As we come to the close of the 2024 growing season there is time to think about how to improve in the upcoming year.  Please consider implementing some of these tips on irrigation management as you prepare for the 2025 season.  Our  staff is happy to assist you with any water or nutrient management challenges you may have.  Just give us a call (831-759-7377) or send an email (mdcahn@ucanr.edu).  Happy Holidays!

1. Test your water and soil for salts. The quality of your water can be as important as the quantity. Many vegetables are sensitive to salinity, so you want to be sure that the water applied to your crop has a low level salts. Also, because salts from irrigation water accumulate near the crop roots over time, one needs to test the salinity of the soil periodically to determine if leaching is needed. The main constituents to test for in a saturated paste extract of a soil sample are pH, bulk salinity (TDS or electrical conductivity), Ca, Mg, Na, Cl, SO₄, NO₃, HCO₃, and B. Test the same constituents for water but also add Fe and Mn. Seek out advice from an experienced agronomist/soil scientist/ or crop consultant who can help you interpret the test results.

2. Evaluate the application uniformity of your irrigation system. The more uniform that your irrigation system distributes water to your crop, the less water is needed to achieve good yields and quality. Using 30 equal sized cups and a stop watch, you can evaluate the distribution uniformity of your sprinkler or drip system. Alternatively, consider hiring an irrigation consultant to conduct a more intensive evaluation. 

Fig. 1. Evaluating the uniformity of an irrigation system can determine if water is being applied efficiently

3. Evaluate the design and operation of your irrigation system. Many problems with irrigation systems are caused either by a poor design, lack of maintenance, or because they are not operated correctly. An experienced irrigation consultant should be able to narrow down to the main issues that limit the performance of your irrigation system, and recommend the most cost effective solutions.

Fig. 2. An irrigation consultant can evaluate the design and operation of your irrigation system and often pin-point problems that limit performance.

5. Monitor pressure of the irrigation system. Getting the best performance from your drip and sprinkler systems depends on operating them at the right pressure. Variation in pressure will vary the flow and uniformity of applied water. Use high quality gauges to monitor pressure at different locations in the field, including at the closest and furthest points from the water source or irrigation valve.  

Fig. 3. Monitoring pressure ensures that irrigation systems are operating optimally

 

6. Measure how much water you apply. It is difficult to save water if you do not know how much you are applying to your crops. Using a flowmeter and keeping records of the amount of water applied for each crop can help you determine if the amount of water you are applying is matching crop needs. 

Fig. 4 Flowmeters are very useful tools for irrigation scheduling. They can be used to monitor how much water is applied to a crop.

7. Use weather information and soil moisture to guide irrigation scheduling. The closer that you can match the irrigations with the needs of your crop, the more efficient your water use will be. Irrigation scheduling is the combination of deciding when and how much water to apply. Water needs of the crop change during the season as weather conditions vary and the crop matures. Monitoring soil moisture can help you decide when to irrigate and using evapotranspiration data from weather stations can help with estimating how much water to apply.

Fig. 5. Monitoring soil moisture with a tensiometer can help decide when to irrigate vegetable and berry crops.

Fig. 6. Weather stations which collect evapotranspiration data can be used to estimate how much water a crop requires

8. Conduct regular maintenance of the irrigation system. Just like your car needs periodic servicing, an irrigation system need regular maintenance. Leaks in drip tape, pipe, and layflat need to be patched. Drip lines and filters need to be flushed. Sprinkler heads, nozzles, and gaskets wear out and need to be replaced. Develop a schedule for irrigation system maintenance.

Fig. 7. Regularly schedule maintenance to fix leaks, and head off other problems that limit the performance of an irrigation system.

9. Train your irrigators. A well trained irrigator can help solve a lot of water management problems on your farm. An irrigator's job goes beyond moving pipe and drip tape. They should have a good, basic understanding of how the irrigation system operates, be able to keep accurate records, and understand how to make routine measurements to assure the irrigation system is operating correctly. They also may need training on the operation of new equipment and maintenance procedures. Providing regular training opportunities so that irrigators can increase their skill set will make them more valuable to your farming operation.

Fig. 8. Providing training for your irrigators will improve their skills in the field.

10. Infiltrate winter precipitation for salinity management. The best water for leaching salts from your vegetable fields is free, and comes from the sky. Letting storm water run-off your fallow fields is a lost opportunity to remove salts. Using cover crops, tillage, or adding soil amendments can increase infiltration of winter rains and will help control potential salinity problems.

Fig. 9. Low biomass cover crops planted in the fall can greatly reduce runoff and increase infiltration from storm events during the winter.

Wednesday November 13, 2024
8:00 AM - 11:45 AM VIA ZOOM

This workshop will be held online via Zoom. The Zoom
link will be emailed to participants upon registration.

