- Author: Cris L. Johnson
The latest issue has recently been posted on our website and features articles on:
Caution on Free "Compost/Mulch." This article by UC San Diego Cooperative Extension advisor Dr. Gary Bender offers a warning to growers on accepting free or very inexpensive mulch or compost. Improper practices can turn a great deal into a breeding ground for pests and plant disease.
Oriental Fruit Fly Affects Green Waste Movement in Southern California. UC Ventura County Cooperative Extension advisor Dr. Ben Faber adds to the disussion on green waste and how the Oriental Fruit Fly, Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer, Asian Citrus Psyllid and other harmful pests can be spread through recycled green waste.
Olive Tree Phenology. UC Tulare County Cooperative Extension advisor Elizateth Fichtner and UC Riverside Professor Carol Lovatt report on the relationship of fruit load to vegetative growth and return bloom.
Training and Pruning of Cherimoya. A Santa Barbara County cherimoya grower provides some hands-on advice on handling these trees.
High Density Avocado Installation: Use a quick cost study to make a decision. Dr. Gary Bender follows up on a previous "Topics in Subtropics" article with some useful cost estimates for high density avocados.
Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions from Pesticides. Tunyalee Martin with the UC Statewide IPM Project summarizes California Department of Pesticide Regulation's online VOC information.
Read the full articles from this newsletter or check out other issues of Topics in Subtropics here.
- Author: Cris L. Johnson
The latest issue has recently been posted on our website and features articles on:
Cultural Practices to Reduce Pest and Disease in Avocado and Citrus. This article by UC Ventura County Cooperative Extension advisor Dr. Ben Faber provides guidelines for practices from selection to maintenance that can mitigate disease and pests in trees.
Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer in California. UC Cooperative Extension cross-county advisor Dr. Sabrina Drill discusses this pest and it's effects on Southern Californian trees.
Electronic "sniffer" for Detecting HLB. Dr. Faber also reports on a new device that can detect Huanglongbing (HBL) disease in trees. Learn more about how it works and the advantage it could provide in preventing HLB spread through early detection.
Important Information Sources Related to Fire Management and Protection. The fire season is still on us and this list of online and publshed resources provides useful information for property owners.
Bee Kill in Oregon - A reminder of pesticide use. The State of Oregon has issued a moratorium on an aphid control pesticide after its use killed a large amount of bumble bees. Read more about following the proper guidelines on pesticide use here.
Read the full articles from this newsletter or check out other issues of Topics in Subtropics here.
- Author: Cris L. Johnson
The latest issue has recently been posted on our website and features articles on:
Simazine degradation in California citrus orchards. This article focuses on research performed in response to concerns about the effectiveness of simazine as a means of weed control. Here you can read about the experiments performed to test degradation levels and recommendations made regarding use of this herbicide for weed control.
Lime-induced iron chlorosis. Iron deficiencies in many fruit trees can be escalated where soils and irrigation water contain lime which can in turn impede soil drainage. Iron oxides serve as a common source of nutrition for the trees and the deficiency of it can cause dieback and other disorders. This article explores the causes and possible treatments for this condition.
Avocado trunk cankers. UCCE Ventura citrus, avocado and subtropicals advisor, Dr. Ben Faber, contributed this article on the various types and causes for tree cankers. Wounds to the tree, low rainfall, fungi and moisture can promote this disorder.
Asphyxiation. Dr. Faber also explores the problem of asphyxiation that occur in parts or all of the tree. This condition can seriously harm the tree and Dr. Faber discusses some methods of treatment and prevention.
Tree wraps. This article presents information about some of the benefits and considerations in installing wraps on young trees.
Stem and leaf blight. Dr. Faber also wrote this item on blight that he has observed lately on local trees and how insufficient water can contribute to the condition.
Read the full articles from this newsletter or check out other issues of Topics in Subtropics here.
- Author: Cris L. Johnson
Here attendees will be able to visit stations staffed by UCCE experts who will speak on a variety of topics of interest to growers and horticulturists. The structure is informal and will allow for easy interchange between speakers and attendees.
Each station will feature informational talks on the following subjects:
- Effect of compost on long term disease control and fertility of soils in peppers
- Cultural management of Prime Ark 45 Blackberry
- Differential plant response of salts in summer strawberry
- Subtropical fruit collection
- Herbicide efficacy and safety in drip-irrigated celery
- Water quality and sensors
- Effect of pruning in landscape roses
Continous education credits from the Department of Pesticide Regulation and VCAILG credits have been requested.
The agenda with more details about the event can be found here.
For more information about the UC Hansen Agricultural Center, please click here.
- Author: Brad Miller
Ventura County, as many know, is one of the most productive agriculture economies in California. In fact, Ventura County currently ranks seventh in agriculture production in the entire state. However, we have not always enjoyed this high statewide status. Many changes in our agriculture techniques and preferences in crops have boosted us from being the fourteenth largest agriculture economy in 1989 to our present level. Ben Faber, an agricultural psychologist for the University of California Cooperative Extension office described this transformation in a recent interview.
Faber, a former professor of microbiology, fertility, and soil physics among other subjects at the UC Davis, has been an employee at UCCE for 23 years. His extensive research in his field and Ph. D. in Soil Fertility makes him an expert in agriculture.
So how did Ventura County reach the upper echelons of California agriculture? Faber explains that a variety of factors have led growers to break into the Ventura County market and increase production. Many growers have migrated from the San Diego and Orange County markets due to spikes in land prices. Land values in the San Diego and Orange counties have greatly increased since the 1990s, and continue to climb forcing more and more growers to look elsewhere for land. Another problem is water availability. Faber says that San Diego especially suffers from lack of water, much more so than Ventura County.
However, despite our county’s success in recent years, we are still second fiddle to the Central Valley. It is very difficult for Ventura and other counties throughout the state to compete with the Central Valley in regards to land costs, water availability, and water quality. Those three important factors separate the Central Valley from the rest of the state. For this reason, Faber encourages growers to never invest in a crop that is in direct competition with the Central Valley.
There have been several changes in Ventura County’s crop scene since Faber began working here. Twenty years ago, small growers made up a large portion of the market. Now, large commercial growers that sell to supermarkets make up the majority. Large growers that focus on catering to the consumer have dictated changes in which crops are most profitable. Two decades ago Ventura County’s top grossing crops were lima beans, walnuts, and strawberries. With the exception of strawberries, neither of the other formerly profitable crops are successfully produced here; the focus is more on perishable items. Avocados, strawberries, and raspberries are three of the top products in Ventura County’s market today.
Aside from the cash crops, many small growers now concentrate on farming niche crops. Niche crops are commodities that are specially grown for a particular audience and that are not in direct competition with large growers. Yellow beets are an example of a niche crop. The big growers will most likely own the red beet market, but there is still a profitable market for the yellow beet. This style of agriculture can help keep small growers in business. Looking into the crystal ball of Ventura County agriculture, Faber is skeptical. While we have enjoyed success in recent decades, it is hard to say what the future holds in store for us. Land prices will more or less dictate whether we can survive. However Faber does see some positive change. The industry is becoming sleeker with more college educated, young growers entering the industry, which will contrast with older, traditional farming families. This, coupled with the new concept of robotic farming will force change. We cannot say for sure how Ventura County will deal with all of these changes, but Faber advises that we accept and adapt to them as best we can.