Alfalfa - Eastern Wisconsin Update 2025
May 19, 2025
Alfalfa height is 18-22 inches tall as of the 17th. The harvest of the 1st crop will likely commence within the next week for growers looking to maximize tonnage and quality of the forage for their dairy cattle. Alfalfa Harvest Alert/Scissor Cut Information.
Alfalfa weevil feeding of alfalfa will likely begin in the Highway 23 corridor this week as 300 GDU with a base of 48F has accumulated. The final two weeks of May and the 1st week of June will be the peak feeding period of weevil feeding on alfalfa in the Hwy 23 corridor. The threshold for treatment is 40% of the stems showing signs of feeding. Early harvest of 1st crop alfalfa is a viable option to manage weevil feeding to preserve leaves. The 2nd crop regrowth needs to be monitored closely as heavy weevil feeding can prevent 2nd crop from regrowing properly. Currently little to no weevil feeding was noted in alfalfa fields in the Malone area. Pyrethroid insecticides have been effective against this early season pest of alfalfa. However, several states west of Wisconsin have populations of weevil that are resistant to the popular pyrethroids.
Alfalfa weevil feeding of alfalfa will likely begin in the Highway 23 corridor this week as 300 GDU with a base of 48F has accumulated. The final two weeks of May and the 1st week of June will be the peak feeding period of weevil feeding on alfalfa in the Hwy 23 corridor. The threshold for treatment is 40% of the stems showing signs of feeding. Early harvest of 1st crop alfalfa is a viable option to manage weevil feeding to preserve leaves. The 2nd crop regrowth needs to be monitored closely as heavy weevil feeding can prevent 2nd crop from regrowing properly. Currently little to no weevil feeding was noted in alfalfa fields in the Malone area. Pyrethroid insecticides have been effective against this early season pest of alfalfa. However, several states west of Wisconsin have populations of weevil that are resistant to the popular pyrethroids.