- Author: Ben Faber
A recent paper shows that a food-grade coating can successfully reduce the damage of cherry fruit fly on cherries. This has implications for control of olive fruit fly, spotted-wing drosophila (on blueberry and other bush berries), Mediterranean fruit fly and other tephritid flies. Read on:
Evaluation of Organic, Food-Grade Hydrophobic Coatings for Suppressing Oviposition and Increasing Mortality of Western Cherry Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Abstract
To reduce risks and concerns of extensive insecticide use for controlling tephritid fruit flies, non or less toxic organic management options to the use of insecticides alone for fly control are needed . One such option is the use of physical or chemical barriers sprayed on fruit to protect fruit from fly attack. Surround wettable powder (kaolin) is the major organic barrier that has been developed that protects fruit (against sunburn) and deters insects. However, Surround has not been adopted to any large extent by growers for use against fruit flies due in part to the white residue it forms on fruit. A product that protects fruit while leaving no visible residue on fruit surfaces might be more acceptable for use.
Recently, the product HydroShield (original formulation; Cuticle Supplement), a nonwax organic food-grade hydrophobic coating that simulates plant cuticles, was developed that protects cherries from water-induced cracking . Unlike Surround, HydroShield forms an invisible (to human eyes) coating on cherries. HydroShield incidentally also helps protect fruit against attack by insects, specifically Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), reducing oviposition by this fly in Sweetheart cherries.
Newer organic options for protecting fruit from tephritid fruit fly attack are needed to reduce extensive insecticide use. Here, we evaluated organic, food-grade hydrophobic coatings that help protect sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.) from water-induced cracking for suppressing attack on cherries by western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Diptera: Tephtitidae), as well as for their effects on fly mortality. Three formulations of coatings called HydroShield 13.20, 13.22, and 13.28 that form invisible elastic barriers on cherries and that consist of complex carbohydrates, fatty acids and occlusive agents, solvents, emulsifiers, emollients, surfactants, and other ingredients were tested. In the laboratory, fly visits on and oviposition in HydroShield-coated cherries were 66.1–92.8% and 59.1–99.5% lower, respectively, than in controls. The mean number of dead female flies exposed to HydroShield-coated cherries was 69.4–94.6% greater than of females exposed to control cherries. In the field, three sprays of HydroShield 13.22 and 13.20 on sweet cherry trees in 2020, when fly densities were high, reduced larval infestations in cherries by 32.1% and 31.8%, respectively. In the field in 2021, when fly densities were lower, three sprays of HydroShield 13.22 and 13.28 reduced infestations in cherries by 90.5% and 86.8%, respectively, but sprays also reduced cherry size and toughened cherries. HydroShield formulations show promise in protecting sweet cherry from attack by R. indifferens, but further testing is needed to improve formulations so that they suppress fly oviposition without affecting cherry quality.
https://academic.oup.com/ee/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ee/nvac033/6590995?login=false
Adult drosophila laying eggs
Maggots doing their thing on blueberry
- Author: Ben Faber
SACRAMENTO, June 15, 2022 – The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) today announced the award of $66 million in grants from its Healthy Soils Program (HSP) to a total of 940 projects. The projects aim to improve soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs). The selected projects will have an estimated impact across more than 82,000 acres of California farm and ranchland and will provide an annual projected greenhouse gas emissions reduction of more than 250,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MT CO2e), which is like removing nearly 54,000 vehicles from the road.
The full list of winners and the details of their awarded projects can be found here.
The Healthy Soils Program incentivizes a total of 27 practices which, in addition to carbon sequestration and GHG emissions reductions, provide co-benefits such as improving water retention and water quality, a critical feature during the current drought.
This latest round of grants brings the total for Healthy Soils projects to more than $107 million since the program began in 2017, funding projects that represent 136,254 acres of agricultural land, and greenhouse gas reductions of 367,717 MT CO2e.
The Healthy Soils Program was established as a part of the California Healthy Soils Initiative, a collaboration between state agencies to support the development of healthy soils in California. The HSP has two components: the HSP Incentives Program and the the HSP Demonstration Projects.
HSP Demonstration Project awards were made in April 2022, when CDFA selected seven projects requesting $1.1 million. This program funds on-farm demonstration projects that collect data and/or showcase conservation management practices that mitigate GHG emissions and increase soil health.
The Healthy Soils Program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.
