- (Focus Area) Agriculture
- Author: Ben A Faber
Statewide citrus bearing acreage relatively stable for past three seasons
The Pacific Regional Office of the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts an acreage survey of California citrus growers as funding is available. The purpose of this survey is to provide bi-annual citrus acreage, which includes information on new plantings and removals. It is the continuation of a long series of industry-funded Citrus Acreage surveys.
This report consists of two parts:
- Table 1 shows estimated statewide bearing acreage for the 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
- Tables 2, 3, 4 and 5 show detailed acreage data by type, variety, and year planted -- as voluntarily reported by citrus growers and maintained in NASS' database.
With perfect information, the estimated statewide bearing acreage and the detailed acreage data would be the same. Generally, this will not be the case for the following reasons:
- A voluntary survey of approximately 5,000 citrus growers is unlikely to ever attain 100 percent completeness.
- It is difficult for USDA/NASS to detect growers who are planting citrus for the first time.
Click here for a larger image.
Click here to read the full report.
Source: ccqc.org/wp-content
- Author: Dylan Beal
Hello everyone, I'm the new UC IPM Entomology Advisor serving the communities of Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties. Born and raised in the Santa Clarita Valley, I'm excited to return to my home state of California.
Inspired by a lifelong passion for insects, I pursued bachelor of science in degrees in Entomology and Plant Pathology at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. At Cornell, I was first exposed to the world of cooperative extension, working in a lab to study and support natural enemies of spider mites, aphids, thrips, fungus gnats, and whiteflies in greenhouses.
In partnership with Montpellier SupAgro and the Università degli Studi di Torino, I received a Master of Science degree in Viticulture and Enology. For my master's thesis, I worked with Italian grape growers on understanding the ecology and management of leafhopper vectors of the pathogen responsible for European grapevine yellows (Flavescence dorée phytoplasma).
For my PhD, I studied Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at the University of California, Berkeley. At Berkeley, I worked with grape growers and cooperative extension advisors in Napa and Sonoma county to understand the role of spittlebug insect vectors in spreading Xylella fastidiosa, the bacteria responsible for Pierce's disease of grapevine.
After Berkeley, I have worked as a postdoc at Washington State University with cherry and blueberry growers to adapt and adopt innovative and internationally recognized practices for sustainable management of Spotted-Wing Drosophila (SWD). As part of that work, I have closely partnered with growers, pest control advisors, USDA scientists, cooperative extension advisors, and industry representatives on SWD projects related to biological control, cultural control, behavioral control, and pesticide resistance screening and management. Additionally, I was part of a team that worked to coordinate SWD management with the management of the leafhopper vectors of X-Disease phytoplasma in cherry.
With 15 years of experience in New York, California, Washington State, France, and Italy, I'm excited to collaborate with you all to support the development and adoption of innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable insect pest management practices. I aim to develop partnerships, lifelong relationships, and projects that center and elevate grower voices, experiences, and leadership. Together, I hope that we can not only address the threat that agricultural insect pests pose to our three counties but also help to support the many communities and ecosystems that interface with our agricultural livelihoods. Please feel free to reach out to me at 831-759-7359 or djbeal@ucanr.edu. The Bug Doctor is in to look at any insects you may find!
- Author: Ben A Faber
Avocado Sunblotch Viroid (ASBVd)
Unlock the Secrets to Healthy Avocados: Learn
about Avocado Sunblotch Viroid
Presentations:
Andrew Geering: Prevention, surveillance and control of avocado sunblotch in
Australia
Fatemeh Khodadadi: Understanding ASBVd: from discovery to diagnostic
hurdles
Peggy Mauk: Protecting California's avocado genetic resources through
sunblotch viroid detection
Mehdi Kamali: Rapid and sensitive detection of Avocado Sunblotch Viroid
Disease (ASBVd) using our digital methodology
September 20, 2024
9am-12:30pm
United Water,1701 N. Lombard ST., Oxnard
Registration link:
https://forms.gle/12LxUUdkPb8DmNdm8
Fatemeh Khodadadi
fatemehk@ucr.edu
(845) 901-3046
Ben Faber
bafaber@ucanr.edu
- Author: Michael Hsu
Nut orchard hygiene key to control carpophilus beetle, say UCCE, UC Integrated Pest Management experts
Since the first reports of a new almond pest – the carpophilus beetle (Carpophilus truncatus) – came in during fall 2023, it has become clear that the beetle is widely dispersed across the San Joaquin Valley.
