- Author: Chutima Ganthavorn
It has been a year since the bare root fruit trees were planted at Community Settlement Association (CSA) in Eastside Riverside as part of the fruit tree planting project, funded by a mini-grant from Wood Streets Green Team in Riverside County. “The trees are dormant right now since it is winter time, but this is a good time for pruning” said Larry Dodson, a Master Gardener with UC Cooperative Extension. On this cold, crisp morning (February 4, 2016), Larry brought his pruning tools to conduct a class for local residents, followed by a pruning demonstration. We learned that it is important to sanitize the tools before pruning each tree to prevent any chances of spreading disease. We pruned the peach, nectarine, and plum trees that we planted last January, but not the pluot or the aprium, hybrids of plum and apricot. Larry said it is best to wait until late spring to prune apricots or any related hybrids since they are susceptible to Eutypa fungus infections. The fungus can enter the pruning wounds during wet conditions. Several local residents said they have a variety of fruit trees at home. One shared that she had previously been afraid to prune her fruit trees because she thought they would produce less fruit. None of the participants knew what a pluot was, so UC CalFresh plans to do a pluot tasting in the future. The CSA Garden Club is hosted by UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program every first Thursday of the month from 9:00-10:00 a.m. The Club offers nutrition and gardening workshops to help local residents grow and consume more fruits and vegetables for good health.
Wildlife and people have been in the news lately. Perhaps you've heard of coyotes wandering in your neighborhood. You might have also read about how you shouldn't feed wildlife. Did you know they are connected? It's a problem when people feed coyotes either intentionally or unintentionally through uncovered garbage and outdoor pet food. Available food may encourage coyotes to associate closely with humans and to lose their natural fear of us. These interactions will be discussed during a special symposium on urban coyotes at the 27th Vertebrate Pest Conference.
The Vertebrate Pest Conference is held every two years, mostly in California. This year, the meeting will be Monday through Thursday, March 7to 10 in Newport Beach. Meetings are held in cooperation with the Pesticide Applicators Professional Association (PAPA). The leading authorities with vertebrate management expertise from around the world congregate to present the latest research and extension information. Are you an animal control official, wildlife manager, agricultural producer, pest control adviser, consultant, educator, researcher, or natural resource manager? Then this meeting is for you. California Department of Pesticide Regulation and California Department of Public Health continuing education units are available for participants.
Special symposia include bird management, wild pig management, and urban coyotes. In Cooperative Extension Advisor Niamh Quinn's backyard of extremely urban Southern California, these coyote-human conflicts occur. With over 3 million people in Orange County, 8 state parks and beaches, countless city parks and 19 county parks and wilderness areas, conflicts with urban coyotes are bound to happen. Managing coyotes includes managing people's behavior too.
Quinn says, “We can't manage what we can't measure. This conference provides a unique opportunity to discuss ongoing conflicts, especially those related to urban coyote management. Research is needed to understand urban coyote behavior and if these behaviors are changing as a result of the way we are currently living. Outreach is needed to instruct urbanites on appropriate behavior where coyote conflicts are occurring, and managing coyotes is everyone's concern. We need better and improved strategies for measuring and managing these conflicts.” At the Vertebrate Pest Conference, hear from the experts on the latest information about coyote attacks on humans, coyote conflicts, and several talks on coyote management, including hazing.
Vertebrates are also problematic in commercial agriculture. A 2011 survey of wildlife damage by Cooperative Extension Specialist Roger Baldwin, stated agricultural losses from wildlife damage in California is likely in excess of $1billion annually. Based on the survey results, economic losses were greatest for voles and pocket gophers in alfalfa; and wild pigs, birds, and ground squirrels in nut crops. One talk at the Vertebrate Pest Conference will be a North American overview of bird damage in fruit crops. Other talks cover field rodent repellents, food safety, and trapping.
UC IPM has information on vertebrate pest management for urban and communities, as well as commercial agriculture.
- Author: Sonia Rios
The University of California Cooperative Extension in conjunction with the California Macadamia Society and the Gold Crown Macadamia Association will hold their Annual Field Day on Saturday 24 September 2016, 8:45 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. at the home of Jim and Jane Zeimantz, 3410 Alta Vista Drive, Fallbrook, California. There will be classes on topics relevant to the current macadamia industry, with plenty of opportunities for you to ask questions, both general in nature and about the specifics of your operations. We will also be serving a continental breakfast and a delicious lunch. Please plan to join us for a fun and information filled day.
Cost: $20.00 per person with pre-registration, $25.00 at the event. That includes a continental breakfast and delicious lunch.
