.

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COMMENTS

I was happy and surprised at the number of individuals who took the time to send in their comments about the Association. It shows that the membership wants to contribute their two cents. This is important for a viable organization. If you have something to say but have not said it yet, go ahead and send in your comments and suggestions to any of the directors.

-- John Caddel, Life Member, Treasurer, Former Secretary,
and Forage Agronomist, OSU