“My lab has identified infestations from every county in the San Joaquin Valley; we have found infestations in both almonds and pistachios, and we will likely find infestations in walnuts this fall,” said Houston Wilson, a University of California Cooperative Extension entomology specialist at UC Riverside. The California Department of Food and Agriculture has confirmed the beetle's presence in Stanislaus, Merced, Madera and Kings counties.
Historically a major threat to almond production in Australia, the beetle – as larvae and adults – feeds directly on the nut kernel. In California, some almond growers have lost 10 to 15% of their yield – a “significant economic loss,” according to Jhalendra Rijal, University of California integrated pest management (IPM) advisor for the region. Given the prominence of almonds as a commodity, even a 1% overall reduction statewide represents an approximately $70 million loss.
“This year there has been a lot more reports from PCAs [pest control advisers]; they're sending me the pictures of the damage and beetles,” said Rijal, noting that the increase is likely due to greater awareness of the pest.
To help almond growers identify the carpophilus beetle and develop management plans, Rijal, Wilson and their IPM colleagues have put together a visual ID guide for the beetle and the damage it causes, as well as telltale signs of navel orangeworm (Amyelois transitella) and ant damage. In particular, the experts would like PCAs and growers to differentiate between the carpophilus beetle and navel orangeworm, another key pest in almonds.
“Even though their way of causing damage looks more or less similar, we're dealing with two different types of insects,” Rijal explained. “One is a Lepidoptera moth [navel orangeworm], and the other one is a beetle – many of the management practices and biological controls would be different for these two different things.”
To control carpophilus beetle, ‘sanitize, sanitize, sanitize'
One crucial cultural practice for managing both pests, however, is destroying the remnant “mummy” nuts – the nuts that remain in the orchard postharvest. They serve as overwintering habitat for the carpophilus beetle, as well as its sustenance for the next generation of beetles in spring.
“The best way to manage this pest is to do the orchard hygiene – continuing the winter sanitation, destroying the nuts that are on the ground and on the tree and on the berms,” Rijal said.
Based on observations in Australia and locally, carpophilus beetles tend to rely more on mummies on the ground, whereas navel orangeworm generally favors mummies in the tree canopy. Correctly identifying the pest – with help from the new ID guide – enables growers to better target and prioritize their management efforts, Rijal said.
“What we are strongly emphasizing is that growers need to sanitize, sanitize, sanitize to control both pests,” Wilson added.
Correct identification of the pest would also prevent unnecessary application of insecticides, as those used for controlling Lepidoptera such as navel orangeworm would be largely ineffective on the beetle.
Indeed, another insight shared by Australian experts is that the carpophilus beetle cannot be controlled just by insecticide.
“Insecticides are not very efficient, given the cryptic nature of these beetles; exposing these beetles to the insecticide is very hard,” said Rijal, noting that the beetle spends most of its life cycle protected inside the nut.
Reporting carpophilus beetle infestation helps researchers
This harvest season, Rijal advises almond growers to harvest as efficiently as possible, to minimize the number of mummies that need to be cleaned up. And because signs of damage (like damaged hulls and frass) are most obvious during harvest time, Rijal said growers should review the new guide, using the photos and other resources to help identify potential pests.
If the grower or PCA suspects a carpophilus beetle infestation, they should contact the UCCE farm advisor in their area.
Scientists are looking to expand their knowledge about this relatively new pest to California. In the coming weeks, for example, researchers are planning to survey for the carpophilus beetle in the Sacramento Valley.
“Technically it has not been found there, but we suspect that we'll find it this fall when we go looking for it,” Wilson said.
Researchers are also collecting samples from infested orchards to better understand the biology of the species, as well as how it progresses through and responds to seasonal and climactic changes. In addition, they are analyzing data from a trial study of an insecticide that might be used as a supplemental control measure.
“This is our first full season dealing with this insect, and there are still many things we need to understand,” Rijal said. “We are continuing our research efforts on all fronts.”
/h3>/h3>/h3>- Author: Ben A Faber
Avocado Café
September 12, 2024
8:00 –10:00 AM PST
Healthy soils for productive and resilient farms:
the untapped potential under our feet
Joint presentation by
Dr. Amélie Gaudin
Associate Professor and Endowed Chair in Agroecology Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis
Dr. Kate Scow
Distinguished Professor of Soil Science and Microbial Ecology, Dept. of Land, Air and Water Resources, UC Davis
Abstract:There is great interest in building soil health to enhance sustainability and resilience in an uncertain future. We will discuss the current state of knowledge of soil health in CA and other global agricultural regions and the relevance of soil biodiversity to support soil functions that could benefit growers.
Register for this virtual meeting at
cafeavos@gmail.com