- Author: Chris M. Webb
In Belgium, raising greenhouse strawberries in substrate (soil-less culture) is quite successful. Several California researchers are looking for ways to adjust this process for outdoor strawberry production in our state.
“Why?,” might be the question on many minds. The advantages of growing in substrate are: minimal plant diseases and weeds, and therefore no need to fumigate.
The researchers on this project are collaborators of Farm Advisor Oleg Daugovish. A presentation of the study was given at a recent fumigants update meeting at the Ventura County Cooperative Extension office. This presentation, which is also a great example of set-up, design, and overcoming problems encountered during research, has been archived on this page of our website with sound.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Our office is offering a smart irrigation scheduling and monitoring tour and seminar for commercial fruit tree growers on Thursday, April 29 from 12:30-4:30 pm.
Topics will include:
- Implications of irrigation management for nitrogen and phosphorus leaching
- Computer-controlled irrigation
- Irrigation system upgrades
- Improved efficiency
- Irrigation soil sensors
This education opportunity will be translated simultaneously into Spanish.
Education credits for Los Angeles Region and the Central Coast Ag Waiver
will be provided.
Please register in advance to ensure your participation by calling Maren
Mochizuki at 805-645-1467 or by email mmochizuki@ucdavis.edu. Additional details can be found here.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Ventura County Cooperative Extension will be hosting a strawberry research update seminar on Friday, May 7, 2010 from 8am-noon at our office. The program is in English with simultaneous translation into Spanish available upon request. There is no cost to attend, but to ensure your participation please contact Oleg Daugovish.
Topics to be covered include:
- Latest regulations for fumigant use.
- Alternative fumigants and emission reduction technologies.
- Raised bed trough substrate systems.
- Soil disinfestation with steam or hot gas.
- Anaerobic soil disinfestation.
- Biofumigational potential of mustards.
- California Strawberry Commission update pertaining to fumigant regulations.
Further information can be found here.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The University of California has a learning management system (LMS), an online learning site open to everyone. Some of the courses are free, including one for citrus integrated pest management (IPM).
California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) credits are available for some courses.
4-H child safety online can also be viewed through LMS. This course is part of the process to become a 4-H Volunteer Leader.
This is a relatively new site, and more classes will most likely be added in the future. Registration is easy. To find out more, or to sign up for a class follow this link.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Today, Ventura County UCCE Staff Research Associate Maren Mochizuki shares information with us about local water quality education and improvement.
California’s Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) is offering 1 hour of education credit for completion of a survey of management practices available here.
Growers who have already completed 8 hours of education credit in compliance with the Ag Waiver (click here for more information) are encouraged to complete a survey to document their progressive management strategies and to demonstrate to the RWQCB the additional hours members of the Ventura County Agricultural Irrigated Lands Group (VCAILG) have completed during the 5-year period of the waiver.
The survey is available in both English and Spanish. Growers who complete a survey are also eligible for management practice recommendations and implementation assistance at no cost (click here for more information).
For more information or questions regarding the management practices survey, please contact Emmanuel González at 805 760 7413. Return completed surveys to Emmanuel at:
Resource Conservation District-Ventura County, 3380 Somis Rd, Somis, CA 93066.