- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
2019 Automated Weeder and Thinner Demonstration and Field Day
The 2019 Automated Weeder and Thinner Demonstration and Field day will take place on Tuesday, May 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the USDA Spence Research Field Station, 1572 Old Stage Road in Salinas. Automated technologies are helping to fill the gap in the supply of labor that is occurring in the farming community. At this field day weeders and automated lettuce thinners developed by a number of companies will be demonstrated on lettuce plantings. Both driven and autonomous machines that use a variety of different mechanisms to remove unwanted plants will be available for viewing. These technologies are useful to both conventional and organic...
- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
Abutilon theophrasti (commonly known as velvetleaf) is a summer-emerging, annual, broad-leaf weed native to Asia. The species can be found mainly in the Central Valley (and mostly in the Sacramento Valley) in agronomic crop systems, along roadsides, in orchards and vineyards, and in other disturbed areas.
Cotyledons (approximately 1/2 inch (12 mm) long and wide) are rounded to heart-shaped in appearance. The first true leaves are heart-shaped with with shallow and rounded-toothed margins. Velvetleaf cotyledons, leaves and petioles are covered with fine, soft hairs (hence the name 'velvetleaf').
Images are included in a printable PDF document at the end of the post. For more...
- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
Growers (mainly pistachios) and crop consultants in the southern and western parts of the San Joaquin Valley have recently reported the spread of alkaliweed from low-lying saline or alkaline soils (including seasonal wetlands and floodplains) into irrigation ditches, orchards, and some agricultural fields (Figure 1).
Now, some of you may be asking 'What is alkaliweed?'
Alkaliweed (Cressa truxillensis) is a native, perennial plant in the morningglory family (Convolvulaceae), the same family of field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) and dodder (Cuscuta spp.). The species has a prostrate to ascending growth habit, rarely exceeding a foot in height. The species produces grey-green,...
- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
There is still time to register for the April 11th SJV Weed Science Extension Day at the Westside Research and Extension Center in Five Points (17353 West Oakland Avenue, Five Points, CA 93624).
The meeting at the Westside Center will focus on agronomic crops, ROWs, and tree and vine systems. The session will also include hands-on weed ID and nozzle selection/drift management training.
The meeting has been approved for 3.5 CDPR continuing education credits (other).
These presentations are free to attend although we do request that you register by calling the UCCE Merced County office at 209-385-7403 to reserve your spot. The...
- 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...