- Author: Peter B Goodell
What? VOC regulations take effect Nov. 1, 2013. Are you ready? Do you know the laws and regulations? Join us for presentations from DPR and a roundtable discussion with fellow practitioners on strategies and implications to the PCAs.
Where? Kearney Ag Research and Extension Center, 9240 S. Riverbend Avenue, Parlier CA
When? October 24, 2013 (Thursday) 9 AM to noon
Who to contact for more information? Pete Goodell, 559-646-6515 pbgoodell@ucanr.edu
Why should you attend? The regulation goes into effect Nov. 1, 2013. It is important that you are prepared for the changes. ...
- Author: Daniel H Putnam
- Author: Peter H. Robinson
- Author: Eric Lin
There are some things that are attractive at first look, but fall apart upon analysis. Maybe like that fancy car you bought which needed major work 3 weeks after you drove it off the lot. Hydroponic fodder systems may fall into that category.
There are a number of systems available on the web promoting this concept (try Googling ‘hydroponic fodder' or ‘hydroponic grass’ on the web – there are plenty of sites).
Looks good? Who could think of a better forage for your animal than luscious sprouted leafy grain—just like the alfalfa sprouts on your sandwich! You can see videos on the web which show cattle and horses gobbling up...
- Author: Shannon C. Mueller
The weather was perfect on September 5th for a tour of field trials being conducted at the Kearney Ag Center by alfalfa and forage farm advisors and specialists with UC Cooperative Extension. The tram was filled to capacity and growers, pest control advisors, and seed company representatives were shown field research that will help their future decision-making processes.
With all the interest in sorghum as a result of its lower irrigation requirement compared to corn, a number of stops showcased research pertaining to this crop. Participants observed evaluations of grain and forage varieties, irrigation strategies, and nitrogen utilization in trials being conducted by Jeff Dahlberg, Dan Putnam, and Bob Hutmacher....
- Author: Peter B Goodell
The spotted alfalfa aphid (Therioaphis maculate) is a small pale-yellow or grayish aphid with four to six rows of spined spots on its back. It was first detected in California alfalfa in1954 and, although it prefers warmer temperature regions, it quickly spread throughout the state within 2 years. The aphid injects a toxin which stunts and limits regrowth, substantially reducing yield. When it occurs at high population densities, copious of amounts honeydew are produced.
For a time, it was the most destructive pest in California alfalfa. It received a substantial amount of research and extension interest resulting in 9 California Agriculture articles between 1956 and 1963. These covered a wide range...
- Author: Rachael Freeman Long
- Author: Larry Godfrey
Mealybugs are common insect pests of many crops including grapes, citrus, ornamental plants, and various other perennial crops. They feed on trunks, stems, leaves, and roots of plants. At times these infestations can be very obvious on plants due to high mealybug densities, the sticky honeydew that they excrete, and the sooty mold that often grows on the honeydew.
The ground mealybug is an important insect pest of alfalfa, primarily in the Sacramento Valley. This mealybug is a member of a group of species that spend their entire lifecycle below ground. This insect is small (about 1/16" long), whitish, and relatively soft-bodied. Ground mealybugs feed on alfalfa roots by sucking out plant juices, which causes stunting and...