ACP Scouting and Monitoring Workshop for Growers in Riverside County

The University of California Cooperative Extension is hosting free workshops for citrus grove owners, managers and farmers. The workshop will provide an overview of proper Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) scouting techniques from University of California research entomologists Dr. Monique Rivera. Attendees will have the opportunity to practice psyllid scouting techniques in blocks of trees known to host ACP.

• No cost to attend this event
• Strongly encouraged to bring a hand lens (a loaner hand lens will be provided if needed).
• 1.5 of “other” DPR Continuing Education Hours will be given.
• Further details on workshop location will be provided to registrants by email 48 hours prior to the event.

Space is limited, please register at: http://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=25658

 October 2, 2018, 9-11 AM

If you have any questions, please contact:

Sonia Rios

sirios@ucanr.edu

951-683-6491 EXT 224

Who said healthy snacks aren't fun? UC CalFresh nutrition educators brought the excitement of healthy eating to a couple of local schools to show youth, teachers, and administrators alike how easy and fun it is to choose a healthy snack.

In the Coachella Valley, UC CalFresh Nutrition Educators Marlyn Pulido and Jackie Barahona teamed up for a day filled with information for 250 students at Cesar Chavez Elementary School. They began with a morning visit to remind youth to go to breakfast and gave them a recipe wheel on how to make easy healthy snacks. Students enjoyed the wheels with some of them saying, “Wow this is cool”.  The day followed with three different class presentations about healthy snacks and MyPlate food groups.  UC CalFresh staff popped fresh popcorn for a tasting and handed out recipe cards on how to make paper bag popcorn for fun snack at home. The Principal, Mr. Barker, was happy to celebrate "Healthy Snack Day" with the students, encouraging them and letting them know that he supports their interest in healthier eating.

In the Banning area, UC CalFresh Nutrition Educators Claudia Carlos and Itzel Palacios-Sanchez spent three lunches reaching 175 students at Nicolet Middle School. The Associated Student Body (ASB) helped handing out recipe wheels and stickers. The fun continued with a cheese stick tasting provided by Raj Kaur, Community Nutrition Advisor with the Dairy Council of California. The results of the student questionnaires show that 104 students are more likely to try baking instead of frying as a “healthy trick”.   

Throughout the year in Riverside County, UC CalFresh staff works with students, teachers, and community members to encourage healthy habits through nutrition, garden, and physical activity education.

Last week during California Invasive Species Action Week (June 2 – June 10), we highlighted several pests, but there are many more invasive species out there. Now that you know about them, share your knowledge of invasive species with others. And no matter what your summer plans, here are some things YOU can do about invasive species from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and California Department of Food and Agriculture.

YOU:  I'M TRAVELLING TO AMAZING PLACES

• Learn what plants and animals you can bring into California.
• Don't pack a pest! Declare all food and agricultural items from other states or countries.
• Find out which species are threats to California.
• Learn about California's invasive plants.
• Avoid spreading forest pests: buy your firewood where you burn it.

YOU:  I'LL BE WORKING IN MY GARDEN

• Remove invasive plants from your property.
• Select native or non-invasive plants for your garden.
• Use only certified weed-free forage, hay, seed, mulch, soil, and gravel.
• Learn alternatives to releasing unwanted fish, aquatic plants, and other pets.
• Monitor plants and trees for symptoms of infestations and disease.
• Learn about California's invasive plants.
• Have you spotted an invasive species? Tell us where by reporting your sighting.

YOU:  I'LL BE NEAR THE WATER OR ON A BOAT

• Join the statewide citizen science effort to monitor for quagga mussels.
• Join the iNaturalist project, California Nerodia Watch, and help us find Nerodia watersnakes.
• Make sure to Clean, Drain, and Dry (PDF) your boat after each outing.
• Learn alternatives to releasing unwanted fish, aquatic plants, and other pets.
• Visit your favorite local, state, or national park, ecological reserve, recreational area, or nature center and ask about their volunteer programs.
• Learn about California's invasive plants.
• Have you spotted an invasive species? Tell us where by reporting your sighting.

YOU:  I'LL BE OUT AND ABOUT CAMPING, HIKING, OR RIDING HORSES

• Use only certified weed-free forage, hay, seed, mulch, soil, and gravel.
• Avoid spreading forest pests: buy your firewood where you burn it.
• Prevent the spread of plant pathogens that damage and kill California's native plants and trees.
• Learn about California's invasive plants.
• Visit your favorite local, state, or national park, ecological reserve, recreational area, or nature center and ask about their volunteer programs.
• Have you spotted an invasive species? Tell us where by reporting your sighting.

YOU:  I'LL DEFINITELY CONTINUE TO LEARN ABOUT INVASIVES

• Get to know your local invaders.
• Learn about California's invasive plants.
• Find out which species are threats to California.
• Learn alternatives to releasing unwanted fish, aquatic plants, and other pets.
• Eat them. Yum. Check out these websites to find out who is edible and how to prepare them.

• Invasive-eats.com (California-specific)
• Invasivore.org (under construction but hopefully back soon)
• EatTheWeeds.com
• EatTheInvaders.org

If you missed it this year, help in the fight next year by learning and participating during California Invasive Species Action Week.

Sometimes an invasive pest takes a while to become invasive. The Invasive Species Council of California defines an invasive species as “non-native organisms which cause economic or environmental harm.” So, until a species not originally from the area actually causes harm, it doesn't get the title of invasive.

Take the Italian white snail, also known as the white garden snail. In San Diego, it caused extensive damage to agricultural plants in the early 1900s but was considered eradicated after a massive control program in the 1920s. However, it was found again in San Diego County in the 1980s but it did not damage agricultural crops or gardens. Instead the snails lived off of weeds in neglected fields. Now it appears to be moving slowly from these fields to fruit tree orchards and avocado groves as well as landscapes. The Italian white snail feeds on decaying organic matter and living plants, damaging leaves, flowers, and fruit. Another fear is it being found in cut flower growing areas or in nurseries where it could become an export issue.

White or light tan, the Italian white snail is about the size of a dime or nickel when fully grown. It may or may not have brown markings on the outside of the shell. The inside shell color near the opening is light colored (compared to the milk snail, which looks similar but has a dark inside shell). Italian white snails are most noticeable during the day and when it is hot, because the snails climb up on fence posts, walls, weeds and other vegetation and congregate in large numbers.

In California, the Italian white snail is only officially found in San Diego County. However, it could easily move to new areas because of its small size, which makes it hard to detect, and tendency to attach to many kinds of surfaces such as truck beds. Also, because land snails are hermaphroditic—each snail has both male and female reproductive organs—it only takes any two snails to reproduce!

Californians can help in the fight against invasive species by learning and participating during California Invasive Species Action Week, June 2–10.