Sugarcane aphid in California- adding flavor to fodder David Haviland, UCCE Kern Co.

California perspective #1 Dairy state 1.7 million ‘happy cows’ 40 billion lbs. milk valued at $9.4 billion 46% becomes cheese, 40% exported Principal forages/silages Corn- preferred but uses more water Sorghum- still good, but reduced water needs Both- used as a feed and in nitrogen management programs Sorghum acreage 1967- peaked at 451,000 acres of grain sorghum 2015- ~50,000 acres for forage/silage (stats no longer reported) CA growers do not contribute to the Sorghum Checkoff Ethanol plants may impact acreage in the future

Economic concerns Reduced yields Reduced quality Bulk tonnage Grain tonnage Reduced quality Lower % grain Loss of other nutrients Insufficient quality for dairy cattle Desiccation leads to inability to silage

What are we doing? Extension Research Management Field meetings, newsletters, talks Research None to date, maybe something in 2017 Observational data collection Central Valley vs. Imperial Valley Management Convince growers not to use Lorsban, Dimethoate, Malathion Encourage the use of Sivanto Process underway to request a 24c for Sequoia (Transform) Planting date manipulations- Sorghum early, corn late Learning from other states Deciphering which information is applicable and which is irrelevant