odder is the common name for the group of plants in the genus Cuscuta· It is a serious weed in nearly all the legume seed producing areas of southern and western United States (5). Dodder is of major economic importance in the production of alfalfa, lespedeza, clover, and of less importance in such crops as flax, onions, sugar beets, and some ornamentals.

Dodder (Cuscuta spp.) is a parasitic weed which attacks alfalfa, clovers, lespedeza and many other species of plants. This pest is especially troublesome when these crops are grown to produce seed.

Alfalfa is the most important forage crop in the United States and a crop vital to the livestock industry. It is the ideal to which other hay crops are compared. In terms of total digestable nutrients and as an economical source of these nutrients, it is without equal. Other reagures in which alfalfa excels over other hay crops as a forage are: high yield, palatability, high protein and calcium content, and value as a source of vitamins A and D. Inaddition it has great falue in soil conservation practices for controlling erosion losses and nitrogen depletion. It also fits well in crop rotation plans. In Utah alfalfa is grown on more acres than any other crop except wheat. The objectives of this study are to: (1) determine the cost of producing alfalfa seed in the major producing areas of Utah for 1952; (2) determine the physical inputs necessary in alfalfa seed production; (3) determine the relative efficiencies of the various cultural methods; and (4) attempt to measure relative advantages or disadvantages of producing certified seed as compared to non-certified seed. There is a dearth of information on the economic aspects of alfalfa seed production in Utah and growers have requested the utah Experiment Stateion to compile cost and marketing information on the commodity. The opinion has been expressed that information of this type will aid the growers with their economic problems concerning alfalfa seed.