- Author: Dylan J Beal
As part of a national team of entomologists studying the management of spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), we are reaching out to Central Coast Strawberry and Caneberry growers/PCAs regarding a survey on SWD Impacts. This survey will help us understand the current impacts of SWD on your farm and how these impacts may have changed in the last 10 years.
If you are willing to share insights from your farm, farms you manage, or growers you work with, please complete this short survey, which will take about 15 minutes or less: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeW6rCcyM9vf_sjLJDj0J_6G03jlVbBLZt5rlX7kmzSj0Ypog/viewform
How will this information be used? This information will be used to develop new research goals as part of a USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative proposal under development. It will also be compared to information collected in similar surveys in 2013 and 2014 to help us understand where challenges still exist for SWD management and what improvements have been made over the last 10 years and shared in extension and scholarly publications.
Who should I contact for more information? For more information about SWD management, contact Dylan Beal, djbeal@ucanr.edu, 831.294.9419, or members of our project team. For more information about this survey, contact Hannah Levenson, hklevens@ncsu.edu, 919.434.7882.
Tolerance of lettuce varieties to Fusarium wilt – 2024
Alex Putman, Yu-Chen Wang, and Chris Greer
Summary
Fusarium wilt of lettuce, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae (FOL), is an economically significant disease on the Central Coast of California. We conducted field trials to evaluate 30 iceberg and 21 romaine varieties for tolerance to Fusarium wilt. The trials were located in commercial fields in Greenfield, CA (wet date of May 27, 2024) and Salinas, CA (wet date of June 8, 2024). Foliar disease severity was visually evaluated on July 31-August 2, 2024 at Greenfield and on August 5-7, 2024 at Salinas and converted to a marketability (yes or no) rating. Disease pressure was high at both locations. Iceberg varieties that exceeded 50% marketability at both locations were Powerball and two coded entries from Vilmorin-Mikado. Nine varieties exceeded 50% marketability at Greenfield but not Salinas, and two varieties exceeded the same threshold at Salinas but not Greenfield. For romaine, 19 out of 22 varieties exceeded 90% marketability at Greenfield, but only two of those varieties (Holbrook and Momentus) also exceeded the same threshold at Salinas. In a greenhouse experiment, an isolate from Greenfield showed a susceptible reaction on variety Costa Rica #4 and a highly resistant reaction on variety San Miguel, which is consistent with the Costa Rica FOL race variant. Although FOL race 1 is suspected to be present at the Salinas location, greenhouse testing is not complete. These trials provide public data on the tolerance of iceberg and romaine varieties to Fusarium wilt.
Methods
Field trials were conducted in Greenfield, CA and Salinas, CA to evaluate both in-slot and out-of-slot varieties (30 iceberg and 21 romaine) for tolerance to Fusarium wilt in commercial fields with disease history. At Greenfield, bed center spacing was 80 inches, and plots were 1 plant line wide by 100 ft. long. Due to space constraints, 4 iceberg and 10 romaine varieties were not included in the Salinas trial. At Salinas, bed center spacing was 40 inches, and plots were 1 plant lines wide by 40 ft. long. Iceberg and romaine varieties were evaluated separately, and plots of each type were arranged in a randomized complete block with four replications. Treatments were direct seeded using the grower-cooperators' planters at Greenfield and using single-line push planters at Salinas. The wet dates were May 27, 2024 for Greenfield and June 8, 2024 for Salinas. The Greenfield trial was maintained to commercial standards for lettuce production, whereas the Salinas trial was not. After thinning by commercial crews, 50 plants at Greenfield and 30 plants at Salinas in the center of each plot were counted, and the section was marked with stakes. Data were collected from this center section. Evaluations were performed on July 31-August 2 at Greenfield and August 5-7 at Salinas, which was before maturity at the Salinas trial. Foliar disease severity was assessed on a 0 to 4 scale where: 0 = healthy; 1 = wilting or chlorosis of one to three outer leaves; 2 = up to moderate stunting and wilting or chlorosis of <25% of leaf area; 3 = head is severely stunted or absent and between 25% and 75% of leaf area is wilting or chlorotic; and 4 = head is absent and >75% of leaf area is chlorotic and nearly dead, or plant is entirely dead. For analysis, foliar disease severity was converted to marketability, where: disease severity of 0 or 1 = marketable; and disease severity of 2, 3, or 4 = not marketable. Marketability data was analyzed by an analysis of variance (P < 0.05), and variety means were separated using Tukey's honestly significant difference test.
