Third cutting of alfalfa is heavily infested with potato leafhoppers. Where the large population levels came from so rapidly is a surprise. In many fields that had very low levels one week, the next week levels were as high as 2.5 PLH's per sweep. Application of control materials are being applied to give extra protection to drought stressed alfalfa stands. Wheat harvest began on July 7.
Test weights are good.
Marketing of barley has been the hard part this year as local mills are refusing to take grain. Following a period of warm temperatures and adequate soil moisture, crop growth in Central PA has begun to slow considerably in the last week. Corn plants have begun to curl their leaves each afternoon and the soybeans are not gaining much height. One interesting side effect of the weather seems to be few reports of crop damage as a result of post-emergent herbicide applications. I have seen damage on corn and soybeans.