- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
San Diego County organic farmers fear losing the organic status of their crops and possibly the organic certification of their farms if county officials proceed with plans to spray pesticides to control an infestation of eye gnats, reported Steve Brown in Capital Press.
Eye gnats thrive in rich soil. They have become a major nuisance in parts of the county because they feed on mucus around humans' and animals' eyes.
At their Nov. 9 meeting, county supervisors directed staff to work with the Farm Bureau, the county health office, UC Cooperative Extension, residents and farmers to develop recommendations within 90...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
San Diego County officials are calling on a UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor once again to help solve a pesky problem with gnats, according to an article in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.
Last year, residents of the north San Diego County community of Jacumba were plagued by gnats and believed their source was a local organic farm. UCCE farm advisor Jim Bethke confirmed their suspicions and began working with the farmer to find an environmentally sound way to control the pests.
Now the problem has spread to Escondido, Fallbrook, Rainbow and Oceanside, the...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Residents of Jacumba, a high desert community on the eastern side of San Diego County. turned to UC Cooperative Extension advisor Jim Bethke to figure out why they were being pestered by a high number of eye gnats.
In a San Diego Union Tribune article, residents reported that they couldn't enjoy outdoor activities during warm months because of the gnats, which are naturally attracted to human and animal eyes to get protein for egg production. The Jacumba Elementary School set up fans so children could eat lunch outside without bugs flying in their faces.
Bethke's research...