Results – Race of the FOL pathogen present
Two races of FOL are present on the Central Coast: race 1, and a novel race variant (Nayak et al., 2024). We are using the temporary name “Costa Rica FOL variant” for the novel race variant until it is officially named following completion of the upcoming ring test, which is a collaborative experiment between researchers and seed companies. In the Greenfield trial, the reaction of varieties including San Miguel and Primo suggests that the Costa Rica FOL variant is present. To confirm, isolates from each location were evaluated in a race typing experiment in the greenhouse. Variety Costa Rica #4 showed a susceptible reaction and variety San Miguel showed a highly resistant reaction to both Greenfield isolates, which supports the observation that the Costa Rica FOL race variant is present at the Greenfield location. We suspect FOL race 1 is present at the Salinas location, but the field reaction of varieties is not definitive. However, greenhouse testing of the Salinas location isolates is ongoing.
Results – Marketability
Disease pressure was high at both locations. Iceberg varieties that exceeded 50% marketability at both locations were Powerball and two coded entries from Vilmorin-Mikado (Table 1). Nine varieties exceeded 50% marketability at Greenfield only: Balboa, Fontinas, Meridian, Paraiso, San Andreas, San Miguel, two coded entries from Salinas Valley Seeds, and one coded entry from Sakata. In contrast, two varieties exceeded the same threshold at Salinas only: Fredonia and a coded entry from Takii. This pattern of some varieties showing large differences in performance between locations whereas others showed similar performance suggests that a different race is present at each location, but this has not yet been confirmed by greenhouse testing.
Of the 21 romaine varieties evaluated, two varieties exceeded 90% marketability at both locations: Holbrook and Momentus (Table 2). A total of 17 out of 21 varieties exceeded the same threshold at Greenfield but not Salinas. At the Salinas location, Holbrook and Momentus were not statistically different from four varieties (Boronda, Copious, Patton, and Solid Heart) with average percent marketability ranging from 77% to 88%.
If you have additional questions about these trials, please contact Alex Putman at 951-522-9556 or aiputman@ucr.edu.
Please Send Us Samples
We are continuing to collect samples of lettuce Fusarium wilt to determine the distribution of races and to monitor the pathogen. To support this research, please contact the person in your region. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
- Monterey, San Benito, or Santa Cruz Counties – Yu-Chen Wang (831-201-9689 or yckwang@ucanr.edu)
- San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, or Ventura Counties – Chris Greer (805-888-1355 or cagreer@ucanr.edu)
- Any other California county – Alex Putman (951-522-9556 or aiputman@ucr.edu)
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to D'Arrigo Brothers Co. of California and an anonymous grower for the space and maintenance of the variety field trials. We thank seed producers for providing seed for the trial. Funding for this work was provided by California Department of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant 23-0001-032-SF and the California Leafy Greens Research Program.
References
Nayak, S., K.L. Richardson, A.I. Putman, N.R. LeBlanc, F.N. Martin, N. Li, and J.D. McCreight. 2024. Detection of novel pathogenic variants of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae in California. Plant Pathology Early View. doi:10.1111/ppa.14019
- Author: Mercy Olmstead
- Author: Michael Cahn
Join us for the 2025 Irrigation and Nutrient Management Workshop and Cover Crop Field Day!
