- Author: Rachael Freeman Long
Fiddleneck is everywhere this year, and common groundsel is common too! As winter annuals, these weeds are early-season plants. They tend to be shallow rooted, and do best in wet conditions like we've been having with all our rainfall this season.
Colorful but Deadly. Fiddleneck (Amsinckia spp.) may look bright and colorful on our hillsides, but this weed, as well as groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), are toxic to livestock, because they contain toxins known as pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) that affect the liver. Cattle and horses are most sensitive to PAs; pigs and chickens are less sensitive, and sheep, goats and turkeys are the least sensitive. Younger animals are more susceptible than...
- Author: Stephanie Parreira
Invasive species are plants, animals, fungi or microbes that are not native to an area, but can quickly establish, multiply, and become pests. These species can hurt the environment, agricultural production, and even human health in some instances (e.g. the mosquito Aedes aegypti). According to the USDA, invasive species are responsible for $137 billion per year in economic losses in the United States.
In agricultural systems, invasive species may reduce yields, render crops unmarketable, or make rangeland unfavorable to livestock. In natural areas, they may squeeze out native species, change soil quality, and increase the frequency or intensity of...
- Author: Michelle Leinfelder-Miles
A consultant recently brought in some alfalfa plants to get another opinion on why growth was resuming slowly this spring. The field is located in Merced County and is a sandy loam soil. The field is in its fifth year, is glyphosate-tolerant, and has traditionally produced high-quality hay. About 5 acres of a 40-acre field are affected.
There are many reasons why growth may resume slowly this spring. The obvious reason, of course, is that we received a lot of rain this winter. With that rain has come associated problems from cool, anoxic (lack of oxygen) soil conditions. A previous blog article describes things to...
- Author: Jeff Dahlberg
A meeting is scheduled to update growers and allied industry on the sugarcane aphid impacting sorghum. The agenda is below, and the attached flyer provides details.
Update on Sugarcane Aphid and its Potential Impact on Sorghum
Tuesday, February 28th, 2017, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm with lunch to follow
Nectarine Room, UC-ANR-KARE, 9240 S. Riverbend Ave., Parlier, CA 93648
9:30am Check in
10:00am Sugarcane Aphid – A New challenge to CA Sorghum Production, Dr. Pete Goodell, Cooperative Extension Advisory, Statewide IPM...
- Author: Jennifer Heguy
UCCE researchers are currently working on a project to determine the value of sorghum silage in California dairy systems. Sorghum has gained attention in recent years as it is well adapted to drought/water stress conditions, but very little research has been done with respect to growing and feeding sorghum silage on commercial California dairies.
Please join us for a discussion on growing sorghum for silage. First year information from the project will be presented, as well as some other considerations for growing sorghum in California. Whether you're new to sorghum, or looking to refine management, these meetings will present the current knowledge of sorghum silage in California; California derived information...