- Author: Ben Faber
Maybe eucalyptus?
So you thought there were only three species of eucalyptus? Well there are a lot more and they all grow differently. Here's an interesting study evaluating their performance in the Central Valley which probably has value along coastal Southern California, as well.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/plantmaterials/capmctn13794.pdf
Eucalyptus species were introduced to California and extensively planted, initially for timber and
later as windbreaks and ornamental trees. The Lockeford
Plant Materials Center (CAPMC) as part of the NRCS Plant Materials Program carries out
systematic evaluations of plant materials for conservation use. In 1984, eucalyptus germplasm
sourced from Australia was planted at the CAPMC to evaluate growth rate, drought tolerance
and assess the suitability of eucalyptus species to function as windbreaks in the southern Central
The eucalyptus genus includes around 700 species, most of which are native to Australia. Their resilience and drought tolerance have resulted in extensive plantings around the globe, primarily for timber, but also as shade and windbreak trees . Since 1860, when eucalyptus seedlings first became available for planting in California, they have become the most common non-native tree in the state. Eucalyptus stands are associated with negative attributes including poor habitat for wildlife, allelopathic suppression of plants, high combustibility, and for some species the likelihood of dropping branches unexpectedly or blowing over in high wind events. A positive exception is sites, primarily of blue gum (E. globulus), along the Pacific Coast, which are important overwintering sites for the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus); although the butterflies prefer native trees. Several species of eucalyptus are recognized as naturalized in California with the ability to regenerate from seed. Currently, two species of eucalyptus, river red gum (Figure 2) and blue gum, are listed as invasive with limited potential by the California Invasive Plant Council (2020), while a third, sugar gum (E. cladocalyx) is listed in the “watch category.
Suitable windbreak trees have a preferred growth habit of a columnar form and one to several trunks, with rapid growth in the first few years. Data on the best adapted eucalyptus species was first collected in 1990 after six years of growth. An evaluation of the 34-year-old planting provides further information on long-term survival of these species in the Central Valley. The objective of this publication is to provide a short list of fast growing, non-weedy, long lived eucalyptus species that are adapted and would be suitable for further testing in windbreaks
Five eucalyptus species were identified for further evaluation as windbreak candidates based
upon survival 34 years after planting. The five species are narrowleaf red ironbark, black box,
gray ironbark, red iron bark and black sally.
- Author: Ben Faber
SWEEP 2023 opening soon!
The State Water Efficiency Enhancement Program
READ ALL ABOUT IT
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/sweep/
Get your paperwork ready!
SWEEP 2023 will release $23 million in funding this round, looking to open by the end of this year. It will be returning to a competitive grant process, so applications can be submitted anytime within the open application window.
Proposed (but not finalized changes) include:
- Parcels that have previously received SWEEP funding are eligible to apply again.
- Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers will be prioritized with a minimum of 25% of funding.
- Strengthened ways to ensure one user does not submit multiple applications. In addition to needing separate tax ID numbers, each application will need a separate mailing address and grant contact.
- Changes to the scoring rubric to prioritize 'well-rounded' projects. (We will have more clarity on this in the final draft)
To view the full draft grant proposal for SWEEP, click here.
As always, if you are interested in applying to SWEEP, you will need to gather three things before beginning an application:
1. Recent pump efficiency test(s)
2. 12 months of energy records for each pump (electric bills and/or fuel logs)
3. Quote(s) for proposed project.
For free assistance in beginning an application or if you have further questions, please contact your local climate-smart agriculture education specialist: https://ciwr.ucanr.edu/Programs/ClimateSmartAg/TechnicalAssistanceProviders/
- Author: Ben Faber
A great idea from Ed McFadden of Philmore or Fillmore in the local language.
You can always do something to prevent or correct the Big 4 that seem to strike avocados on a regular basis somewhere in California. Avocados in the back country are right up against areas that can burn easily. A fast fire can send embers into an orchard which can burn through the thick leaves in a slow burn. If it gets up against leaves piled up against the trunk, it can girdle the tree, killing it. The slow burn can continue through the orchard torching the irrigation lines. With a small fire break where the leaves are removed in a small alley, the burn can be slowed or stopped.
Leaves are great for erosion control, for nutrient cycling and disease control, but if they mean increasing potential for fire spread, it's a good idea to remove a little of it. Ed has found that a backpack blower can rapidly remove leaves from around the base of trees and create a narrow fire break that can reduce fire damage to trees.
Avocado orchards are notable for their ability to actually reduce fire hazard and slow major fires as has been shown in fires in San Diego, Ventura and Santa Barbara. This is partly due to running sprinklers during wild fire. But tree loss can still occur, especially when electricity goes down and pumps can't run.
Little rain this year or too much rain this year can always pose a hazard to avocado orchards. This sure seems like a good idea to me. And maybe it's time to start thinking about fire season now.
Photos: Cleared alley and trunk.
And another observation from 2008
And orchards being recognized as valuable in a fire prone area by the Santa Barbara Fire Safe Council
Orchards are another fire mitigation strategy, one that has already benefitted Goleta but has played a lesser role for Santa Barbara and Montecito where fewer orchards now exist. More orchards could be planted
The fire burned in the hills until July 28, blackending nearly 10,000 acres but causing relatively little structural damage. Firefighters credited the agricultural barrier of green avocado orchards and irrigated soil surrounding Goleta with saving the town.
