- Author: Ben Faber
Key to the Phytoseiid Predatory Mites Found on California Crops
Key to the Phytoseiid Predatory Mites Found on California Crops
Predatory mites in the family Phytoseiidae are known throughout the world in agricultural crops as important predators of pest mites, especially the spider mites (Tetranychidae), as well as small insects such as thrips, psyllids, scales, aphids, and whiteflies.
Detailed line drawings illustrate descriptions of each mite species, and a separate appendix included in the download contains photos of key characteristics of slide-mounted mites taken through a compound microscope. The interactive appendix, includes photos of forty-five of the forty-six mite species found in the key.
For the majority of mite species, photos of the dorsum, venter, ventrianal shield, spermatheca, and chelicera are provided. For some species, additional photos are included for structures that are especially important for confirming identification, such as the peritreme, macrosetae, pores, and dorsal shield indentations.
This free publication is available by download. The publication and the appendix are included in a zip file. Please note this is a large, 36MB file
This publication is best viewed using the free Adobe® Acrobat® Reader. You can download a free copy of the Acrobat Reader from Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Airblast sprayers are the most used equipment for pesticide application in perennial specialty crops in the San Joaquin Valley and across California. The application involves applying spray from both sides of the sprayer onto tree or vine canopies, as an operator drives the sprayer between tree/vine rows. Airblast sprayers use a fan to produce air intended to carry the spray to the target. The air also helps the spray droplets to penetrate the target canopies to deposit deep inside the canopy.
Good or Bad Air?
A critical consideration for any application is the amount of air needed to carry the spray to the target. How much air is too little? How much is adequate? How much is too much? There is a tendency to assume that more air always means better effectiveness, but one size does not fit all. So, the air can either work for or against effectiveness. Use too little air and the spray will not penetrate sufficiently. Use too much, and the spray will be excessively pushed through the canopy. Using the right amount of air will require making intentional adjustments during sprayer calibration and properly documenting the settings for future reference.
Find out the rest of the story:https://ceventura.ucanr.edu/newsletters/Topics_in_Subtropics99392.pdf
- Author: Mark Battany
Coastal California crops include many which are sensitive to frost, including grapes, strawberries, avocado and citrus. Our primary active protection measures are water and wind; water for sprinkler frost protection is very effective in many situations, but the scarcity and high cost of water is making it increasingly difficult to justify, and the high rates of water application can degrade crop quality in some situations. Wind machines are therefore gaining increasing attention as an attractive alternative where conditions permit their use.
Wind machines generate a warming benefit primarily by mixing the warmer air aloft with the colder air near the crop. This situation of having warmer air aloft and colder air near the ground surface is termed a temperature inversion. Temperature inversions tend to form under nighttime conditions of clear skies and little to no wind; these are the typical conditions which drive a radiation frost. The cloudier and/or windier the nighttime conditions, the weaker the inversions. Under advective frost conditions, the air temperature aloft may actually be colder than near the ground; clearly under such conditions the operation of wind machines can be detrimental to the crop, hence the importance to have some understanding of the patterns of temperature inversions in our growing regions.
Measurements of the temperature inversion can be used in two fundamental ways. Firstly, as part of a site assessment, to help determine whether or not wind machines may be suitable for use at the site. Secondly, to help guide decisions of whether or not to utilize wind machines during a particular frost event. For the former, measurements can be made with inexpensive data loggers which store the values for later evaluation well after the frost period. For the latter, a more expensive weather station which can provide real-time data to users will be required.
Get the full story at: https://ceventura.ucanr.edu/newsletters/Topics_in_Subtropics99392.pdf
Utilizing the Arthropod Pesticide Resistance Database
Growers face the daunting challenge of managing several pests that exhibit pesticide resistance. In this battle, selecting appropriate pesticides play a crucial role. We know that pesticide resistance is a phenomenon in which certain pest populations develop the ability to withstand the effects of pesticides that were once effective against them. This resistance can occur due to the natural genetic variability within pest populations and is exacerbated by the overuse or misuse of specific pesticides. To prevent or mitigate pesticide resistance, growers can alternate pesticides with different modes of action. This approach involves periodically switching between pesticides that target pests using different biological mechanisms, making it more challenging for pests to develop resistance to all of them. By diversifying the pesticides they use, growers reduce the selective pressure on a single mode of action, slowing down the development of resistance To make informed decisions, agricultural experts can utilize resources such as UC ANR's pest and pesticide recommendations. Another useful tool I just learned about is the Arthropod Pesticide Resistance Database, available at https://www.pesticideresistance.org/. This resource serves as a comprehensive repository of information related to arthropod pesticide resistance.
The Arthropod Pesticide Resistance Database offers a wealth of data on resistance in various arthropod species, such as insects, mites, and ticks. Users can access information about the resistance mechanisms, geographical distribution, and the latest research findings on pesticide resistance in these pests. To use the database effectively, users can search for specific pests or pesticide. Users can utilize the database to identify regions where resistant pest populations are more prevalent, allowing them to tailor their pest management strategies accordingly. What strikes me as fascinating is the availability of data from around the globe. By understanding which pesticides are still effective and which ones may need to be used sparingly or replaced with alternative methods, farmers can make more sustainable and cost-effective choices to protect their crops. Have you used this resource before to make decisions or learn about a pest and it's control? I'd love to hear from you at hcohen@ucanr.edu
- Author: Ben Faber
Practical Training in Nitrogen Planning & Management in Organic Production of Annual Crops
BUT All Growers Could Learn from these sessions
- Virtual Event – Habrá traducción al Español
3-part Workshop
Session 1: Monday, Nov. 27th, 2023, 1-3pm
Session 2: Monday, Dec. 4th, 2023, 1-3pm
Session 3: Monday, Dec. 11th, 2023, 1-3pm
Session 4*: Monday, Dec. 18th, 2023, 1-3pm
*attendance optional
Registration
tinyurl.com/NitrogenWorkshop
- Cost: $25*
*No one will be turned away due to lack of funds.