California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California. For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at: www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/press_releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=22-069
- Author: Ben Faber
Fertilizers and Plant Nutrition Workshop, Ventura (English)
This workshop in English will present information for nursery and greenhouse growers, managers, and personnel on plant nutrition and fertilizer management with a focus on crops in containers. With demonstrations and hands-on activities. Topics discussed include:
• Plant nutrition
• Fertilizer types
• Uses of fertilizers
• Developing fertilizer programs
• Monitoring fertilizer status
Date:
August 9, 2022
8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Check-in starts at 7:30 am
Location:
UC Cooperative Extension Ventura County
669 County Square Dr. Suite 100
Ventura CA 93003
Registration:
$45 early registration before July 10 using the coupon code BZKMQHUTBJ at registration.
$55 after August 7th.
Box lunch, morning and afternoon refreshments provided
Cancellation Policy:
If you cannot attend on the day of the workshop, you may request a refund. Refunds may take 30 days or more to post.
For questions please contact:
Loren Oki lroki@ucdavis.edu
Organized and Sponsored by:
University of California Nursery and Floriculture Alliance
This event is made possible by funding from the CDFA Fertilizer Research and Education Program and support from the Plant California Alliance
Link:
Taller de Fertilizantes y Nutrición Vegetal, Ventura (Español)
Este taller en español presentará información para productores, gerentes y personal de viveros e invernaderos sobre nutrición vegetal y manejo de fertilizantes con un enfoque en cultivos en contenedores. Con demostraciones y actividades prácticas. Los temas discutidos incluyen:
• Nutrición vegetal
• Tipos de fertilizantes
• Usos de fertilizantes
• Desarrollo de programas de fertilizantes
• Supervisión del estado de los fertilizantes
Fecha:
10 de Agosto de 2022
8:00 am a 5:00 pm
El check-in comienza a las 7:30 am
Ubicación:
UC Cooperative Extension Ventura County
669 County Square Dr. Suite 100
Ventura CA 93003
Registro:
$45 por registro anticipado antes del 7 de Agosto utilizando el código de cupón NXADZYPUZC en el registro.
$55 después del 7 de Agosto.
Box lunch, refrigerios por la mañana y por la tarde proporcionados
Política de cancelación:
Si no puede asistir el día del taller, puede solicitar un reembolso. Los reembolsos pueden tardar 30 días o más en publicarse.
Si tiene preguntas, comuníquese con:
Loren Oki lroki@ucdavis.edu
Jared Sisneroz jasisneroz@ucdavis.edu
Organizado y patrocinado por:
University of California Nursery and Floriculture Alliance
Este evento es posible gracias al financiamiento de la CDFA Fertilizer Research and Education Program y apoyo de la Plant California Alliance
Link:
- Author: Ben Faber
- Author: Ben Faber
Larry Schwankl was born July 11, 1953, to Margaret and Orville Schwankl in Mankato, MN, and died May 2, 2022, Visalia, CA, from complications due to cancer. He graduated from Mankato High School and attended Mankato State for two years before transferring to Iowa State University for a degree in civil engineering. After earning his Masters from the University of California-Davis he worked for FEMA in Philadelphia on flood control issues. He returned to UC Davis and obtained his Ph.D. after which he was hired as a University of California Cooperative Specialist affiliated with the UC Davis Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources Department. During his career he worked with growers and industry on sprinkler, drip, and flood irrigation management. In 2004 he married Carol Frate of Visalia, CA, and transferred to the University's Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center near Parlier, CA. He remained with UC Cooperative Extension until he retired in 2014.
Larry was a thoughtful, kind, and generous man who enjoyed fishing (particularly for walleye in Minnesota lakes), hiking, birding, gardening, and turning wooden bowls. He loved animals, especially his cats. He attended St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Larry's parents preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife Carol Frate of Visalia, CA; sister Gail (Dale) Erickson of Mankato, MN, sister-in-law Vicki Salzberg, nieces Sarah (Chris) Tracy and Emily Salzberg, grandnieces Anna and Simone, and grandnephews Owen and River of Olympia, WA.
A rosary followed by a Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:30 pm on July 18, 2022, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1908 N. Court St, Visalia, CA. Interment will be at a later date in Olympia, WA. Donations may be made to Pacific Wildlife Care, 1387 Main St., Morro Bay, CA 93442 or to a charity of choice.
From Ben: He taught me that you can not irrigate knowledgeably without a flow meter, and you might as well just gamble away your orchard unless you do a distribution uniformity test on the irrigation system. These are critical tools, creating good water management and healthy orchards.