- Author: Lauren Fordyce
In February we recognize Valentine's Day, President's Day, and Black History Month, but did you know it is also IPM month?! Join us in celebrating by learning more about integrated pest management (IPM), how you can use it in your everyday life, and the pest management resources and information offered by UC IPM.
What is IPM?
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a more sustainable, environmentally friendly method for managing pests like insects, diseases, weeds, and unwanted wildlife. IPM can be used by anyone: homeowners, tenants, farmers, gardeners, janitors, groundskeepers, professional landscapers and pest control operators, and more.
IPM focuses on the long-term management of pests through prevention and monitoring. This reduces pests reaching damaging levels and becoming difficult to control or requiring pesticide use. One way pests can be prevented outdoors is by providing plants with proper care (water, sunlight, and nutrients). You can prevent pests from coming indoors by sealing gaps around windows and doors. Monitor for pests using tools like sticky traps, or visual inspection.
Once a pest becomes a problem, it must be correctly identified so the correct management solution can be chosen. Many pests can be managed without the use of pesticides. In IPM, we often choose nonchemical solutions first:
- Biological control: the use of natural enemies—predators, parasites, pathogens, and competitors—to controlpests and their damage. Some examples of natural enemies include ladybeetles, lacewings, and spiders.
- Cultural control: practices that limit pests from establishing, reproducing, and living where they're not wanted. These practices can include increased cleanliness, proper storage of food, good plant care, and well-maintained landscape irrigation systems.
- Mechanical or physical control: kill a pest directly, block pests out, or make the environment unsuitable for them. Examples include traps for rodents, mulches for weed management, and flyswatters for flying insects.
Pesticides can still be an important part of IPM, but they should be used in combination with nonchemical solutions for long-term management. Pesticides alone will not solve a pest problem or prevent pests from becoming a problem again later. When pesticides are needed, choose products that are less toxic. Less toxic pesticides are those that pose fewer risks to people, pets, the environment, and natural enemies like ladybeetles. Learn more about less toxic pesticides at https://ipm.ucanr.edu/QT/lesstoxicinsecticidescard.html.
Whether you are trying to control cockroaches in an apartment, weeds in the garden, or diseases on landscape plants, UC IPM has the tools and resources to help you using an IPM approach.
To learn more about integrated pest management, visit https://ipm.ucanr.edu/what-is-ipm/ or view our resources for managing specific home, garden, and landscape pests using IPM at https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/menu.homegarden.html.
/h2>- Author: Norma De la Vega
A fin de combatir las disparidades sociales que estorban en el aprendizaje y desarrollo de los niños, California extiende permanentemente, a partir del próximo año escolar 2022-2023, el Programa Universal de Comidas Escolares.
Al ofrecer 2 de 3 comidas al día gratis a todos los niños en las escuelas, los estudiantes tendrán una alimentación adecuada que les ayudará aprender y alcanzar su potencial y el Instituto de Políticas de Nutrición, NPI, estará a cargo de ejecutar un estudio para evaluar sobre la marcha el enorme reto logístico que esto implica para las escuelas y deberá buscar soluciones prácticas a los problemas que se presenten sobre la marcha.
“Va a ser un desafío para las escuelas el tener un aumento tan grande de estudiantes que estarán participando en el programa” sostiene Mónica Daniela Zuercher, experta de nutrición de NPI, la unidad de investigación la División de Agricultura y Recursos Naturales de la Universidad de California.
En una economía difícil, cuando la inseguridad alimentaria alcanza niveles inimaginables, finalmente se adopta, un viejo anhelo de las expertas de nutrición: ofrecer alimentos saludables a todos los estudiantes.
“Tenemos que pensar a largo plazo, al tener niños saludables tendremos adultos saludables, entonces habrá un ahorro en medicinas. Pero además está la parte cognitiva y de desarrollo, ¿cómo esperamos que aprenda un niño en la escuela si tiene hambre o sí está cansado?” señala la experta.
