As Temperatures Rise, So Does Alfalfa Weevil Feeding

Andy VanceDairy Business, Education, Nutrition, Production, University

Scouting for field crop insects is not just left to corn and soybean growers. Now is the time for alfalfa producers to begin scouting their fields for alfalfa weevil, an insect that can cause severe defoliation if left unchecked.

Many areas across the country have warmed up enough to where alfalfa weevil feeding will become more prevalent. Growers in the South should be scouting fields now, and in the central and northern cornbelt, being scouting fields over the next one to two weeks.

Ohio State University research entomologist Ron Hammond notes that “alfalfa weevil feeding is tied to temperatures. The need for scouting is especially true in southern counties where heat unit accumulation has reached the 300 heat units needed for egg hatch and beginning feeding. Remember that fields that have a south-facing slope tend to warm up sooner and need to be checked for weevil earlier.”

To effectively scout alfalfa fields, entomologists recommend that growers collect a series of three 10-stem randomly selected samples from various locations in a field. Place the stems in a bucket and vigorously shake them, counting the number of alfalfa larvae that fall into the bucket. The height of the alfalfa also should be recorded.

“Economic threshold is based on the number of larvae per stem, the size of the larvae and the height of the alfalfa,” Hammond said. “The detection of one or more large larvae per stem on alfalfa that is 12 inches or less in height indicates a need for rescue treatment. Where alfalfa is between 12 and 16 inches in height, the action threshold should be increased to two to four larvae per stem depending on the vigor of alfalfa growth.”

The adult alfalfa weevil is a small, brown, snout-nosed beetle with a dark stripe down its back. The alfalfa weevil larva is green with a black head and a white stripe down its back. The larvae develop through four stages, or instars. Larvae that are in their third or fourth instar cause the most foliar injury. First cuttings of alfalfa are at the highest risk for defoliation damage.

“Fields that are severely defoliated are left with a brown or bronze appearance,” Hammond said. “Once you see it you don’t forget it.”

The alfalfa weevil is controlled naturally by parasitoids — beneficial species that prey on the weevil and help keep its populations in check. In cases of high populations, the alfalfa weevil can be controlled with insecticides.

Pumping Even More Milk in March

Andy VanceDairy Business, Milk, Production

Production continues to rise, even as prices continue to regress. USDA announced total output for the 23 major dairy states was up 5.5% in March from a year ago standing at 14.6 billion pounds, which was also six million pounds over February’s production. California leads dairy states in production, marketing 3.4 billion pound last month. New Mexico recorded the largest percentage increase with 663 million pounds, 15.1% over March 2005. Cow numbers are up, contributing to the production gains. Adding 124,000 head over March 2005, and 17,000 over last month, the 23 dairy states boast a herd of 8.22 million head.

Jersey Breeders Have New Rep to Rely On

Andy VanceDairy Business, Dairy Group, Membership, Milk, Production, Promotion

Iowa native Sarah Mullen is moving to the Buckeye State as the new Customer Service Coordinator for National All Jersey, Inc. Mullen will handle a number of member support services, including market analysis publications, milk marketing activities, and marketing, government, and trade policies. Mullen will make her move to the Columbus area when she graduates from Iowa State next month wither her degrees in Dairy Science and Agricultural Business. National All-Jersey Inc. was formed to promote the increased production and sale of Jersey milk and milk products, and to promote Jersey cattle and the interests of breeders of Jersey cattle.

Fort Dodge Launches New Animal Health Site

Andy VanceDairy Business, Industry News, Media, Production

Chances are you’ve used at least one of the biological and pharmaceutical products manufactured by Fort Dodge Animal Health. Now, you can access information about those products, the diseases they treat, and the animals they aim to heal, all via 600 informative pages on a new site launched by Fort Dodge this week. Searchable by species, product name, and category of disease, the site is functional for producers and veterinarians. You’ll be able to see acutal product labels, as well as additional documents, research, and data pertaining to each product. The site has a comprehensive dairy section, as well as segments on beef, swine, and equine animals.