Please contact Rob Straser (rkstraser@ucanr.edu)
- Must enroll in Session 1-3 (Session 4 optional)
- Limited to 80 participants
- CEUs in progress
- CDFA-INMTP
- CCA
About this workshop
In this 3-part series, participants will learn how to estimate nitrogen release from diverse organic sources and translate that knowledge to nitrogen fertilization plans and regulatory reporting requirements. Over the 3 sessions, we will cover the most common sources of nitrogen and complete a nitrogen budget. In session 2 and 4, participants will be able to work on and receive feedback on their own nitrogen budgets.
Who should enroll?
Growers, CCAs, PCAs and other agricultural professionals who are interested in learning about nitrogen management in organic production are encouraged to enroll.
Program agenda
Session 1: Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, 1-3pm
Understanding nitrogen: the nutrient, the role of microbes and the
relevance of soil organic matter
Presenters: Daniel Geisseler, Radomir Schmidt and Margaret Lloyd
We will begin with an overview of the sources, transformations and fates of sources of organic nitrogen in soil. Foundational to this, we'll cover the role and dynamics of microbes in nitrogen management, and how that impacts management decisions. Lastly, we'll discuss using nitrogen budgets to understand the sources and proportions of available nitrogen to meet crop demand.
Session 2: Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, 1-3pm
Estimating nitrogen release from organic amendments and contributions
from cover crops
Presenters: Patricia Lazicki and Margaret Lloyd
This session will focus on estimating nitrogen release from compost, organic fertilizers and cover crops. In addition, participants will be invited to apply the training to their own operations and receive feedback on the budget calculations during this session.
2
Nitrogen Planning & Management Workshop UC Cooperative Extension
Session 3: Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, 1-3pm
Putting it all together: Completing a nitrogen budget, synchronizing
nitrogen release with nitrogen demand, soil tests, and frontiers in nitrogen
science
Presenters: Daniel Geisseler, Joji Muramoto, Michael Cahn and Margaret Lloyd
In this session, we will address specific aspects of organic soil fertility management in warm season vegetables. Discussions will include crop nitrogen demand and strategies to supply demand, as well as using and interpreting soil testing. Specific references will be made to strategies for complying with forthcoming regulations. We will conclude with a discussion on new frontiers in organic nitrogen management.
Session 4*: Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, 1-3pm
*attendance optional
Grower Panel and Open House
In this session we will have 1-2 growers share their experience managing nitrogen on their farms. Then, we will open it up to questions, share experiences and discuss the nitrogen budget file. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own data to receive feedback.
About the Presenters
Daniel Geisseler is a Cooperative Extension specialist in the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources at UC Davis.
Daniel's research and outreach focuses on nutrient turnover and plant nutrition in agricultural systems. He is interested in the
effects that different management practices have on nutrient use in California crops and how nutrient use efficiency can be
improved, particularly with nitrogen.
Patricia Lazicki is the Vegetable Crops Advisor for Yolo, Solano, and Sacramento Counties, working mainly in tomatoes.
Her research interests include soil health, and nutrient management and fertility in organic annual cropping systems.
Margaret Lloyd is the Organic Agriculture and Small Farms Advisor for Yolo, Solano and Sacramento Counties. She runs an
active research and outreach program focused on nutrient management and pest management for organic vegetable farms.
Joji Muramoto is an Assistant Cooperative Extension organic production specialist at UC Santa Cruz. His research and
extension focus on nitrogen and soilborne disease management in organic cropping systems across the state
.
Radomir Schmidt is a program manager at the Working Lands Innovation Center at the UC Davis Institute of the Environment.
As a soil microbiologist, Radomir conducts research on the effects of specific farming practices (organic amendment
application, enhanced rock weathering, cover cropping, no-till systems) on carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas fluxes in
soils, and on the roles of microbial communities in soil health improvement and maintenance
.
Michael Cahn is an irrigation and water resources Farm Advisor for UC Cooperative Extension in Monterey County. His
research and extension program focuses on irrigation efficiency, nutrient use of crops, and protecting water quality. He led
the development of CropManage, an online decision support tool for irrigation and nutrient management.
For more information, contact Rob Straser: (rkstraser@ucanr.edu) or Margaret Lloyd (530-564-8642, mglloyd@ucanr.edu).
The University of California prohibits discrimination or harassment of any person in any of its programs or activities. (Complete nondiscrimination policy statement
can be found at http://ucanr.org/sites/anrstaff/files/107734.doc). Inquiries regarding the University's equal employment opportunity policies may be directed to
Affirmative Action Contact and Title IX Officer, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2801 2nd Street, Davis, CA 95618, (530) 750-1397