Contact Person: Jim Russell, (760) 728-8081 e-mail russellfarms@Roadrunner.com
Visit www.macnuts.org/fieldday.htm for a registration form.
The California Macadamia Society has members all over the world.
The Objectives of the California Macadamia Society are:
To furnish authoritative and timely information on Macadamia culture.
To assist growers with harvesting and marketing data.
To advise nurserymen on varieties and propagation.
To encourage the University to assist the industry with research.
To formulate policies, where indicated, for presentation to the state legislature.
The Objectives of the California Macadamia Association are:
To assure a reliable market to our growers.
To provide the highest return to our growers for nuts delivered.
To explore new and developing markets for macadamia nuts.
Directions:
From I-5 take exit 54a (east) onto Ca-76, Pala Road. Go 13.5 miles and turn left (north) onto Via Monserate. Go 1.3 miles and turn right on Alta Vista Drive. Go 1 mile to 3410 Alta Vista Drive, on the right.
From I-15 take exit 46 (west) onto Ca-76, Pala Road. Go 3.4 miles and turn right (north) onto Via Monserate. Go 1.3 miles and turn right on Alta Vista Drive. Go 1 mile to 3410 Alta Vista Drive, on the right.
- Author: Sonia Rios
Chlorpyrifos is a broad spectrum insecticide, a chemical used to kill a wide variety of insects and is used in a broad spectrum of crops such as citrus, cotton, almonds, and alfalfa to name a few. In Citrus, it targets 14 pests and is the key for controlling the liquid feeding ants that protect hemipterans, such as Asian Citrus Psyllid. Chlorpyrifos (Label name: Lorsban) lands in the organophosphates class, which California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has identified as a potential human health and environmental risk.
Effective July 1, 2015, DPR has designated chlorpyrifos a California restricted material, which means one will have to obtain a restricted materials permit from their County Agriculture Commissioner. To learn more about how this change will affect the local citrus industry please join us at our Free Breakfast IPM Meeting hosted by UCCE, UC IPM, and Citrus Research Board on September 15, 2015 at the San Diego Farm Bureau in Escondido from 8:00 AM – Noon. Hot Breakfast and Coffee will be served at 8:00 AM.
*Space is limited, please RSVP
http://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=14651
San Diego Farm Bureau
1670 E. Valley Pkwy
Escondido, CA 92027
Topics that will be discussed:
• Context of Chlorpyrifos in Local IPM
• Project Overview & Crop Team Process
• Definition of Critical Uses of Chlorpyrifos
• Decision Support Tools/Best Management Practices
• Citrus Pest Update
• Ant ID and Training
• Stewardship Principles in IPM
• Science Behind New Regulations
• Required Mitigation
• Local Restrictions on Chlorpyrifos
• Local on-Farm Stewardship
• Impact of Regulations on Decisions on IPM
Other Breakfast IPM Meeting:
Santa Paula Location: Sept 16, 2015
8:00 AM – Noon
Hot Breakfast and Coffee at 8:00 AM
Hansen Research and Extension Center
14292 W Telegraph Rd
Santa Paula, CA 93060
Tulare Location: January 12, 2016
TIME TBD
Lindcove Research and Extension Center
22963 Carson Avenue
Exeter, CA 93221
- Author: Claudia P. Diaz Carrasco
Have you ever wonder the possibility of livestock, robotics and hiking having something in common? Well it's hard to say that with a rich history grounded in agriculture and home economics the founders of 4-H Youth Development Program foreseen the wide diversity of projects that a 4-H participant may run into. Using Learn by doing activities, youth-adult partnerships, and research-based educational programs since its creation the 4-H Youth Development Program's mission and goals remain the same... to help youth develop their full potential!
Today, 4-H youth continues learning about agriculture and homemaking but also are involved in science, engineering and technology (SET), citizenship and many other programs designed to uniquely prepared Young people to step up to the challenges of a rapidly changing world.
Annually UCCE Riverside have enrolled 500-700 youth with 150-200 volunteer leaders involved in over 60 different projects . After more than 100 years of service in the county 4-H is positioned to equip young people with the life skills they need to thrive.
Whether youth participate in community clubs, after school programs, day camps, or other program settings, if there is a youth with a passion to learn about something, we can find an adult to help them.
For more information on the 4-H Youth Development Program in Riverside visit http://ceriverside.ucanr.edu/4-H_Program/county or call 951-683-6491 x229.
For Spanish information you can also contact,
Claudia P. Diaz Carrasco
4-H Youth Development Advisor
cpdiaz@ucanr.edu
(951) 683-6491 ext.222
