Topics in Subtropics

Walking a passionfruit vineyard in Carpinteria recently, we saw wilted leaves and total plant collapse.

With drought and forecast for more of the same, it's time to think of alternative crops for our area. Pithecellobium dulce (translation: sweet monkey ear) may be a choice. Guamuchil is just one of the many names for this tree crop, including: monkeypod tree, camachile, and Madras thorn.

Problem: There was a Valencia farmer in Ojai, farming on a rocky loam. More rocky than loam, on a 10 % slope, where he had been spraying the weeds down, the soil had gradually washed away and all he had left was scattered cobbles.

The gold-winning video "Diagnosing Herbicide Injury" includes several interactive features to make it more engaging and entertaining, and to help viewers remember the information.

Confirmation of New Citrus Virus in California The U.S.