- Author: Brad Hanson
I wanted to share a link today to a paper published by CAST, the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology. This paper, entitled "Herbicide-resistant weeds threaten soil conservation gains: finding a balance for soil and farm sustainablity", was released about a year ago and addresses one of the less obvious issues resistance imposes - soil erosion. This paper can be viewed or downloaded (free!) at the link above.
The development and adoption of effective postemergence...
- Author: Brad Hanson
One of my research focus areas over the past few years has been related to soil fumigation issues, specifically focused on methyl bromide alternatives for the tree and vine nursery industry. I described some of this nursery work in a post late last year. Today I wanted to share a brief description and links containing a more overarching view of methyl bromide alternatives related research in California, Oregon, and Washington.
With the support of USDA-ARS, a five-year program was initiated in 2006 to support research, demonstration, and extension projects in western cropping systems heavily reliant on preplant soil fumigation with methyl...
- Author: Brad Hanson
I recently received a copy of a paper published by CropLife Foundation entitled "The Importance of Herbicides for Natural Resource Conservation in the U.S.". Publication date: January 2012.
I thought the paper had some interesting data on how herbicidal weed control has reduced the amount of tillage-based weed control and contributes to reductions in soil erosion, water concervation, and energy use in agriculture.
The article is available along with a number of other publications at the CropLife Foundation home page (here), direct link to the pdf (
- Posted By: Brad Hanson
- Written by: Dan Putnam
Article originally posted on the UC ANR Green Blog on October 11, 2011. Written by Danial Putnam and reposted with permission. Brad
Those of us who work with alfalfa have seen our much-loved Queen of Forages relegated to poster child of all things evil about genetic engineering (GE) and the supposed damage it may wreak. While hay growers have always felt alfalfa has received insufficient attention – this was probably not what they had in mind!
Those of us who work with alfalfa have seen our much-loved Queen of Forages relegated to poster child of all things evil about genetic engineering (GE) and the supposed...
- Posted By: Gale Perez
- Written by: Janet Byron, (510) 665-2194, jlbyron@ucdavis.edu Janet White, (510) 665-2201, jlwhite@ucdavis.edu
Producing 85 percent of the nation’s strawberries, California growers urgently need alternatives to methyl bromide fumigation if they are to maintain yields. Methyl bromide has been phased out for all but critical uses because it depletes ozone in the upper atmosphere.
UC scientists now report that use of totally impermeable film in strawberry fields can improve the effectiveness of a widely-used MB alternative known as 1,3-D (1,3, dichloropropene). Use of the film reduces the amount of 1,3-D needed to maintain yields, while lowering field emissions overall.
The strawberry industry is highly dependent on soil fumigation to control pests and maintain high yields. The methyl bromide alternative, 1,3-D, can be used...