- Author: Ben Faber
Pollinators are essential to many of California's agricultural crops and to the vast biodiversity of California's natural ecosystems. Unfortunately, due to a variety of factors including habitat destruction, pesticides, disease, and climate change pollinators are in decline. The loss of pollinators in California affects both agricultural and natural ecosystems. It is the goal of the Pollinator Habitat Program to help strengthen pollinator populations and health.
The Pollinator Habitat Program was established by the Budget Act of 2021 (Senate Bill 170, Skinner). An allocation of $15 million to CDFA was made for fiscal year 2021-2022 to provide grant funding for the establishment of pollinator habitat on agricultural lands throughout California. CDFA was directed to administer the Pollinator Habitat Program and to prioritize the planning of native habitats for the benefit of native biodiversity and the use of locally appropriate native plant seed mixes when feasible.
The Pollinator Habitat Program will provide up to $14.5 million in funding to established and experienced organizations (See Eligibility) to work directly with farmers and ranchers to install habitat and implement management practices that support pollinators.
The Pollinator Habitat Program is aligned with the suite of Climate Smart Agriculture incentive programs administered by CDFA's Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation. The program's primary objective is to support pollinators through provision of floral resources, host plants and other elements of suitable habitat. Projects funded through the PHP can be expected to have additional benefits to California's biodiversity and agricultural production. Projects will support integrated pest management, support beneficial species (beyond pollinators), enhance carbon sequestration and improve soil health among other co-benefits.
The Pollinator Partnership — a non-profit 501 c3 dedicated to promoting the health of pollinators through conservation, education, and research — is conducting a survey to learn about California growers' preferences for on-farm conservation programs.
The voluntary survey, under contract for the USDA, is open to current owners and/or managers of farmlands in California, and should take about 10 minutes to complete.
Participants can take part in the survey regardless of past participation in a USDA conservation program. Responses will not identify participants individually; results will be aggregated and anonymized when presented.
All participants who complete this survey will be included in a raffle to win one of ten (10) $50 VISA gift cards. To be included in the raffle simply provide your email at the end of the survey.
Questions about this survey can be directed to (jordan@pollinator.org) or Vicki Wojcik (vw@pollinator.org) at Pollinator Partnership.
Click on this link to participate in the survey.
- Author: Ben Faber
For those who missed it and for those who missed catching all the fine and coarse details of the hybrid zoom/in-person meeting on avocado varieties and rootstocks, here it is - the Shoot. Also, there is a survey on avocado rootstocks that a group of researchers headed by Patricia Manosalva at UC Riverside would like you to complete in order to help direct their breeding program.
California Avocado Growers Seminars Series 2022
From the:
August 17
Live Seminar and Hybrid Zoom
Avocado Varieties Panel Discussion
A big thank you to our Speakers
Speakers:
Click here for the August Seminar Recording
Also tell us about your rootstock breeding interests:
https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=38885
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- Author: Ben Faber
If you see significant leaf drop in your groves due to excessive heat, the following actions are recommended:
- As soon as possible, whitewash branches exposed to the sun with special attention paid to branches on the west and south sides of the tree.
- Trees that lose a significant portion of leaves cannot efficiently move water, therefore restrict irrigation amounts to ensure you avoid creating wet, soggy conditions that can lead to root rot. It's best to irrigate less frequently and with smaller amounts of water.
- Do not prune your trees — leave hanging leaves in place to protect the tree from sunburn. Once new tree growth has occurred (in the next 3 – 6 months), pruning can take place on living wood.
- Adjust fertilization as you would with a frost-damaged tree: reducing the amount of fertilizer until the tree is re-established. If you see signs of a particular nutrient deficiency, adjust fertilization accordingly.
For more information about managing heat in avocado groves, growers can view the following articles on the California avocado growers' website:
- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
- Author: Ted Webster
- Author: Stanley Culpepper
Despite the fact that I am currently working in orchards and vineyards, I receive lots of requests to discuss Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.), a weed that I spent almost six years studying. It's the scourge of the Southeastern United States - and a weed that I think everyone should be (or at least become) very conscious of.
Considering that Palmer amaranth is starting to rear an ugly head in California cotton and perennial cropping systems, I thought that I might start a series of blogs revisiting some of the research that I was a partner to in Georgia.
First things first, though...what is Palmer amaranth?
Palmer amaranth, also commonly known as careless-weed (because it can get away from you if you are careless...), is a tall (up to two or three meters) and erect summer annual that is native to the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California, as well parts of southern Arizona and California. A review of the USDA PLANTS database (http://plants.usda.gov) suggests that the species has been encountered in 30 US states and one Canadian province.
