It sounds like a bad joke, a pest that can't survive our winters but finds a ride north to enjoy our mild spring and summers. It's no joke though, Cornell Cooperative Extension's Jeff Miller says Potato leaf hoppers are probably our most significant pest of alfalfa. And they have arrived in Central New York.

Jeff offer this description of the Potato leaf hopper.

they are lime green in color, wedge shaped and 1/8 inch in size. They have piercing sucking mouth parts that they insert into the midvein of the leaf leaving behind a toxin that disrupts conduction of fluids from the point of insertion to the leaf tip.

He adds that the pest not only destroys the crop "up to 1/2ton /acre yield losses are possible," but it can also "reduce protein content in the leaves and can reduce winter hardiness."

Walking your fields is the only way to know if you are being affected.  CCE has details on how to determine your level of infestation. The video below shows how to properly sweep your fields and what to look for.

SOURCE: Cornell Cooperative Extension - Jeff Miller

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