But most importantly, how to prepare for fire. Read ON
/span>- Author: Ben Faber
This is a recent opinion piece in the Ventura Star, Santa Paula Times and Thousand Oaks Acorn by grower Lisa Tate:
OPINION (https://www.vcstar.com/opinion/)
Letters to the editor: Be an Ag hero with fruit flies
Ventura County Star
Keep your fruit in your backyard
Re: your Oct. 27 story, “Fruit fly in T.O. prompts county's second quarantine”: (https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2023/10/26/ventura-county-quarantine-invasive-queensland-fruit-flies-thousand-oaks-california/71176056007/)
Ventura County residents have always shown their dedication to preserving local agriculture. Today, our farmers urgently need your help.
Recently, the Queensland fruit fly was discovered in backyard fruit trees in the Thousand Oaks area. As a result, agricultural zones in T.O. and Moorpark are now under quarantine. The CDFA, USDA, and our County Agricultural Commissioner's Office are working tirelessly to shield our local farms from this destructive pest.
The repercussions of losing this battle could be catastrophic for our county and our SOAR-protected agricultural lands. Fruit fly infestations can wipe out entire crops and impede our farmers from selling their produce locally and globally — and the exorbitant costs of treating crops to prevent infestations could force some cherished family farms out of business.
What can you do to help save Ventura County agriculture? Don't move your fruit. Be an Ag hero and keep your fruit in your backyard. Prevent the spread of fruit flies and protect our local farms by not moving your backyard fruit. Dispose of excess backyard fruit by double bagging it and placing it in the trash, not the yard waste bin for composting. If you're visiting friends or family this holiday season, resist the urge to bring home backyard fruit from other areas — don't pack a pest back to Ventura.
You can be an Ag hero. Spread awareness about the risks of moving backyard fruit, and kindly refrain from sharing your bounty with friends and family this holiday season. Let's unite as a community of Ag heroes and help protect our local farms. Taking these small steps can make a significant impact and safeguard the future of our SOAR Ag lands.
Lisa Tate
Queensland Fruit Fly - Bactrocera tryoni
- Author: Ben Faber
An agricultural quarantine in Ventura County, due to the discovery of a potentially destructive insect pests, has been expanded. The quarantine was declared in parts of Ventura County in October following the discovery of two Queensland Fruit Flies (QFF). The flies are native to Australia.
The Ventura County quarantine is the first one ever in the United States. They are extremely destructive, laying eggs in a variety of fruits and vegetables, and destroying the produce in the process.
Because of the mild climate, Californias are able to grow and enjoy some of the best produce I the world. Actually, many countries depend on Calfirnia-grown products. Is through the surveillance and vigialance effort of the Calfornia Department of Food and AGriducltture that thise abundant food supply is protected. One fo the biggest threst to CAlfiornia agrulgulture is th exotic fruit fly. They cn enter the country by land, sea or air. These invasive pest can werak havoc on farms, orchards and backyard produce. Over 270 crops area at risk of being infected by various species of fruit flies.
The quarantine was expanded from 76 to 90 square miles after the recent discovery of a third fly. The finds have been in the Conejo Valley. The flies were found in residential trees, but there are about 3400 acres of commercial farmland in the quarantine area. A major trapping program is underway to limit the spread of the flies, with some limited pesticide spraying occurring. The adult fly is moved by humans and the wind. The larvae (the "worm" stage) is mainly moved by moving the fruit - by humans, that is.
On the map, the original limit of the quarantine was the red line, but as now been expanded to the whole blue line area.
Queensland Fruit Fly is just one of the fly quarantines in the state. There are seven currently for Oriental Fruit Fly, Mediterranean Fruit Fly and Tau Fruit Fly in Northern California, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The state is under siege.
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Mediterranean fruit fly: Los Angeles County, Leimert Park Area
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Oriental fruit fly: San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, Redlands and Yucaipa Areas
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Oriental fruit fly: Sacramento County, Rancho Cordova Area
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Oriental fruit fly: Contra Costa County, Brentwood Area
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Oriental fruit fly: Santa Clara County, Santa Clara Area
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Queensland fruit fly: Ventura and Los Angeles Counties, Thousand Oaks Area
Options for Host Fruit and Vegetables-Processing
To prevent the spread of fruit flies via infested homegrown fruits and vegetables, residents and people moving through the fruit fly eradication area are urged not to move any fruits or vegetables from their property. Fruits and vegetables may be consumed or processed (i.e. juiced, frozen, cooked, or ground in the garbage disposal) at the property of origin. If they are not consumed or processed, dispose of them by double-bagging them in plastic bags and putting the bags in the garbage bin for collection.
Eradication Procedure
To eradicate exotic fruit fly infestations, CDFA uses an organically-formulated version of the pesticide called spinosad. Spinosad is used for organic crop production in California to control a variety of pests. It is mixed with a bait that is selectively attractive to fruit flies. The bait is applied as a paste that the fly eats, resulting in death. Before CDFA applies the material in the quarantine area, the homeowner will be contacted. The official registration label is available for viewing here:
https://ucanr.edu/sites/fruitandnut/files/74136.pdf
To report a suspected infestation of fruit fly larvae in homegrown produce, call the CDFA pest hotline at 1-800-491-1899. Growers with questions and concerns are urged to contact their local agricultural commissioner's office. More information about the flies and their treatment can be found at the CDFA website - www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant.
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