Your source for orchard news & information in the Sacramento Valley
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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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 (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
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
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
Adapted from the article “Pacific spider mite control at hull split in almonds” by David Haviland, Entomology Farm Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension, Kern Co. in the April 2010 Sacramento Valley Almond News. Hull split is one of the most critical … Continue reading
Adapted from “Pruning and training young almond trees” and “Tying Young Trees” by Joe Connell, UC Farm Advisor, Butte County in the Sacramento Valley Almond News, January 2012 and April 2013, respectively. The more you prune a tree the lower … Continue reading
Adapted from the article “Implementing frost protection” by Joe Connell, UC Farm Advisor, Butte County, in the February 2011 Sacramento Valley Almond News. Frost Protection Mild, radiation frosts occur on still, clear nights, usually with the development of a strong … Continue reading
July 15th ET Report for the Gerber South, Durham, and Colusa CIMIS stations. Continue reading