The amaranths are sometimes difficult to distinguish from each other, especially at the seedling stage. The best identifiers of Palmer amaranth, to date, include: 1) petioles that are as long, or longer, than the leaf blades and 2) male and female flowers that are held on separate plants in long, terminal spikes. The female flowers possess pointed bracts that make the flower-heads sharp to the touch; male flower-heads, in comparison, are much softer. The reproductive potential of the species is astounding; under ideal growing conditions, a single female plant can produce >500,000 seeds.
For more detailed information regarding the identification of Palmer amaranth, you can refer to the following weed guides: 'Weeds of the South' and 'Weeds of the Midwestern United States and Central Canada' (Disclaimer: I am a contributor to both guides), as well as 'Weeds of the West.'
Figure 2. Male Palmer amaranth. Photo credit: Lynn Sosnoskie, UC-Davis (CA)
Palmer amaranth plants can grow rapidly; the species can easily out-compete corn, soybean, peanuts and cotton if the seedlings become established early in the cropping season. Palmer's rooting structure may also contribute to its competitiveness; results from published studies suggest that Palmer amaranth may produce more roots than soybean and that these roots are potentially more effective at penetrating compacted soil layers (and, therefore accessing additional moisture and nutrients).
According to the International Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds (http://www.weedscience.org/In.asp), Palmer amaranth biotypes in the US have developed resistance to the dinitroanilines, photosystem II-inhibitors, ALS-inhibitors , 4-HPPD-inhibitors and glyphosate. Mississippi, Georgia, Kansas and Tennessee have confirmed cases of multiple resistances in Palmer amaranth (i.e. individual biotypes that are resistant to more than one herbicide mechanism of action). In some cases, the resistant biotype is thought to occupy only a few acres; in other instances, the resistant biotype is spread over a majority of the arable farmland. For example, in Georgia, county extension agents estimate that 90% of all cotton acres are infested to some degree with glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth.
Herbicide-resistance, particularly glyphosate-resistance, in Palmer amaranth is a significant economic concern for cotton growers in the Southeastern US. Prior to the development of glyphosate-resistance in Palmer amaranth, growers in Georgia spent, on average, $25 to $35 per acre on herbicides for weed control in cotton. Since the discovery of glyphosate-resistance (in 2004), herbicide costs have nearly doubled. The cost of additional, cultural control methods has also increased. From 2000-2005, approximately 3% to 5% of Georgia's cotton acres were hand-weeded at a cost of $2 to $4 per acre (when averaged over all farm acres); from 2006-2010, 50% to 70% of all cotton acres were hand-weeded at an average cost of $22 to $24 per acre.
Figure 3. Palmer amaranth infesting cotton. Photo credit: Larry Steckel, UT (TN).
- Author: Ben Faber
420 S Broadway
Escondido, CA 92025
Free In Person Event
Date, Time and Location:
September 28, 2022
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
San Diego Farm Bureau
420 S. Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025
This training workshop aims to focus on irrigation management related including drought and heat effects; irrigation management tools and information under development of California avocados; mapping salinity and strategies in managing salinity; water costs and planting density; and supporting programs for avocado growers.
Drought and Heat Effects on Avocado
Dr. Ben Faber, UCCE Subtropical Crops Advisor, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties
Irrigation Management Tools and Information Under Development in California Avocados
Dr. Ali Montazar, UCCE Irrigation and Water Management Advisor, San Diego, Imperial, and Riverside Counties
Mapping Salinity Using Geophysical Techniques
Dr. Dennis Corwin, Senior Research Soil Scientist, USDA Salinity Laboratory, Riverside
Strategies in Managing Salinity in Avocado Production
Dr. Peggy Mauk, Director of Agricultural Operations and Professor of Extension, University of California, Riverside
Water Cost in High Density Avocado Planting and Profitability
Etaferahu Takele, UCCE Area Farm Management/Agricultural Economist in Southern California, San Bernardino
Mission Resource Conservation District's Supporting Programs
Luis Ramos, Mission RCD, Fallbrook
REGISTER HERE
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Continuing Education Units
Certified Crop Advisor - 3 hrs (Pending)
San Diego Region Irrigated Lands Group - 3 hrs (Approved)
(Pre-registration required)
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Contact:
Program Information: Ali Montazar: amontazar@ucanr.edu
General/Registration: Jan Gonzales: jggonzales@ucanr.edu
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