Tarweeds, vinegarweed and turkey mullein are native forbs that stand out in Fresno and Madera County rangelands during the summer. Unfortunately, they aren't the most welcome. Horse owners despise tarweed because its sticky resin turns even brightly colored horses a grim muddy color; many rangeland owners dislike vinegarweed for its pungent smell; and turkey mullein, though common, is often disregarded until it looks like it has taken over dozens of acres overnight.

Although their native status may appease some landowners – they can provide food and habitat for some bird and pollinator species – most ranchers couldn't care less. Why, you may ask? These plants are poor forage for livestock, and most animals tend to...

A good opportunity for someone with weed & pesticide experience...

California Department of Fish and Wildlife
SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)

$6,182.00 - $7,690.00

Job Description and Duties

Under the general supervision of the Environmental Program Manager, Lands Program, the Senior Environmental Scientist is the lead scientist responsible for coordination of the DFW's Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. The Senior ES Specialist works independently, conducts complex, environmental assessments of fish and wildlife pest management problems, conducts extremely complex and difficult scientific investigations on pest management options and provides IPM...

Last winter, many growers and PCAs contacted me because they were having trouble or were largely unable to control Italian ryegrass (Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum) in their cereal fields.  This grass species (see Photo) is widely spread throughout the Sacramento Valley in orchard and field crops and it can be particularly problematic in winter cereals, as it can reduce yields by 80%, by competing for water and nutrients.  

Italian ryegrass is a really tough weed and the application timing is extremely important. Osprey, Simplicity and Axial are usually effective. However, all these herbicides will not work if applied when the ryegrass population in your field...

Last week, Bruce Maxwell (Professor of Agroecology/Applied Plant Ecology in the Dept. of Land Resources and Environmental Science at Montana State University) visited UC Davis. He gave a seminar entitled Bringing Ecology to Management. Here's a link to view his seminar: http://ucanr.edu/sites/wric3/files/291597.mp4

Thanks to Mohsen Mesgaran for organizing Bruce's visit.