- (Focus Area) Agriculture
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
In the human world, we recognize Mother's Day as a special day to celebrate all mothers. It's a day that Anna Jarvis of Grafton, West Va., established on May 10, 1909 with a worship service at St. Andrew's Methodist Church, Grafton.
Lady beetles, aka ladybugs, are mothers, too. The female lays a batch of eggs, from 10 to 50, at one time, and can lay about 1000 eggs in her lifetime, scientists say.
Beneficial insects! Yes, but in their larval form they eat even more.
Mature lady beetles will feed on 20 to 25 aphids per day, but their late-stage larvae will consume 10 times that number, making them far more effective predators, according to Whitney Cranshaw, a professor and Extension entomologist with Colorado State University (now emeritus), in a July 2018 article in Phys.Org.
A salute to lady beetles and their larvae on Mother's Day!
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
UCCE advisors will present webinars on May 21 and 28
Late spring rains have delayed California's fire season this year, which provides farmers and ranchers an opportunity to improve their wildfire preparedness. Barns, wood fencing, hay and other property commonly found on farms have inherent vulnerabilities to wildfire.
Fortunately, buildings and infrastructure can be hardened and maintained to reduce their vulnerability to fire and fire-related damage to agricultural resources. Having a plan in place to keep livestock safe and healthy is essential to maintaining animal health and resume operations as quickly as possible post-wildfire. Join the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Fire Network team to learn about wildfire preparedness strategies for farms and ranches.
The two-part webinar series will cover hardening structures and managing livestock during wildfire.
Part 1: Ranch Hardening and Wildfire Preparedness Strategies for Agricultural Structures
- May 21 at 6-7 p.m.
- Join UC Cooperative Extension fire advisor Luca Carmignani and UCCE forest advisor Yana Valachovic to discuss best practices for incorporating principles of structure hardening and defensible space into agricultural structures and operations.
- Register by May 20 at https://bit.ly/3y1MbuP. Link to webinar will be emailed to registrants.
Part 2: The Realities of Managing Livestock Health During Wildfire
- May 28 at 6-7:30 p.m.
- Join UCCE livestock and natural resource advisors and our partners for a set of presentations about managing livestock health during wildfire events and what to do if you find yourself trapped by an approaching wildfire.
- Register by May 20 at https://bit.ly/3y1MbuP. Link to webinar will be emailed to registrants.
- Author: Ben Faber
You see them here, you see them there, you see those brown garden snails everywhere in the avocado trees this year. A wet year. What do you expect? Lush, beautiful tree growth, yeah. And when you come to harvest the fruit, the leaves and fruit are covered with snails. They are in your hand as soon as you go to pick the fruit.
It's especially noticeable on trees with a tight canopy with poor air circulation and canopy skirts down to the ground. Young GEM trees with their tight canopies and fruit low down and even in the leaf mulch, are especially prone in a wet year like this. We don't normally expect to see snails in avocados. They seem to go for citrus whether it's a wet or a dry year and growers are aware of the need for snail monitoring and control. But avocado growers can get caught off guard.
Snail feeding on fruit
Snails love the closed canopy which is more humid with direct contact to access from soil
So what do you do?
- Inspect young and topworked trees regularly for damage, especially during and after wet conditions. Be sure to distinguish the cause of damage. Caterpillars, earwigs, Fuller rose beetle, grasshoppers, and June beetles also chew tree foliage.
- Inspect surfaces for slimy or dry silvery trails characteristic of snails and slugs. Look for snails hidden under trunk wraps or other shelters near trunks.
- Modify cultural practices, encourage biological control, and exclude snails from canopies to provide good control.
- Prune the skirts up so that they are not touching the ground, but not so high that leaf mulch is blown away.
- Control weeds in young groves and groves where tree canopies are sparse as low vegetation favors snails.
- Retain dropped leaves and apply coarse organic mulch near trunks to retard snail numbers and to suppress root rot and weeds. Frequent microsprinkler irrigation encourages snail problems.
- Increase the interval between irrigations to the extent compatible with good tree growth. Trim branches that touch soil to restrict snail access to canopies and expose the soil surface to drying.
Birds and other small vertebrates, parasitic flies, and several types of predatory beetles commonly prey on snails. The predatory decollate snail (Rumina decollata, family Subulinidae) is widely distributed in southern California. Decollate snail is commercially available and legal for introduction only in certain San Joaquin Valley and southern California counties (Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura, and Tulare counties). Decollate introductions are not recommended in avocado. Establishment of significant decollate numbers usually requires several years after introduction, and brown garden snail primarily is a pest when avocado trees are young.
Snails and slugs are repelled by copper. Commercially available bands of copper foil wrapped around trunks exclude snails. Another alternative is to add Bordeaux mixture to whitewash and paint 1 to 2 inch strip around the trunks of trees. Certain snail baits are available for spot applications. Molluscicides also kill predatory decollate snails. Pesticides are rarely warranted for mollusk control in avocado.
Read more at UC IPM
https://ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/avocado/brown-garden-snail/#gsc.tab=0
- Author: Diana Cervantes
From her Hmong family's roots to the vast expanses of Fresno's fields, Lilian Thaoxaochay weaves a story of unwavering commitment to the land and community. Thaoxaochay shares her knowledge of revitalizing and strengthening agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley, acquired from her childhood among crops to her academic training in medical anthropology and agriculture.
