- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
Weeds compete with crops for light, water, and nutrients, which can result in yield reductions. Weeds can also interfere with crop production by serving as alternate hosts for pests and pathogens, providing habitat for rodents, and impeding harvest operations among other impacts. Natural areas can also be impacted by weed species when they reduce aesthetics, cause physical harm, and disrupt ecosystem services. As a consequence, growers and land managers employ a variety of control strategies, including the application of herbicides, to manage unwanted vegetation.
Although herbicides can be extremely effective at controlling undesirable plants, failures can and do occur. Weeds may escape chemical treatments for several reasons...
- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
South Sacramento Valley Processing Tomato Production Meeting
When: Thursday, January 10, 2019
Time: 7:45am to 12:00pm
Where: Woodland Community Center (2001 East Street, Woodland, CA 95776).
Agenda:
7:45 DOORS WILL OPEN — COFFEE AND REFRESHMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE
8:15 Broomrape- a...
- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
Recently I was asked to help identify prostrate knotweed (Polygonum aviculare) that was collected from an alfalfa field. Admittedly, the tough and wire-like specimen that was submitted to me at the end of autumn didn't much resemble the succulent seedlings that I have often observed emerging in tree and vine systems in early spring. Consequently, I dug out my 'Weeds of the West' and 'Weeds of California and Other Western States' books and double-checked with colleagues to ensure that my ID was accurate. This post is meant to build on that effort and describe the morphological traits that are characteristic of prostrate knotweed and how to differentiate the species from a similar-looking weed, spotted spurge (Euphorbia...
- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
Part of my role as a University of California Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor is extending knowledge to my clientele and the public at large. I try to do this via this blog, through the use of social media (@agronomyweedsci on Twitter), and via popular press articles (for example, see this post about smartphone apps for weed identification: https://www.growingproduce.com/fruits/smartphone-apps-to-help-you-id-weeds/).
Another tool that I will be employing is a twice yearly (Fall and Spring) newsletter that will address issues of concern to growers in the San Joaquin Valley. Please enjoy this first...
- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
- Author: Rachel Long
- Author: Mariano Galla
- Author: Thomas Getts
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The old saying, “Everything's fine until it's not,” comes to mind when dealing with some tough to control perennial weeds in alfalfa production during the summertime. Such was the case for an alfalfa field in the Sacramento Valley, where weed control seemed good up until mid-summer, and then it wasn't. Perennial weeds that started off small and overlooked, grew through the season, persisting through multiple cuttings, including curly dock, plantain, and nutsedge. For tough to control weeds in alfalfa fields, one needs to determine: 1) What types of perennial weeds are present, and 2) How many of them are there, to make a decision on how to manage them. These sorts of weed issues can creep up quickly in older alfalfa...