Yearly Archives: 2016

Northern California Cropping and Irrigation Patterns (Part 2)

Methods of irrigation have also changed from flood and furrow to drip, micro sprinkler, solid set sprinkler, and buried drip. Today, there are about 203,000 acres of land in the northern Sacramento Valley irrigated with pressurized systems that were not in place approximately a decade ago. Continue reading

Walnut Husk Fly – Updates

Walnut husk fly (WHF) continues to plague walnut production in many areas, often requiring multiple insecticide applications each growing season to achieve adequate control. This pest provides particular challenges to an integrated pest management program due to the nature of its life cycle and lack of natural enemies. Precise timing based on monitoring method and rotation of chemistries to minimize resistance risk are keys to successful long-term control of this pest. Continue reading

Northern California Cropping and Irrigation Patterns (Part 1)

The most recent land use surveys by the California Department of Water Resources indicate approximately 982,500 acres of irrigated or potentially irrigated cropland in the Northern Sacramento Valley counties of Shasta, Tehama, Glenn, Butte, and Colusa. Manual field surveys taken approximately one decade apart suggest the total crop acreage has increased by about 73,000 acres or 8 percent. Continue reading