Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17

Outputs
Target Audience:1) Growers 2) Pest Control Advisors 3)Farm Managers andManagers of Native American Tribe Farms 4) Other agricultural professionals, industry and government officials Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The PI Organized a symposium "Advancements and challenges in alfalfa and forage pest management: a historical perspective" at the Pacific Branch meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Presentations ans speakers can be found at the following link: https://esa.confex.com/esa/2017pb/meetingapp.cgi/Session/29410 How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Planned, organized, and conducted several educational events, workshops, field days and collaborated informational sessions in 2016 and 2017 growing season including: The PI presented in all the extension events in AZ and CA. The CA C0-PI Presented in some of the Extension Events in AZ. Presentations and Extension events in AZ (3) Field Crops "Clinics" Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at Casa Grande, 67 attendees Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at Buckeye, 32 attendees Thursday, January 19, 2017 at Marana, 23 attendees The 2nd Arizona Alfalfa and Forage Crops Workshop, March 16th, 2017, Maricopa Agricultural Center, AZ. 86 attendees The 3rd Arizona Alfalfa and Forage Crops Workshop, March 29th, 2017, Maricopa Agricultural Center, AZ. 81 attendees The 3rd Workshop onNew Technologies for Field Crops, June 8th, 2016, Maricopa Agricultural Center, AZ. 92 attendees Three "Tent Talks" Thursday, July 7th, 2016 at Jason Rovey's Farms, Buckeye, 25 attendees Thursday, July 14th, 2016 at A Tumbling T Ranches, Goodyear, 21 attendees Friday, July 15th, 2016 at Pacheco's Farms, Marana, 28 attendees The 6th Annual Central Arizona Farmer Field Day, October 26, 2016. Maricopa Ag Center. https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/resources/Agenda%20Field%20Day%20Oct%2026%202016.pdf. 102 attendees Natwick, E.T., J. Richardson, M. I. Lopez and A. M. Mostafa. Alfalfa Aphid Management, The 2nd Arizona Alfalfa & Forage Crops Workshop March 16, 2016. https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/resources/Natwick%20March%2016%202016a.pdf. Mostafa, A.M. 2017. Pest Managements in Alfalfa in Arizona. https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/resources/Pest%20Managements%20in%20Alfalfa%20in%20Arizona.pdf. Presentations and Extension events in CA Date Meeting Name/Event Topic Presenter Organizer Location No. of Attendees 4/16/15 Agronomic crops and Water Conservation Field Day Blue alfalfa aphid control Eric Natwick UC ANR Cooperative Extension Imperial County Holtville, CA 69 11/12/15 Desert Valleys CAPCA Fall Continuing Education Meeting Identification and control of various aphids in alfalfa Eric Natwick Desert Valleys CAPCA El Centro, CA 45 1/21/16 Alfalfa & Forage and Chlorpyrifos Regualtory update Workshop Blue Alfalfa Aphid Eric Natwick UC ANR Cooperative Extension Imperial County and UC Statewide IPM Program El Centro, CA 37 Alfalfa IPM Ayman Mostafa Weed Management in Alfalfa Milton McGriffen Jr. 4/13/16 Agronomic Crops and Water Conservation Field Day Alfalfa Insect IPM Eric Natwick UC ANR Cooperative Extension Imperial County Holtville, CA 72 11/15/16 The 27th Annual Desert Crops Workshop Alfalfa seed insect management Eric Natwick UC ANR Cooperative Extension Imperial County El Centro, CA 56 Alfalfa hay insect management Ayman Mostafa 2/28/17 Integrated Pest Management in Irrigated Desert Alfalfa History of alfalfa pest management in the western US Jesse Richardson UC ANR Cooperative Extension Imperial County Holtville, CA ? Alfalfa pest management regulatory issue Rachel Garwal Economics of the management of alfalfa winter insect pests of the southwest low desert Ayman Mostafa Alfalfa weed pest management Pretap Devdota Alfalfa worm pest management Eric Natwick Nematode pests of alfalfa Oli Bachie Management of alfalfa pathogens Mike Matheron Leafhopper management in alfalfa Eric Natwick 3/16/17 Progressive Farmers Meeting Alfalfa