Topics in Subtropics

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Topics in Subtropics Blog
You can subscribe to this  blog with multiple entries per week reflecting what's happening with subtropical crops and upcoming educational events.  Just click on the "Subscribe" button just to the right of this paragraph.  There's also our seasonal quarterly Topics in Subtropics newsletter found at our Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Riverside, San Diego, Tulare and Kern Counties Cooperative Extension websites.
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avocado flower

Improving Avocado Fruit Set

April 2, 2018
By Ben A Faber
The California Avocado Commission is pleased to announce the availability of ProGibb LV Plus Plant Growth Regulator Solution (gibberellic acid) for use on avocados in California under a Special Local Needs (SLN) registration effective March 27, 2018.
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rat picture

Ah, Rats!

March 28, 2018
The roof rat (Rattus rattus, also known as a citrus rat, fruit rat, black rat, or gray rat) is an introduced species of rat native to southern Asia. It was brought to America on the first ships to reach the New World.
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palm weevil damage

Palm Weevil Threat to Palm Trees

March 26, 2018
By Ben A Faber
Date growers in the California deserts have many insects to worry about such as carob moth, hibiscus mealybug, and giant palm borer. Now the industry is under threat from another potential pest, the highly damaging and invasive South American palm weevil (SAPW) (Rhynchophorus palmarum).
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HLB symptoms

ACP/HLB Update

March 23, 2018
By Ben A Faber
HLB Confirmations The number of trees confirmed as being infected by HLB has reached 520 (300 in Orange County, 217 in Los Angeles County and 3 in Riverside County). All were in residential settings, not commercial groves.
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