UC Weed Science (weed control, management, ecology, and minutia)

Water prices are increasing and so are the regulatory pressures on agricultural runoff and sediment losses.

Todays post was written by Tom Lanini summarizing some recent work on organic herbicides. This article is also available in the "Topics in Subtropics" newsletter from the Tulare County Cooperative Extension office. http://cetulare.ucdavis.edu/newsletters/Topics_In_Subtropics39737.

Last entry I talked about the problems with artichoke thistle (Cynara cardunculus L.) in the Sacramento Delta and other coastal regions. Again, this thistle was introduced to California as the cultivated artichoke, but escaped to become a serious rangeland weed.

Part of my job as the Director/Farm Advisor at the Intermountain Research and Extension Center involves overseeing weed management programs for a variety of crops and non-cropland at the Center. Over the last month, Ive observed the outcome of these programs as many of the crops are nearing harvest.

Over the weekend, the Sacramento Bee published an article discussing the invasiveness and spread of yellow starthiste (Centaurea solstitialis) in California. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/21/3847369/invasive-yellow-star-thistle-aims.