IPM winter pests Ayman Mostafa UC ANR Cooperative Extension Riverside County Blythe, CA ? Alfalfa IPM summer pests Eric Natwick 4/11/17 2017 Agronomic crops and water management field day / workshop Alfalfa IPM Eric Natwick UCCE/DREC joint field day / workshop Holtville, CA ? Reestablishing alfalfa IPM treatment thresholds Ayman Mostafa Presentations at Extension events in UT Ramirez, R.A. 2017. Beneficial insects and pest management in alfalfa. Oral presentation (30 min). Weber Co. Crop School. FEB 21. Audience: 15. Farr West, UT. Ramirez, R.A. 2017. Beneficial insects and pest management in alfalfa. Oral presentation (30 min). Rich Co. Crop School. FEB 16. Audience: 12. Randolph, UT. Ramirez, R.A. 2017. Beneficial insects and pest management in alfalfa. Oral presentation (30 min). Box Elder Co. Crop School. FEB 1. Audience: 80. Tremonton, UT. Ramirez, R.A. 2017. Aphid and weevil management in alfalfa. Oral presentation (45 min). Sevier Co. Crop School. JAN 19. Audience: 80. Richfield, UT. Ramirez, R.A. 2017. Alfalfa insect management. Oral presentation (30 min). Beaver Co. Crop School. JAN 18. Audience: 60. Minersville, UT. Ramirez, R.A. 2017. Clover root curculio and alfalfa aphids. Hands-on workshop (Four 30-min sessions). Utah Hay Conference. JAN 26. Audience: 130. St. George, UT. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are planning the next phase of the project based on the proposal. Experimental sites, technical support, equipment and materials are secured. Plans for the next cycle of educational and Extension event are underway.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Reestablish the economic threshold for blue alfalfa aphid (BAA) and pea aphids (PA). The second year experimental plots were established at the Maricopa Agricultural Center based on the research proposal. Different population levels of BAA and PA produced through application of insecticides at different rates on the regrowth of alfalfa plots at Maricopa Agricultural Center. Both BAA and PA per sweep at weekly basis showed negative linear relationships with alfalfa yield. Economic loss were calculated assuming a control cost of USD 39.00 per acre corresponding to the cost of application of insecticides at recommended rates and USD 175 per tons alfalfa hay price in March 2017 when alfalfa was cut. The plots where there was significantly lower population of aphids in the season, there was significantly corresponding higher yield. Some selective insecticides controlled the aphids effectively, and the population of aphids remained below 23 BAA per sweep in each four plots through out the experimental period. This resulted in the highest yield (1.87 tons per acre) and advantage of 0.33 tons per acre (USD 57.75 per acre) over the untreated control. During this time the seasonal average of BAA and PA was 58 and 544 per sweep on the untreated check and 31 and 236 per sweep for this selective insecticide treated plots. In 2016, the alfalfa loss in the untreated check was 0.55 tons per acre; and the seasonal average of aphids' populations (4 recording times) during that time was 227 BAA and 2334 PA per sweep on the untreated check. Similarly, 0.38 per acre hay yield loss was recorded in 2015 with corresponding seasonal population (3 recording time) of 20 BAA and 70 PA per sweep on the untreated check. Objective 2: Investigate the efficacy of selective vs. broad-spectrum insecticides for the management of alfalfa aphids. Eleven insecticides including two microbial insecticides were evaluated from January to mid March 2017 at University of Arizona's Maricopa Agricultural Center (MAC) for the management of alfalfa aphids. The trial has demonstrated reduced aphids' populations and in all cases lowers populations were counted due to insecticides application compared to untreated controls. The cumulative aphids' population (seasonal total pea aphids of six times counting) during the experimental period was 55 PA and 6 BAA aphids per stem on untreated control. Each insecticides treatment had significantly fewer seasonal PA and BAA than the untreated check. Malathion & Gamma cyhalothrin, Endigo