- Author: Chris M. Webb
SAREP is a statewide program within the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources division. From their site:
“SAREP provides leadership and support for scientific research and education in agricultural and food systems that are economically viable, conserve natural resources and biodiversity, and enhance the quality of life in the state's communities. SAREP serves farmers, farmworkers, ranchers, researchers, educators, regulators, policy makers, industry professionals, consumers, and community organizations across the state."
Program areas are:
- biologically integrated farming systems
- community food systems
- crop/livestock production
- organic farming information
- methyl bromide alternatives
Related resources, reports, funding opportunities and much more can be easily accessed from this well laid out site.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
On Wednesday, September 7 from 7:30 am – 12:30 pm, UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor Oleg Daugovish will hold the 10th Annual Strawberry Production Meeting in Ventura County.
The meeting will be presented in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish. There is no cost to attend.
Scheduled topics include:
- Southern California strawberry research update: varieties and production.
- Investigation of Macrophomina and Fusarium spp., including research update on biology and management, and results from 2010-2011 non-fumigated field trials.
- Fungicide evaluations in strawberry.
- Lewis mite, thrips and Lygus research update.
- Update of herbicide efficacy and safety for nutsedge control in strawberry.
- California Strawberry Commission update on regulatory research inssues in strawberry production.
Continuous education credits have been requested from DPR.
Lunch will be provided. Details can be found here. To register, request special arrangements, or to ask questions please contact Oleg by email or by phone at (805) 645-1454 by August 31.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
On Friday, April 22 from 8 a.m. to noon Oleg Daugovish will host Fumigants and fumigant alternatives, an educational outreach event. Both regulatory and research updates will be featured.
Scheduled topics include:
- New permit and fumigation requirements
- Soil Fumigation Federal Labeling
- California Strawberry Commission update on regulatory issues pertaining to the industry
- Alternative fumigants and emission reduction technologies
- Anaerobic soil disinfestation in Ventura County
- Evaluation of sustainable strawberry production systems for California
- Combinations of steam with solarization or mustard meal in Macrophomina phaseolina infested buffer zone
- CSC-sponsored research on raised bed trough substrate
Continuing education credits (including laws and regulations) have been requested from DPR. Additional details can be found here. There is no cost to attend.
If you require special arrangements, translation into Spanish or have further questions, please contact Oleg Daugovish at (805) 645-1454 or by email.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Looking for an environmentally safe way to control soilborne pests? Solarization is a nonchemical method that can be successfully used to kill weeds, pathogens, nematodes and insects.
This process heats the soil to temperatures that are too high for the undesirable organisms to live. It also has the potential to improve soil structure, increasing the potential for healthy plants. Faster growing plants as well as higher and better quality yields are associated with solarized soil.
Another benefit of this method of soil preparation is that it can be used by home gardeners, landscape professionals, natural resource restoration projects and in production agriculture.
More information can be found in UC ANR’s Soil Solarization for Gardens and Landscapes pest note or for a more in-depth view and closely related subjects, please visit UC’s Solarization Informational Website.
Illustration by W. Suckow showing solarization steps.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Ventura County Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor Oleg Daugovish and collaborators recently held an alternative fumigants update meeting for local growers and stakeholders. Part of the meeting was devoted to alternative fumigants and emission reduction technologies data collection.
Much work is being done to asses tarp permeability of commercial films used in fumigation. In an effort to maximize fumigant effectiveness while reducing emissions, researchers are documenting changes in film properties under a variety of cultural practices as well as in various soil and environmental conditions.
This presentation has been archived on this page of our website with sound.