It's said the first cut is the deepest – for forages, it's also the longest in terms of plant development and giving pesky insects the opportunity to snack on the growing crop.

Christine O'Reilly, forage and grazing specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), discusses how the season is going so far in preparation for (or shortly after) the first cut for many forage farmers, as well as scouting and management tips for alfalfa weevil and potato leafhopper, the two major insect pests with which Ontario forage growers must contend.

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Show notes

• fieldcropnews.com
• Ontario Crop Protection Hub
• Publication 811, OMAFRA's Agronomy Guide for Field Crops
• May 2022 Ontario forage report
• Potato leafhopper in alfalfa
• Alfalfa weevil

This episode is sponsored by Ag Direct Hail Insurance.