ZCX, Cobalt advanced; Sivanto and Mustang insecticides treatments effectively controlled both BAA and PA populations compared to other insecticides for the entire experimental period. Treatments were significantly different for dry-matter yield. PA and BAA population per stem sample showed significant negative linear relationships with dry-matter yield. All insecticide treated plots resulted in higher and for some significantly higher hay yields as compared to the untreated check. Plots treated with Malathion & Gamma cyhalothrin, Cobalt advanced, Mustang and Endigo, exhibited the higher hay yield probably because of the plots treated with them had the lowest numbers of cumulative PA and BAA per stem. The second highest yield was recorded on plots treated with microbial insecticides PFR-97 in spite of higher population of aphids found on this plot. This is probably Isaria fumosorosea (Pfr-97) infected the aphids and incapacitates their function to the extent aphids could not feed and damages the crops. The present higher yield on Isaria fumosorosea (Pfr-97) treated plots might have also contributed to those all factors that the fungus positively affects in promoting and improving healthy alfalfa plant growth. Entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana (commercial formulations, BotaniGard) and Isaria fumosorosea (Pfr-97) are primarily used for controlling arthropod pests.This is the first field study evaluating the impact of the entomopathogenic fungus on alfalfa aphids control and yield of alfalfa in Arizona. Objective 3: Provide IPM training on alfalfa pest management and collect baseline data from PCAs in AZ and CA on current pest management practices for aphids in alfalfa. Analyzing the economic thresholds used, insecticide use survey, and general knowledge on alfalfa insect pests and IPM principles have been continued to update the pest management guidelines for major insect pests of alfalfa hay in the low desert region. The promising results so far obtained through this research in getting selective and Bioinsecticides, such as Isaria fumosorosea (PFR 97) that can address the concern of alfalfa industry in the continual use of broad spectrum insecticides communicated to growers and PCAs as alternative to growers to minimize ecological impact on non - target organisms. This research continue identifying the presence and spread of an entomopathogenic fungi and investigation on microbial insecticides that controls some of agricultural most devastating pests as part of IPM. This beneficial biological control agent helped to naturally decrease aphid populations in many parts of central Arizona and SE California. As a result of this important finding of the aphid infection, the research team effectively communicated the finding of the natural biocontrol. More importantly, thousands of acres of alfalfa received no insecticide application for aphid control in central Arizona, and subsequently, across the alfalfa production area of the low desert. The results from the trial and the alfalfa IPM survey provided the research and economic information that assisted in the registration of Sivanto, selective insecticide and for the application for emergency section 18 for Transform. The result was encouraging the second time registration for a selective insecticide targeting specifically aphids in alfalfa in Arizona. The 2016 and 2017 surveys showed that Sivanto the only selective insecticide registered for use in alfalfa in Arizona represented about 55% of the total use of insecticides against alfalfa aphids compared to 25% of the 2015 and 2016 survey, or none before the 2015.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Natwick, E.T., J. Richardson, M. I. Lopez and A. M. Mostafa. Alfalfa Aphid Management, The 2nd Arizona Alfalfa & Forage Crops Workshop March 16, 2016. https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/resources/Natwick%20March%2016%202016a.pdf. Mostafa, A.M. 2017. Pest Managements in Alfalfa in Arizona. https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/resources/Pest%20Managements%20in%20Alfalfa%20in%20Arizona.pdf.

Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16

Outputs
Target Audience:1) Growers 2) Pest Control Advisors 3) Managers of Native American farming collectives 4) Tribal farm boards 5) Other agricultural professionals Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The PI involved in the following two PD opportunities related to the project in 2016the North America Forage Alliance (NAFA) in Wisconsin. The ESA Pacific Branch Meeting in Hawaii.?? How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The planning, organizing, and conducting several related educational events in 2015/2016, including: Field Crops "Clinic" in Arizona. Four "Tent Talks" in July and August in Arizona. Two Arizona Alfalfa and Forage Crops Workshops. Alfalfa meeting in California. Alfalfa Forage IPM and Chlorpyrifos Regulatory Update Agenda in California. Desert Ag Conference in Arizona. Two Workshop on New Technologies for Field Crops in Arizona. The fifth Central Arizona Farmer Field Day. At These events, the PI and CoPI provided clientele with information related to the research conducted across the year. Over 1000 participants were recorded at the 2015 educational courses with over 30 Continuing Education Units offered to the clientele. The research team presented at each of these events timely topics or provided research updates. Many of these events were organized by the PI or CoPI. Large number of calls and emails related to the research topic have been answered by the research team in their prospective area, of which, several calls/emails resulted in farm visits. The majority of these calls were related to alfalfa pest management, especially aphids and Egyptian alfalfa weevil. During educational events, farm visits by the research team, and different digital communications, PCAs and growers were informed about the results of the efficacy trials conducted to manage the aphid populations in alfalfa. Many of these calls and visits resulted in the adoption of the recommendations to manage these pests. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are planning the next phase of the project based on the proposal. Experimental sites, technical support, equipement and materials are secured. Plans for the next cycle of educational and Extension event are underway.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The first year of research and outreach activities laid the foundation for this project's objectives t be accomblished based on the research plan. This project responded quickly to an outbreak problem of alfalfa aphids in the low desert of Arizona and SE California. With uncertainty about the efficacy of commonly used insecticides against these pests, the efficacy and comparison experiments since 2014, including this research, tested 26 different insecticide treatments against aphids in alfalfa. The results from these trials and the alfalfa IPM survey provided the research and economic information that assisted in the registration of Sivanto™ insecticide and for the application for emergency section 18 for Transform™. This was the first time registration for a selective insecticide targeting specifically aphids in alfalfa in Arizona. The legal issue facing the a.i of Transform stopped the effort for section 18 application. While our surveys in 2014 showed that 100% of the insecticides used to control alfalfa were broadspectrum insecticides, the 2015 and 2016 surveys showed that Sivanto™, the only selective insecticide registered for use in alfalfa in Arizona represented about 25% of the total use of insecticides specifically against alfalfa aphids. The research field experiments conducted by the PI and CoPI provided the clientele with an array of solutions to select for specific pest control needs. The efficacy trials comparing insecticides against aphids were the first to be conducted for Arizona since early 1990's. With personal communications, email exchanges, and direct recommendations to PCA's and alfalfa growers, the results of these trials provided solutions to control alfalfa aphids in central Arizona. The growers and PCA's now rely upon and follow this research's recommendations to manage these pests. Further refinements for alfalfa pest control were derived from the field experiments include mixing two insecticides with different modes of action or from different chemical groups. Newly developed alfalfa IPM strategies to mitigate aphid populations include cutting hay early and utilize the new selective insecticides to conserve natural enemies. This research identified the presence and spread of an entomopathogenic fungi that infected aphids in alfalfa in 2015 and 2016. This beneficial biological control agent helped to naturally decrease aphid populations in many parts of central Arizona and SE California. As a result of this important finding of the aphid infection, the research team effectively communicated the finding of the natural biocontrol. More importantly, thousands of acres of alfalfa received no insecticide application for aphid control in central Arizona, and subsequently, across the alfalfa production area of the low desert. This research grant was essential for the research team's success in awarded one of national competitive grants for the2016 USDA-NIFA, Alfalfa and Forage Research Program (AFRP) to investigate IPM Recommendations for alfalfaweevils in Alfalfa Hay in the Low Desert (Proposal Number 2016-06097 "Overhauling Alfalfa Weevil Management in Irrigated Southwest Desert Alfalfa). This Extension team was also awarded another grants valued at ~$30,000 from the Western IPM Center to enhance educational and outreach efforts for alfalfa IPM.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: " Mostafa, A.M. (2016) Management of winter insect pests of hay alfalfa in the southwest desert. Entomological Society of America  Pacific Branch. Honolulu, HI. " Mostafa, A.M. (2016) Re-Establishing IPM Recommendations for Aphids in Alfalfa Hay in the Low Desert. The 2016 Joint Conference of NAAIC, Grass Breeders, & Trifolium Conference. Madison, WI.