Leaf Symptoms of Overwatered Walnut Trees
These photos show various symptoms observed on trees that were intentionally over-irrigated throughout the season. Continue reading
Author Archives: Sacramento Valley Orchards
Do You Want A New Tool for Vole Management?
Recent research has shown we may have a new tool to protect trees and vines from vole damage. However, this product is not currently registered for such a use. We need your response to know whether there’s enough interest in a new way to control vole damage to warrant seeking registration. Continue reading
It’s That Season Again: Growers Are Being Asked to Buy Products
Growers are faced with an ever-changing list of commercial “tools”, each with the promise of providing some advantage to the farmer. With the large number of new products available, and the number of salespeople promoting them, it is often difficult for growers to distinguish between products likely to provide real benefit, and those that may actually reduce the profitability of the farm. When approached with a new product or technology it is obligatory to challenge claims with the following questions: Continue reading
Observations from the Prune Rootstock Trial – 2017
As soil treatment options become increasingly limited, more restrictive and less effective, the priority to identify a genetic solution to solve or reduce the replant issue is of increasing interest. One genetic solution is to find or develop rootstocks to help manage soil related problems. Also of interest are root and tree characteristics imparting canopy size control, good anchorage and little or no root suckering. In 2011, University of California Farm Advisors and campus based faculty designed and planted 3 large rootstock experiments to evaluate 29 prune rootstocks. Continue reading
New Advisor Introduction: Mariano Galla
I am the new agronomy and weed science farm advisor for Glenn, Butte and Tehama counties, based at the UCCE Glenn office in Orland. I am working in small grains, corn, sunflower, cotton, alfalfa and dry beans. In addition, as a weed science advisor, I am looking forward to also working on weed control in orchard crops. Continue reading
Soil Moisture Sensor Selection is Confusing
So, every few weeks the question comes up of whether to install soil moisture meters which leads to the question of which to buy and install or have installed. And then come the questions of what do the readings mean and why aren’t the readings consistent? Or maybe this question arrives after the grower has installed the sensors or system and the values don’t conform to a known or knowable pattern. Continue reading
Potassium Nutrition – Maintaining Optimal Levels
Adapted from: “Potassium Nutrition – Maintaining Optimum Levels by Replacing What You’ve Lost” by Katherine Jarvis-Shean. Originally published in Sacramento Valley Prune News, Fall 2014. Fall is an excellent time to manage the potassium (K) needs of prune trees. Assessment … Continue reading
Protect Bees from Pesticides by Using Bee Precaution Ratings from UC IPM
Various insects, birds, and other animals pollinate plants. Bees, especially honey bees, are the most vital for pollinating food crops. UC IPM developed Bee Precaution Pesticide Ratings to help pest managers make an informed decision about how to protect bees when choosing or applying pesticides. Continue reading
Are You In Compliance with the New Worker Protection Standards?
We are in the midst of a new and changing era of Worker Protection Standards (WPS), which is meant to increase protections for agricultural fieldworkers and pesticide handlers from pesticide exposure when they’re working in farms, forests, nurseries and greenhouses. Keep reading to learn about current and upcoming changes, as well as information on Instructor Training Programs. Continue reading
Help Wanted: Join the Dialogue on Herbicide Resistant Weeds
Are you planning on attending the World Ag Expo? As part of a national effort on developing research and regulatory priorities related to the challenging problems of herbicide-resistant weeds, the Weed Science Society of America is sponsoring a half-day regional workshop to discuss the issues, potential solutions, and technical and economic barriers related to resistant weeds. Continue reading
Early Registration Ends September 1 for the Almond Short Course
UC ANR Cooperative Extension in collaboration with UC Davis is offering an integrated orchard management short course on all phases of almond culture and production on November 8-10, 2016 in Modesto. The program will provide participants the latest information and research from UC Faculty, Cooperative Extension Specialists, and Farm Advisors.
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Protect Bees from Pesticides using Bee Precaution Ratings from UC IPM
Contributed by the UC Statewide IPM Program, August 2016. Various insects, birds, and other animals pollinate plants. Bees, especially honey bees, are the most vital for pollinating food crops. Many California crops rely on bees to pollinate their flowers and … Continue reading
Botryosphaeria Canker & Blight
Botryosphaeria (Bot) canker and blight of walnut continued to be a problem so be alert to new infections from this spring and summer. Read on for symptoms and cultural practices for bot management. Continue reading
El Niño rains and pruning don’t mix!
Adapted from the article “El Niño Rains And Pruning Don’t Mix” by Luke Milliron, UCCE Horticulture Intern, Colusa, Sutter, Yuba and San Joaquin Cos. Franz Niederholzer, UC Farm Advisor, Colusa, Sutter and Yuba Cos. Joseph Connell, UCCE Farm Advisor Emeritus, … Continue reading
Understanding a Soil Test – pH and SP
Adapted from the article “Understanding and applying information from a soil test: Part 1” by Allan Fulton, Farm Advisor: Tehama, Glenn, Colusa, and Shasta Counties in the April 2010 Sacramento Valley Almond News Why Test? Soil testing helps plan to … Continue reading