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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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