Seed Harvest in Early August to Reduce Losses by Seed Chalcid

HARVEST SEED IN EARLY AUGUST TO REDUCE LOSSES BY ALFALFA SEED CHALCID
The seed chalcid completes several generations during the summer and infestations tend to reach high levels in seed set during August and September. As much as 80% of seed set in mid-August has been found to be infested. The best management plan for avoiding serious losses due to the chalcid recommends that seed set should be completed by late July so harvesting operations can begin in early August. If the seed crop was not begun by early June, at the latest, to avoid serious losses it is advised that alfalfa be cut for hay and seed production not be attempted.
Richard Berberet, Alfalfa Entomologist Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Oklahoma State University

	Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK
Oklahoma Alfalfa Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station