MILC Money is On the Way

Andy VanceAgribusiness, Dairy Business, Government, Milk

The Farm Service Agency announced this week that Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) payments are being processed. The Deficit Reduction Act passed late last year extended the MILC program to September of 2007, providing a dairy with a monthly payment equal to the milk quantity sold in that month multiplied by 34% of the difference between $16.94/cwt and the month’s Class I price. Operations are eligible for payments up to 2.4 million pounds of milk produced and marketed per dairy per fiscal year. The current sign-up phase will expire May 17th for the ’06-’07 fiscal years.

Dairy Processor Named One of Top US Small Businesses

Andy VanceAgribusiness, Dairy Business, Government, Milk

Washington DC in Spring is typically known for its Cherry Blossoms, but for Barbara and Leroy Shatto, they might remember meeting George W. Bush more than they’ll remember the trees. The Shatto’s met the President the day their Osborn, MO dairy company was named Runner-up for Small Business of the Year by the US Small Business Administration. Shatto Milk Company won their state award earlier this year, and were recognized for their sucess in expanding a century old family dairy farm with a 3,000 square foot bottling plant in 2003, increasing revenue 139% in two years, adding 65 stores to their marketing area, and adding 24 employees. They process their own cows’ produce, managing their 200 holsteins on 400 acres outside Kansas City. The hightlight of the award may very well have been delivering Shatto Milk to President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney for a working lunch the day after their recognition.

Camel Milk Production Faces Humps

Chuck ZimmermanInternational, Milk, Production

Camel Milking in MauritaniaApparently there’s a lot of humps in the road for the growth in production and distribution of camel milk. The Food and Agriculture Organization hopes that these humps can be hurdled though.

From the Western Sahara to Mongolia demand is booming for camel milk. But there just isn’t enough to go round. State-of-the art camel rearing is rudimentary, and much of the 5.4 million tonnes of milk produced every year by the world population of some 20 million camels is guzzled by young camels themselves.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) thus sees bright prospects for camel dairy products, which could not only provide more food to people in arid and semi-arid areas, but also give nomadic herders a rich source of income. FAO is hoping financing will come forward from donors and investors to develop the sector not only at local level but help camel milk move into lucrative markets in the Middle East and the West. “The potential is massive,” says FAO’s Dairy and Meat expert Anthony Bennett. “Milk is money”.

You can read more about this story here.

Saputo Acquires German Cheese Manufacturer

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Cheese, International

SaputoCanadian dairy processor Saputo just got bigger. They claim to be the biggest dairy processor in Canada.

Saputo Inc. has completed the transaction announced on March 29, 2006 for the acquisition of the activities of Spezialitäten-Käserei De Lucia GmbH, a German cheese manufacturer producing Italian cheese specialties such as mozzarella, ricotta and mascarpone.

Spezialitäten-Käserei De Lucia GmbH employs approximately 60 people at its manufacturing facility located in Heiden, Germany. The company’s revenues in its last fiscal year were approximately Euro 20 million. These assets will complement Saputo’s current activities in Canada, the United States and Argentina.

FDA Approves Fort Dodge Flunixaminer

Andy VanceDairy Business, Industry News, Milk, Production

So what, exactly, is a Flunixaminer? An injection for use in lactating dairy cows, apparently. Fort Dodge Animal Health just received FDA approval for their branded injection of flunixin meglumine. Flunixaminer is a therapy to control fevers associated with BRD and endotoxemia. These potentially deadly health issues are associated with severe stress, inability to fight infection, and lower milk quality. By reducing pyrexia, also known as fever, the injection helps control inflammation and other symptoms with only 36 hour milk withdrawal and four day meat withdrawal, with approval covering lactating cows and heifers. Flunixamine has been available previously in both the equine and beef industries, so your vet is likely to be familiar already.