- Contributor: Athena Chiladakis
- Author: Rob Wilson
Over $3.75 Million in Incentives Available.
Grants and incentives are available through the Healthy Soils Program for implementation of several management practices including cover crops, compost application, reduced tillage, vegetative barriers, windbreak establishment, woody plantings, and silvopasture. The program is funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and stems from the California Healthy Soils Initiative, a collaboration of state agencies that promotes the development of healthy soils on California's farmlands and ranchlands.
Further details of the 2017 Healthy Soil Program (HSP) Incentives Program, eligible agricultural management practices, program requirements and information about the grant application process can be found in the “Healthy Soils Program Incentives Program Request for Grant Applications” document at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/docs/2017-HSPIncentives_RGA.pdf. Local NRCS offices can provide additional information on eligible agricultural management practices.
Only One Month to Apply! The application period is from August 8 until September 19. CDFA Grant application workshops and webinars are available between August 15-25. Applications are due by 5 PM Sept 19, 2017.
Applications for the HSP Incentives Program and Demonstration Projects are available on the HSP website https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/ The application process is web based and can be accessed through the State Water Resources Control Board website at http://faast.waterboards.ca.gov
Program requirements include a three year minimum duration for all projects where funding will cover implementation of eligible practices for years 1 and 2. Applicants are required to continue the implementation for year 3.
/span>- Author: Rob wilson
- Editor: Athena Chiladakis
A chance of thunderstorms most of the week and moderating air temperatures will promote prolonged leaf wetness and high humidity in the crop canopy both of which are favorable for development of several plant diseases. The smoky air also moderates solar radiation contributing to prolonged leaf wetness. Below are some tips for growers to consider avoiding aggravating these conditions and possibly preventing problems in the coming weeks.
Onions
Many onions fields in the Basin are bulbing, which often correlates with the start of several foliar diseases such as purple blotch and Stemphylium leaf blight, which have been on the rise in recent years. We are also seeing quite a bit of bacterial leaf blight in onions, which is often amplified after thunderstorms and frequent overhead irrigation. Hot temperatures the last couple of weeks required growers to irrigate every 3-5 days to keep up with crop water use, but crop water use should taper in the coming weeks. Growers should spend a lot of time digging to check soil moisture in multiple locations in each field and avoid unnecessary irrigation after rain and high humidity. If onion leaves remain wet for prolonged periods and/or onions are damaged by thunderstorms, grower should strongly consider starting a preventative fungicide program. Onion thrips populations are high in many fields, which can also increase the incidence and severity of foliar onion diseases. Be on the lookout for white rot as we are starting to see early signs of the disease in our research plots.
Potatoes
Many potato fields are in the bulking stage right now. Crop water use in most fields has decreased significantly with potato crop canopy growth complete and potato vines shading the hills. Growers should spend a lot of time checking soil moisture especially around potato tubers. If tuber lenticels are swollen or ruptured, irrigation MUST be tapered to prevent lenticel scarring and infection by diseases such as pink rot and soft rot. Conditions are very favorable for several foliar diseases including late blight and white mold. If potato foliage remains wet for prolonged period or fields are hit by thunderstorms, growers should consider preventative fungicides that are active on late blight and white mold such as Omega.
Small Grains
Most fields are past the point of irrigation and are drying down for harvest. If late-planted fields are still being irrigated, conditions are favorable for stripe rust. We are seeing stripe rust pustules increase dramatically in late-planted wheat and barley fields at IREC. Growers should look for heavy stripe rust pockets in mature fields, which can cause overheating problems with harvesting equipment.
Alfalfa and Grass Hay
Alfalfa growers need to focus on keeping up with crop water use. The hot weather the last several weeks in combination with short cutting intervals can easily lead to drought stress. Growers should check soil moisture often and make sure irrigation after cutting re-wets the soil profile. Grass hay growers be on the lookout for a second generation of armyworms. Nick Macy has seen a high number of moths in several fields and the first generation of armyworms caused significant damage to many grain fields.
- Author: Athena Chiladakis
Field Day is a collaborative effort involving all of the Center staff, visiting researchers, and many growers and grower groups in the region. The general purpose is to allow visitors a chance to see the research IREC is conducting and interact with the researchers. We appreciate the opportunity to share these research programs with members of the community, many of whom have helped sponsor the research and this event.
Research studies showcased during the 2017 field day included:
- Evaluation of Alternatives to Soil Fumigants and Diallyl Disulphide for Management of While Rot,
- Improving Malting Barley Nitrogen Management using Drone Measurements,
- Use of Palisade PGR to Prevent Barley Lodging in Tulelake,
- Alternative Grazing Forages/New Crop Introduction: Kura Clover,
- Evaluation of Small Grains Grown under Dryland Conditions,
- Forage Barley Breeding,
- Development of Small Grain Varieties in California, Integrating Cover Crops into Organic Potato Production,
- Preventing Maggot Damage in Processing Onions,
- Alfalfa Variety Development,
- Low Lignan Alfalfa and Roundup Ready Alfalfa Updates.
For those unable to attend, the 2017 field booklet with project summaries can be viewed on the UC ANR IREC website (http://irec.ucanr.edu//files/266994.pdf):
- Author: Laurie Askew