DAY/DATE: | Wednesday, February 19, 2025 |
TIME: |
7:55 am to 3:00 pm |
LOCATION: |
Agriculture Conference Room, 1432 Abbott St Salinas CA 93901 |
Free Workshop + Pizza
We are excited to invite you to our UCCE Annual Irrigation and Nutrient Management Meeting, designed to help growers like you optimize your crop production and sustainability practices for the upcoming season.
Whether you're a seasoned grower or new to irrigation and nutrient management, this meeting offers valuable insights and practical solutions for all. You'll also have the chance to network with fellow growers and industry experts.
Agenda:
7:30 AM |
Sign-in and Refreshments |
7:55 AM |
Introduction/Welcome |
8:00 AM |
Using Sudangrass as a Low Biomass Winter Cover Crop for Controlling Runoff and Erosion in Vegetable Systems |
8:25 AM |
Validating OpenET Satellite Measurements of Water Use of Broccoli and Lettuce |
8:50 AM |
Monterey County Water Resource Agency's Groundwater Monitoring Program: Data Collection and Reporting |
9:15 AM |
SGMA Perspectives on Water Use Efficiency |
9:40 AM |
Water and Nitrogen Management Field Trials in Broccoli |
10:05 AM |
BREAK |
10:20 AM |
Cover Crop Strategies for Complying with Ag Order 4.0 A-R targets |
10:45 AM |
Ag Order Progress and Requirements for the Upcoming Year |
11:10 AM |
UCANR Nitrogen and Irrigation Initiative: Helping Growers By Providing Technical Assistance |
11:25 AM |
Grower Panel: Practical Experiences in Using Cover Crops in Vegetable Systems |
12:10 PM |
Lunch - Enjoy some free pizza and salad! |
1:30 PM |
Cover Crop Field Day (Travel to USDA-ARS Spence Farm) |
3:00 PM | ADJOURN |
CCA continuing education credits have been requested.
For more information, contact Michael Cahn @ 831-759-7377, email: mdcahn@ucdavis.edu
/span>- Author: Mercy Olmstead
The Restore Grant Program, administered by Zero Foodprint, has just announced that they are accepting grant applications to implement farm practices that sequester atmospheric carbon into the form of soil organic carbon, starting on January 15, 2025.
These include practices like compost application, installing alley cropping, cover cropping, or hedgerow planting. Funds are available from $1,500 (minimum grant request) to $25,000 (maximum grant request) to implement at least one approved practice. More information about approved practices can be found in the grant application packet.
These funds are designed to help encourage broader adoption of regenerative agricultural practices and increase awareness of and demand for ingredients produced with regenerative agriculture practices. Adopting these practices will improve soil health, water and nutrient management, and increase the value of the agricultural operation.
Applications are open 01/15 - 02/19 for California farmers and ranchers. Learn more and apply at zerofoodprint.org/apply.
Free application assistance is available through the UC-ANR Climate Smart Agriculture program! Contact Bailey Smith-Helman at:bsmithhelman@ucanr.edu or call 831-239-9465 to learn more.
#Zerofoodprint #RegenerativeAgriculture #Soil #FarmGrants #RegenerativeFarming #Compost #CarbonSequestration #RestoreCalifornia #RestoreColorado #CaliforniaFarmsAndRanches #ColoradoFarm #NextPracticeNextAcre #ClimateAction #CollectiveRegeneration
En Español: |
Oportunidad de financiamiento disponible para suelos más saludables y secuestro de carbono
El Programa de Subvenciones Restore, administrado por Zero Foodprint, acaba de anunciar que está aceptando solicitudes de subvenciones para implementar prácticas agrícolas que mejoraran la salud del suelo y secuestran el carbono atmosférico, a partir del 15 de enero de 2025.
Las practicas eligibles incluyen: la aplicación de compost, la instalación de cultivos en callejones, cultivos de cobertura . Se puede solicitar fondos desde$1,500 (solicitud mínima) hasta $25,000 (solicitud máxima) para implementar al menos una práctica aprobada. Obtenga más información sobre las prácticas aprobadas en el paquete de solicitud de subvención.
