Potato Leafhopper Scouting in Alfalfa and Red Clover

 

Some alfalfa fields have been harvested for the first time and now is the time to scout the regrowth in those fields for potato leafhoppers (PLH).  At our Western Agricultural Research Center near South Charleston, OH the PLH numbers last week in early alfalfa regrowth were generally about half the number needed to reach economic treatment thresholds. However, PLH populations can change quickly, and second crop regrowth should be scouted at least on a weekly basis. The forage this year is valuable because of low forage supplies, so protecting the crop from this insect is especially important and we might want to consider treatment at lower than normal population counts.