Please register to join us for this workshop:
https://ucanr.edu/treecropsworkshop

This workshop will cover production information for the following tree crops: apples, cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines, prunes, and walnuts. The presentations will be recorded. Discussion, questions, and answers will be removed from posted recordings.  

2 Hours of DPR CE Credits and 3 Hours of CCA Credits Have Been Requested

Agenda:

8:00 - 8:05 AM Welcome and Introductions

8:05 - 8:35 AM Updates on Two Major Invasive Agricultural Pests: Spotted Wing Drosophila and Spotted Lanternfly Jhalendra Rijal, UCCE Integrated Pest Management Advisor, Modesto, Merced, and San Joaquin Counties

8:35 - 9:05 AM Nutrient Management of Orchard Crops
Katherine Jarvis-Shean, UCCE Orchard Systems Advisor, Yolo, Solano, and Sacramento Counties

9:05 - 9:35 AM Irrigation Management in Tree Crops
Michael Cahn, UCCE Irrigation and Water Resources Advisor, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties

9:35 - 10:05 AM Orchard Weed Management Update
Dr. Brad Hanson, UC Cooperative Extension Specialist: Weed Science, UC Davis

10:05 - 10:15 AM Break

10:15 - 11:00 AM Rodent Management in Orchard Systems
Roger Baldwin, UC Cooperative Extension Specialist: Human-Wildlife Conflict
Resolution, UC Davis

11:00 - 11:30 AM Understanding Spider Mite Infestations and How to Manage Them David Haviland, UCCE Integrated Pest Management Advisor, Kern County

11:30 - 11:45 PM Workshop evaluation, DPR CE credits, CCA credits

When: December 3^rd, 2024

Where:   UC Cooperative Extension Monterey County

Agriculture Conference Room

1432 Abbott St, Salinas, CA 93901

Join us for our first-ever Workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Sustainable Agriculture.  Ag technologies are increasingly leveraging AI to tackle production and environmental challenges. This workshop will provide valuable insights from experts on AI-driven solutions for issues like labor shortages, crop health, and nutrient management.

Who should attend? Growers, agricultural professionals, tech developers, researchers, and anyone interested in learning how AI can improve agriculture are encouraged to attend. This is a fantastic chance to gain knowledge, share insights, and engage with others who are utilizing innovative technologies to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of farming practices.

The workshop is free, but participants are encouraged to pre-register using the link below.

8:00 On-site Registration with coffee and donuts (click here to pre-register) 

8:25  Welcome 

8:30  Western Growers Association-Ag Innovation Center—Facilitating New Technologies in Agriculture    Dennis Donahue/Walt Duflock     

9:00   Practical Considerations for Implementing AI in Agricultural Equipment Jason Mellow, President Axis Ag 

9:30  Current and Future Applications of UAS in Agriculture Elliot Dorenbaum, National UAS Operations Manager, Wilbur Ellis Salinas

10:00 Do we need better soil maps for field-scale water and nutrient management? Elia Scudiero Associate Professor, UC Riverside

10:30 Break

10:45  AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems: Identifying Impact Areas to Benefit Resiliency and Sustainability  Dr. Steve Brown, Associate Director, UC Davis

11:15  Artificial Intelligence to Delineate Management Grids for Precision Nitrogen Management Dr. Wubugenda Yilma, Colorado State University; Raj Kholsa, Professor, Kansas State University. 

11:45  Utilizing Precision Technologies for Crop Health and Yield Monitoring to Promote Sustainable Strawberry Production Dr. Frank Martin, Dr. Jon Detka, and Dr. Clarence Codod, USDA-ARS Salinas, CSUMB, and UC Davis

12:15 Adjourn

2.5 CCA educational hours approved

For more information, contact   Michael Cahn @ 831-214-3690 mdcahn@ucanr.edu or Paramveer Singh @ 831-214-8621, email: psbsingh@ucanr.edu

WINE GRAPE IPM SEMINAR

WHEN:      Tuesday, November 19, 2024

WHERE:    Monterey County Agricultural Center, 1432 Abbott Street, Salinas, CA, 93901

TIME:        Registration: 8:00 am – Meeting: 8:30 am – 12:00 pm

Pre-registration  to attend:  https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=43945

Agenda

 8:30-9:20

Understanding the Causes Sudden Vine Collapse of Grapevines - Akif Eskalen, Plant Pathology Specialist, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis.

 9:20-10:10

Tools for Ant Management in Vineyards - David Haviland, Entomology Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension, Kern County

 10:10-11:00

Update on Mealybug Control - What Works and What Can Be Improved – Kent Daane, Entomology Specialist, Department of Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management UC Berkeley, Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

 11:00-12:00

Discussion of Wine Grape IPM Issues on the Central Coast – All speakers

 PCA and CCA credits have been requested. For more information or directions call (831) 759-7350. Please call ahead for arrangements for special needs - every effort will be made to accommodate full participation.