- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
- Author: Konrad Mathesius
Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) is an annual grass that can sometimes behave as a biennial or short-lived perennial in California. The species is upright in habit (to about 3 feet in height); seeds germinate in the late fall and the plants grow vigorously through the winter and early spring. Ryegrass can be identified by its dark green, glossy and hairless leaves that are rolled in the bud. Auricles are well-developed and the ligules are long and membranous. Once flowering occurs, ryegrass is easily distinguishable by alternating spikelets that run along the length of the main flowering stem (April through September). Additional photos can be found at the end of this post; more details regarding Italian ryegrass...
- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
Are you a grower interested in adopting soil moisture monitoring practices, drip or low pressure irrigation systems, and pump retrofits (among many other tools and strategies) to reduce on-farm water and energy use? Then you should check out the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) grant program (applications are due March 8th 2019 by 5 pm PST).
The text below is directly from the state's website (https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/sweep/):
What is SWEEP?
The State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) provides financial assistance in the form of grants to implement irrigation systems that reduce greenhouse gases and...
- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
You just KNOW that some plants are considered weeds. Their common names give them away. They sound awful. Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum). Ripgut brome (Bromus diandrus). Devil's claw (Proboscidea lutea). Smellmelon (Cucumis melo). Itchgrass (Rottboellia cochinchinensis). Dog-strangling vine (Cyanthum rossicum).
Others...well, others seem more benign. Even sweet. For Valentine's day I present to you nine weedy plants with lovely names. Enjoy...
1. Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). How celestial (Sigh...). How divine (Sigh...). How invasive (sigh...wait, what?). Tree-of-heaven is a deciduous tree, native...
- 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. One tool for accomplishing this task is the bi-annual publication of a the Agronomy and Weed Science Newsletter. The Spring 2019 edition is currently available (PDF attached at the bottom of the page).
In this issue:
- Research update
- The value of agronomic crops in California
- 2019 needs assessment survey
- Nematodes and cover crops
- Upcoming meetings
To access a PDF copy of the previous issue, please see this web page:
- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
Are you considering introducing cover crops into your production system?
Are you wanting to plant hedgerows or wind breaks?
Are you interested in prescribed grazing?
Are you implementing reduced or no-tillage practices?
If your are 1) interested in adopting these or other conservation management strategies (i.e. reduce tillage, riparian plantings, compost additions, etc...) or if your are interested in 2) showcasing your successful implementation of conservation techniques, then there may be funding available to you through CDFA's Healthy Soils Program (HSP).
The HSP has two components:
1)
