- Author: Sarah L Marsh
- Posted by: Sam Romano
Globally, approximately 570 million small and medium-sized farms need training in various agricultural fields. However, the delivery of agriculture training faces significant challenges. In some areas, the difficulty in obtaining this training has led to people turning to generative artificial intelligence (AI) models such as ChatGPT to ask questions relating to their agricultural production.
The way that ChatGPT and other models work is that the models are trained on vast amounts of data to learn patterns and relationships between words. This enables the models both to understand language in nuanced ways and to generate answers to a wide range of prompts, which means that ChatGPT can become adapted to specific uses and...
- Author: Deniz Inci
- Author: Kassim Al-Khatib
- Posted by: Samson Romano
Loyant® CA Section 2(ee) Recommendation Bulletin for Control of Cattail in Rice
A recommendation bulletin has been released for florpyrauxifen-benzyl (Loyant® CA, Corteva Agriscience LLC, Indianapolis, IN, USA) to control cattail plants in California rice fields and permitted under FIFRA Section 2(ee). Cattail (Typha latifolia L.) also known as common cattail or broadleaf cattail is a perennial wetland weed that naturally occurs widely in nearly all North America and are often considered undesirable, weedy, or invasive. Common cattail is cosmopolitan weed that can grow up to 10-ft tall under favorable conditions. Common cattail has recently been more problematic in the drill-seeded rice...
/h3>- Author: Whitney B Brim-Deforest
- Posted by: Gale Perez
This year brings several new chemical tools to California rice. With many herbicide-resistant species as well as emerging problematic weed species, the new chemistries are a welcome tool for managing resistance and preventing the selection of resistant biotypes.
Last year, we had use of Loyant® CA Rinskor™ active (florpyrauxifen-benzyl) for the full season (registered late in 2022). Loyant®, which is an auxin mimic, is applied as a foliar product. It gives additional options for early-season control of sedges and broadleaf weeds, and although not strong on watergrasses when applied alone, provides added control when tank-mixed with other herbicides for grass control. Based on data collected in 2022-2023, two good...
- Author: Whitney B Brim-Deforest
- Author: Roberta Firoved
- Posted by: Gale Perez
California rice growers will have a new herbicide available this year: Cliffhanger™, manufactured by Gowan Company. The active ingredient is benzobicyclon, which is the same as one of the two active ingredients in the currently registered herbicide, Butte®. Cliffhanger™ is a soluble liquid formulation (SC) which can be applied by ground-rig or airplane, including as a direct-stream application into the water. In contrast, Butte® is a granular formulation, as a pre-formulated mixture of benzobicyclon and halosulfuron. To use either product, applicators must attend a training and be certified.
Dates for the training are posted on the California Rice Commission calendar
- Author: Whitney B Brim-Deforest
- Posted by: Gale Perez
Background
White water fire (Bergia capensis) was found in September of 2023, by the Butte County Agricultural Commissioner's office in a rice field in Butte County. The weed was identified by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA.) It is the first find of this weed in California, and possibly in the United States. It is native to Africa, southern China, and tropical Asia, and it is known to be in rice fields in Europe, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean. It was likely transported in seed to rice-growing areas and has been established in those locations for many years.
In Butte County, the weed was only found in one rice field, and the Agricultural...