Over the last few years, UC Davis Weed Science has been testing cover crops for weed suppression in nut orchards. The most recent project we've been working on has trialed several cover crop programs using cereal rye in walnut orchards. These cover crop programs represent a range of several management philosophies, from a basic, low-input program to a high-intensity forage intercrop. So far, we are finding that a variety of winter cover crop programs can provide some level of winter weed suppression, but cover crops are not (and may never be) a complete vegetation management solution for the orchard floor.

Weed scientists have been thinking a lot more about cover crops recently. Because of renewed concerns about...

There's a new weed science publication:

Pest Notes: Pokeweed
Author: Scott Oneto, UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor

American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) is a robust, non-woody shrub that is spreading in parts of California. Although sometimes eaten, the entire plant is poisonous and should be considered with extreme caution.

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Here's more pokeweed reading:

Here's part 3 of our training videos: Weed Identification. We've broken it up into three smaller parts for easier viewing.

• Weed identification :: 2011
  
  • Video :: Part 1 (10:32)
  • Video :: Part 2 (9:10)
  • Video :: Part 3 (10:32)

For more training videos, visit the...

While most Californians are staying home to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, California farmers, farmworkers and other agricultural professionals are out in the fields and packing houses working to produce food.

With increased demand for personal protective equipment, or PPE, to protect against COVID-19, these essential workers are facing shortages. Agricultural commissioners in 28 counties are hearing from farmers who are having trouble getting PPE for their employees and farmers in another 11 counties who are worried about running out of PPE in the next month or two according to a California Department of Pesticide Regulation survey.

Gloves, N95 respirators, coveralls and other gear that workers wear to...