El programa esta diseñado para ayudar a apoyar la adopción de prácticas agrícolas regenerativas y aumentar la conciencia y la demanda de productos cultivados con prácticas de agricultura regenerativa. La adopción de estas prácticas mejorará la salud del suelo, mejorará la gestión del agua y los nutrientes, y aumentará el valor de la operación agrícola.
Las solicitudes están abiertas del 15 de enero al 19 de febrero en California, Colorado, Oregón y Washington. Obtenga más información y presente su solicitud en https://www.zerofoodprint.org/restore-espanol.
Hay asistencia gratuita disponible de la universidad de california extensión cooperativa (UCCE). Póngase en contacto con Bailey Smith-Helman, bsmithhelman@ucanr.edu, 831-239-9465 para obtener más información.
/h1>- Author: Mercy Olmstead
- Author: Michael Cahn
Bringing Irrigation and Nutrient Management Decision-Support to the Field
CropManage Hands-On Workshop & Office Hours - Watsonville
Date: | January 23, 2025 |
Time: | 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM |
Location: | Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St., Suite 100, Watsonville, CA 95076 |
CropManage is a free online decision-support tool for water and nutrient management of vegetables, berries, agronomic, and tree crops. Based on research and field studies conducted by the University of California Cooperative Extension, CropManage provides real-time recommendations for efficient and timely irrigation and fertilization applications while maintaining or improving overall yield. Learn more by clicking here.
At this free workshop, we will provide hands-on training so that you can learn to use the newest version of CropManage. Crops currently supported include many vegetables (carrots, cabbage, celery, broccoli, lettuce, tomato, spinach, etc.), berry crops (raspberry and strawberry), tree crops (almond, walnut, pistachio, prunes, and pear), and agronomic crops (alfalfa and corn). CropManage is also available in Spanish.
- Learn how to use CropManage to support irrigation and nutrient management decisions and record-keeping for your crops
- Learn how to review irrigation and fertilizer records and data from field sensors
- Discover the latest updates to CropManage
This workshop is limited to the first 30 registrants!
A new feature of this workshop is “drop-in” office hours for those already familiar with CropManage. If you prefer not to attend the full program but need advanced assistance or have specific questions, join us at 2:00 pm. We will be ready to help answer your questions and explore advanced topics.
NEW - Drop-in office hours for users familiar with CropManage who have specific questions or want to discuss advanced topics such as:
|
Who should participate? Growers, farm managers, other farm staff, crop advisors, consultants, and technical service providers are welcome. The workshop is for both new and current CropManage users. Spanish translation will be available. Lunch will be provided.
Registration is free: Please register at: https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=44228 by January 22nd, 2025. Seats are limited to the first 30 registrants. Questions: Contact Michael Cahn at mdcahn@ucanr.edu/ 831-214-3690 or Dan Hermstad at dhermstad@rcdsantacruz.org / 831-464-2950 |
Agenda
10:30 - 10:50 AM | Registration and computer setup/login |
10:50 - 11:20 AM | Introduction to CropManage |
11:20 - 12:00 PM | Getting started with CropManage; setting up ranches |
12:00 - 12:30 PM | Lunch |
12:30 - 1:15 | Using CropManage for decision support and record-keeping |
1:15 - 1:45 PM | Group exercise |
1:45 - 2:00 PM | Discussion, Q&A, wrap-up |
Drop-in Office Hours from 2:00 - 3:00 PM | |
Stop by to receive one-on-one assistance with CropManage and explore more advanced ways to use CropManage to understand crop growth and nutrient and water needs. |
2.5 Continuing Education Units (CEU) for Certified Crop Advisors (CCA) have been approved. Please enter your CCA number on the registration form to get credit.
/table>2025 January Watsonville CM Workshop
2025 January Watsonville CM Workshop Flyer Espanol