Topics in Subtropics

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.

Biocontrol on Farm and at Home

August 19, 2015

By Ben A Faber

RECOGNIZING NATURAL ENEMIES Proper identification of pests, and distinguishing pests from natural enemies, is essential for effective biological control. Carefully observe the mites and insects on your plants to help discern their activity.

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Chlorpyrifos Meeting - What to do with and it and what to do without it on Citrus. Coming to Santa Paula

August 14, 2015

By Ben A Faber

Chlorpyrifos (Lorsban) is a pesticide long used in citrus along with many other crops. It is an organophosphate that has value partly because it is persistent, which is also one of its drawbacks. One of its uses is to control ant species that "farm" such pests as mealybug, aphids and scales.

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The Top 10 Blogs of Topics in Subtropics

August 14, 2015

By Ben A Faber

Here are the top 10 blogs from Topics in Subtropics over the last 5 years. The two earliest and latest pertain to how you select products that will truly help you from amongst all those that are being promoted. Some of these have been around a long time, so that's why they are the most read.

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Silicon as a Nutrient for California Fruit Trees

August 12, 2015

By Ben A Faber

Silicon is currently under consideration for elevation to the status of a "plant beneficial substance by the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO).

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Putting Fertilizer Chloride in Perspective

August 10, 2015

By Ben A Faber

Especially when there are no winter rains to leach accumulated salts from the root zone of trees, there is major concern about increasing the levels of salts going into the root zone.

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