- Author: Tunyalee Martin
It’s that time of year again when hot weather fuels the creation of ozone, or smog. Some herbicides emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to ozone formation. Using herbicides that release VOCs may be restricted in certain California locations between May 1 and October 31.
If you plan to apply a herbicide, use the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s VOC calculators to determine emissions from fumigant and nonfumigant pesticides. Get there by clicking on the Air Quality button at the top of each herbicide treatment table in the UC IPM Pest Management...
- Author: Douglas J Munier
Threespike goosegrass is a warm season perennial grass which is a problem weed in some almond orchards around Orland, California. It is easily identified by its distinctive (see photo) seed heads (spikes). It is usually a problem during the first years of an orchard. The bunch grass growth habit traps nuts at harvest. After somewhere between 5-8 years, it is too shaded to continue being a problem weed.
Pre-emergence control of threespike goosegrass is the best approach. Since goosegrass can emerge from April through August, a long persisting pre-emergence herbicide is needed. Alion is a new herbicide with more persistent weed control, which we are currently testing for April through August threespike goosegrass control. Alion...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
- Posted by: Gale Perez
June 17, 2013
CONTACT: Jeannette Warnert, (559) 240-9850, jwarnert@ucanr.edu
UC Cooperative Extension agronomy advisor Doug Munier retires after 34 years
Doug Munier, UC Cooperative Extension advisor in agronomy, retires in June following a 34-year career split equally between the Northern California offices serving Glenn, Butte and Tehama counties and the southern San Joaquin Valley's Kern County.
Munier always enjoyed working outdoors - both the working and the outdoors, he said. He developed an interest in agriculture as a high school student employed part-time and during the summer on a dryland barley and cattle farm near Banning,...
- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
According to a previous ANR blog post, the 2013 processing tomato crop in California is experiencing worse-than-usual curly top problems, which is caused by a complex of Beet Curly Top Viruses (BCTVs) (Processing tomatoes face critical threat: curly top). Infections are generally lethal to young transplants. Older, more developmentally mature plants will become chlorotic and stunted with cupped leaves and curled petioles. Leaf veins will often turn...
- Author: Mary Louise Flint
Poison hemlock, Conium maculatum, was brought from Europe into the U.S. as an ornamental in the 1880s and now occurs throughout North America. In California it is most commonly found at lower elevations and coastal regions but it is continuing to spread into other areas.
Although made famous by Shakespeare and other literary giants as a murder weapon, cases of human poisoning are rare in California; however, poison hemlock is a serious concern to the livestock industry. Cattle, goats and horses are most sensitive to the plant’s toxic alkaloids but pigs, sheep, elk, turkeys and wild animals may also be...