The drought conditions affecting some forage-producing areas of the country have seen an uptick in blister beetle activity. Blister beetles are rarely problematic in the Upper Midwest, but drought conditions increase the concern for blister beetle-infested alfalfa.

University researchers are testing methods for controlling herbicide-resistant weeds at harvest.

Pocket gophers are often the most damaging vertebrate pests in alfalfa. The amount and form of damage they cause can be quite varied but includes a loss in vigor and/or mortality of plants, damage to subsurface drip lines and loss of irrigation water down burrow systems.

I know just enough about social media to be dangerous. I don’t spend a lot of time online, but I do belong to some forage groups, and I enjoy following some of the questions and debates. Recently, a fertilizer discussion caught my eye.