Three Stripe Blister Beetle
The three strip blister beetle is the one we watch for of the 80+ known blister beetles that exist and amongst the 7-8 that are know to inhabit the central mid-west. This is the blister beetle that will cause the most damage with the fewest number of beetles.
We also do not warrant any of our hay, alfalfa or brome, free of beetle under any condition largely due to the scams seeking insurance payments for supposed horse deaths.
For all buyers the Kansas State University and Texas A&M University (College Station) have excellent online libraries about alfalfa itself and the alfalfa - blister beetle - horse connections far better than can be expressed in this web site. Reading these sources of direct research from independent, informed parties is the best source of alfalfa and insect pest topics available than the more common rumor and conjecture passed around by horse people.
The issue on blister beetle is that it is risk management just as any other risk. The risk itself cannot be 100% protected against. The producer and buyer can only take action to degrade the degree of risk.
A sampling of some conditions that either increase or decrease the degree of risk associated with alfalfa and the blister beetle is shown in the chart below. Caution: this web site is not intended to educate the buyer on blister beetle. The earlier cited online research universities are the best source of such information. This risk analysis is intended to show that we are cognizant of the risks involved, try to guard against them, and why we and no one else can ever guarantee blister beetle free alfalfa. Nature simply is not that controllable. To think otherwise is simply to be foolish and places every animal at risk.
Blister Beetle Risk Factors
There is one test any buyer can execute to develop further knowledge of what may be described as "Certified Blister Beetle Free Alfalfa". Research online that phrase, "certified blister beetle free alfalfa", and two basic sources develop. The first will be those that produce or promote the use of alfalfa and the second are the university research centers with an interest in alfalfa growth, production and usage.
Those that promote the sale and use of alfalfa will claim there is "certified blister beetle free alfalfa" while the university research centers will provide explanation why no producer should or can claim any alfalfa to be blister beetle free. Further those that do claim their alfalfa to be certified blister beetle free typically do not define what that "certification" is, how demonstrated or proofed or what recourse the buyer has.
Load Planning
A texas buyer that loaded 315 small square alfalfa bales onto his 40 goose neck trailer without ramp deck pulled by a 3/4 ton truck.
We recognize many different experience levels with those that buy our hay. In that regard this picture has much value. The bales if placed square to the stack and trailer will transport better through less vibration caused migration of the stack while on the road. Hay should be fully covered by canvas to prevent sun bleach and water damage during transport. The canvas tarp front, or leading edge, is tucked under the first bales at the bottom of the trailer front to insure it stays put when traveling down the highway. Tie down crossing straps should be planned for every four foot of load length plus two that run the load length from front to back.
In short and once again no way at any time will we ever claim our alfalfa to be blister beetle free. What we do is to insure we have read the direct research from authoritative sources without bias towards buyers or producers to make us aware of the risks and do the best we can to minimize those risks.