De manera permanente, alrededor de 6 millones de estudiantes en todo el estado podrán obtener los beneficios del Programa Universal sin formularios y sin preguntas molestas y los más beneficiados serán los latinos, porque son mayoría en las escuelas, representan 55 por cientos y son el grupo con más desventajas económicas junto con los afroamericanos.
Habrá estudiantes bien alimentados, padres menos estresados y a largo plazo, California obtendrá ahorros en la salud, toda vez que desde temprana edad los niños aprenderán a preferir los alimentos saludables previniendo problemas de salud como obesidad, diabetes y enfermedades crónicas.
En el 2010 ocurrió una revolución en las cafeterías escolares con el establecimiento de la Ley Niños Saludables y Sin Hambre Healhty Hunger-Free Kids Act. A partir de entonces se sirven en las cafeterías escolares, más frutas, verduras y granos integrales, menos grasas, sodio, azucares y se han ido eliminado las bebidas azucaradas.
California, es el primer estado en implementar las comidas gratis permanentemente. Se trata de un proceso logístico complejo que debe ser evaluado por expertos, y por esa razón NPI recibió fondos por 2.4 millones de dólares, para llevar a cabo un seguimiento, que durará 4 años, para identificar problemas y emitir soluciones con celeridad durante todo este periodo.
“Es un estudio muy emocionante porque evalúa diferentes etapas, desde inició como una medida por el Covid-19 hasta el desafío que va a ser para las escuelas el tener un aumento tan grande de estudiantes que estarán participando en el programa. Entonces vamos a captar el reto que tuvieron (las escuelas) para adaptarse durante la pandemia misma y los problemas que irán surgiendo en la marcha” explica Zuercher.
Esta investigación se ejecutará junto con representantes del Departamento de Educación de California y con todos los involucrados en el proceso: responsables de los servicios de alimentos en las escuelas, los padres de familia y estudiantes.
Las encuestas que forman parte del estudio, se han planeado en base a las necesidades de la población escolar, por lo que se están implementando en inglés y español para reflejar las inquietudes y opiniones de los latinos.
He aquí algunos de los resultados preliminares que por ahora solo incluyen opiniones de los directores de servicios de alimentos en las escuelas:
- Los trabajadores de las cafeterías hicieron un trabajo increíble durante la crisis de la pandemia para adaptar las comidas escolares que se servían en las escuelas, en comidas para llevar. Ellos sortearon con éxito todo tipo de cambios imprevistos por la falta de trabajadores y los retos en el suministro de alimentos.
- Ofrecer las comidas escolares para todos los estudiantes permitió disminuir la inseguridad alimentaria entre los estudiantes durante la emergencia de Covid-19.
- Aumentó el número de estudiantes que participan en las comidas escolares.
- Disminuyó la deuda de los padres de familia cuyos hijos no recibían comidas escolares subsidiadas. Un beneficio tanto para las escuelas como para las familias.
- Hubo una ligera reducción en el estigma que prevalece sobre los alimentos escolares.
Las comidas escolares han sido un elemento básico en la lucha contra la inseguridad alimentaria, pero han generado conflicto y presión social dentro de las escuelas. Alrededor de los alimentos gratis hay sentimientos de culpa, rechazo y vergüenza.
Zuercher enfatiza que en la memoria de muchos padres y estudiantes persisten la idea, equivocada, de que los alimentos escolares son comida chatarra o comidas de pobres.
“Hemos escuchado tanto de directores de alimentos como de algunos padres de familia que aún prevalece la vieja idea de que las comidas escolares no son saludables. Es una asociación comida escolar no es saludable, no es comida fresca, no es recién hecha”, sostiene Zuercher.
La hipótesis de los expertos es que al extender las comidas escolares gratis a todos los estudiantes también se podrá eliminar el conflicto y la presión social que estas generan y eso es algo que el tiempo podrá corroborar.
- Author: Belinda J. Messenger-Sikes
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
Most people are practicing social distancing due to the current pandemic, so contracting head lice might not be a top concern right now.
However, many families with young children have at least one encounter with head lice at some time or another. Finding effective ways to manage these pests can be difficult, but it is possible. And remember, anyone can get head lice.
