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This odd, wet, cool weather is the perfect condition for slime mold. Throw in some organic matter and they seem to appear out of nowhere, which is what they do. Lots of individual cells come together in a colony and they move in concert.

The weather continues to offer new opportunities. Recently there have been reports of Avocado Brown Mite infesting trees. This is a pest (Oligonychus punicae) of dust and disturbance. Normally found along picking roads and up against areas that are dusty. Not a problem.

A single breakthrough discovery for managing citrus greening in Florida in the future is unlikely, says a new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Citrus Grower Workshop REMINDER (April 26) Dr. Beth Grafton-Cardwell will present findings from her continuing survey of ACP populations across Ventura County, including data on the effects of pesticide treatments on ACP abundance.

It's that time of year to see some drama in avocado orchards. Once healthy-looking trees can suddenly turn brown in a weekend and all the surrounding trees still look fine. And it can be quite common in some years along the coast.