Thaoxaochay, who grew up in the San Joaquin Valley, joined the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) three years ago as a UC Cooperative Extension community educator for small farms in Fresno County. Since then, Thaoxaochay has extended a helping hand to small-scale Southeast Asian farmers.
When she joined UC ANR in 2021, she became part of an integrated team addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Because most information about COVID-19 was in English, Thaoxaochay and her team translated information about the vaccination process into other languages for farmers in the region. Her Hmong heritage came in handy for the task.
"We went out into the countryside to raise awareness among residents about the importance of getting vaccinated," explained Thaoxaochay, "The Hmong community faces barriers such as language and culture."
She is a first-generation Hmong American in her family of six generations of hard-working farmers. While Thaoxaochay helped on the farm as a child, she absorbed every detail of farm life. Over time, her love of agriculture and interest in human culture and society gave her a new vision for her future.
Determined to explore this connection more deeply, Thaoxaochay embarked on an academic journey that led her to earn a bachelor's degree in medical anthropology at Stanford University and later a master's degree in Southeast Asian agriculture at the University of California Santa Cruz. Armed with her deep knowledge of both the field and the community, Thaoxaochay returned to the San Joaquin Valley with renewed purpose. Besides helping on the family farm, she dedicated herself to sharing her knowledge and experiences with other farmers and community members.
Through workshops, talks and research projects, Thaoxaochay addresses the various challenges small-scale farmers face in the valley, ranging from water scarcity to environmental and economic concerns. She advocates for solutions that will benefit farmers and the community.
Her strong ties to the Hmong community have contributed to her successful career with UCANR. "Part of my success is growing up on a farm in the San Joaquin Valley, which allows me to understand the needs of smallholder farmers," says Thaoxaochay.
"I was asked to see a farmer to help calculate crop loss due to the drought," she said. "However, no one had thought to ask about why these crops had died specifically. We then realized it wasn't just because of heat and insufficient water, but rather almost no water at all because his pump had died and been pulled out completely and he didn't have the means or know-how to fix the issue. This is a very serious example of how growers in our region were impacted by drought - fluctuating water tables (especially lowered ones) causing pump damage and growers not having the resources to diagnose the issue before it becomes a very difficult situation."
Over time, Thaoxaochay's work has strengthened the bonds between farmers and the community. Her story is about a young woman who grew up in the fields and became a passionate advocate for her community. She has become known for her dedication, knowledge and love for the land.
Thaoxaochay has been influenced by strong women including Yuri Kochiyama, a Japanese-American who was incarcerated with her family in a concentration camp in Arkansas during World War II and began championing civil rights for Asian American, Black and Third World people in the 1960s. "I have great admiration and respect for activist Yuri Kochiyama, whom I met in 2008 at a dinner," she recalls.
And while the age difference between Lilian and Kochiyama is significant—at least 69 years apart—the two share the same thinking. As Asian American women, they both pursue a passion for community and justice.
"Yuri's legacy drives my determination to represent and express the needs of those I serve," Thaoxaochay said.
In May we celebrate the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, recognizing their power, courage and resilience. Thaoxaochay, who is paving the way for future generations, invites other Asian women not to be afraid to take risks. "Mistakes don't mean failure. Rather, they offer opportunities and possibilities for empathy, growth and development, which I consider important lessons in pursuing any dream."
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
It was all the buzz.
Thousands of bee and honey enthusiasts made a beeline for the California Honey Festival, held last Saturday on the Yolo County Fairgrounds.
The annual festival, relocated this year from the streets of downtown Woodland to the fairgrounds due to a weather forecast cautioning heavy rain and wind, drew scores of smiles beneath the arched umbrellas.
Beekeeper Rick Moehrke, a retired Vacaville teacher, answered questions about bees in the Sacramento Area Beekeepers' Association booth.
American Honey Queen Kaelyn Sumner of Cecil, Wisc., a beekeeper and a senior at Kansas State University discussed queen bees, worker bees and drones. She is majoring in agricultural education and minoring in food science and entomology.
Charles McMaster, a U.S. Army veteran from Copperas Cove, Texas, headed the Hives for Heroes booth. The national non-profit service organization focuses on sustainability, conservation, and providing a healthy transition from service: "Through our national network of beekeepers, we provide connection, purpose, and healthy relationships, through access, resources, and funding for Active Duty, Veterans, and First Responders.">
Steve Hays, retired sheriff's deputy, Sacramento County and founder of Second Chance Beekeeping Reentry Service, chronicled the history of his program and how inmates are learning beekeeping and getting "a second chance." (See news story)
Amina Harris, retired founding director of the UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center and now the "Queen Bee" of her family's Woodland-based Z Food Specialty and The HIVE, offered guests "a taste of honey" from all over California. They also sold honey, including a family favorite, starthistle. Harris co-founded the California Honey Festival in 2017 with the City of Woodland.
Attendees tasted and purchased Hawaiian honey, with such varietals as Eucalyptus, macadamia, mango, Christmas bush, tropical blossom and wildflower, from "Queen Bee" Inna Eyrih, business owner of Hawaiian Honey AT&S, a company based in Hawaii (Keaau) and California.
GATEways horticulturist Rachel Davis of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden discussed pollinator gardening, focusing on native bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies, and hummingbirds.
This year's California Honey Festival lived up to its mission: to emphasize the importance of bees and to promote honey and bee products. The annual festival, co-sponsored by UC Davis, features educational presentations, kids' center activities, honey tasting, cooking demonstrations, a beer and mead garden, live music, vendors and more.