In the newly updated Pest Notes: Head Lice, authors Victoria Leonard and Dawn Gouge bring their public health and pest management expertise to the topic of head lice management, providing easy, safe, and effective ways to control a head lice infestation.
The authors state that while normal shampooing, hair-conditioning, brushing, and hair-drying will kill many lice, care givers should take action as soon as live lice are discovered. Treat the infested person's hair, then comb with a metal lice comb and clean the person's bedding and other belongings.
Choosing a treatment can be challenging since many common insecticidal shampoos no longer work well due to resistance. Regardless of the product chosen, always follow the label directions for safe use and reapplication. For detailed instructions on combing for head lice removal and discussion of prescription and non-prescription head lice treatments, consult the Head Lice publication.
Eventually, we will all return back to normal so we hope this information prepares you ahead of time dealing with head lice.
- Author: Rose Marie Hayden-Smith
Nearly two tons of fruit and vegetables grown at UC's Hansen Agricultural Research and Extension Center (HAREC) in Santa Paula have been donated to Food Forward and the Ventura Unified School District (VUSD), destined for children and families.
Some of the vegetables – planted by volunteers and farm staff - became available when UC HAREC's farm field trips were canceled due to COVID-19. Other vegetables were harvested from the student farm located at HAREC, a partnership with VUSD and the city of Ventura. Kale and lettuce at the student farm were planted by youth from DATA and Montalvo schools.
Every fall and spring, volunteers from the UC Master Gardener program propagate seedlings for schools, bundling them into variety packs of vegetables and herbs, which are given to schools with gardens. Because of COVID-19, plants were given to schools for direct distribution to families. Ventura Unified School District staff partnering in this effort include Kara Muniz, Director of Food and Nutrition Services; Ashely Parrish Decker, Nutrition Educator, who runs the Student Farm; and Alise Echles, RDN.
Additional fruit and vegetables were harvested from HAREC's citrus demonstration area, the site's educational gardens and the farm grounds.
UCCE's education program manager Susana Bruzzone-Miller said, “We are saddened that spring field trip season is cancelled and miss the sound of children delighting in harvesting, sometimes for the very first time. But, it warms my heart that our field trip garden can help feed so many families in need.”
John Antongiovanni, farm manager, worked with the farm staff to organize the harvest. He said, “Working together during this difficult time is very rewarding.”
Food Forward is a gleaning organization that helps residents turn the surplus produce grown on their property into a nutritious food source for local communities. Rick Nahmias, founder and executive director, indicated that the Food Forward Backyard Harvest team remains active, and may be reached via phone at 805.630.2728 or email.
March 18-24 was National Poison Prevention Week. While our blog post may be tardy, it's never too late to raise awareness about the risks associated with using pesticides and how to protect yourself and your family from accidental poisoning.
Pesticides are any substance used to kill, repel, or deter unwanted organisms, including insects, spiders, weeds, plant diseases, or animal pests such as rodents. In most situations, effective nonchemical options exist to control pests. However, if you decide to use a pesticide, please consider the following tips:
- Consider using pesticides in bait stations and gels instead of sprays to reduce pesticide exposure.
- Learn about the potential hazards of a pesticide on the UC IPM Pesticide Active Ingredients Database.
- Follow the instructions on the pesticide label. The label contains important information about safety and hazards.
- Wear personal protective equipment such as goggles, close-toed shoes, and chemical-resistant gloves when using any type of pesticide, including weed killers (herbicides).
- Remove children, their toys, and pets from an area before applying any pesticides, even organic or "natural" ones.
- Never store pesticides in food or drink containers. Frequent cases of pesticide poisoning involve children or adults who drink from these containers and become sick or die.
- Seal pesticide containers tightly after use.
- Store pesticides in a locked cabinet away from children.
- Post the Poison Control Centers' national helpline number, 1-800-222-1222.
Read more about using, storing, and disposing of pesticides safely in Pest Notes: Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides in the Home and Landscape. You can also find a variety of other sources of pesticide information for both home users and professional pesticide applicators on the UC IPM Pesticide Information pages.
For information about nonchemical options for managing many different types of pests, see the UC IPM website covering home, garden, turf and landscape pests.