Change can be difficult.  Local growers have been making many changes over the last few years to comply with new water quality regulations. While some of the changes have been challenging, much progress has been made with more to come.

Growers were given the option of complying individually or as a group. The Ventura County Agricultural Irrigated Lands Group (VCAILG) was established in 2006 for those wishing to comply as a group.  This program is managed by the Farm Bureau of Ventura County. VCAILG has about 1,400 members and represents 94% of the irrigated acreage in the county. More information can be found in this article.

Along with other agencies, our office has partnered with VCAILG to help growers comply and to improve water-quality. We conduct research and educate growers in areas such as irrigation efficiency, sediment capture, and nutrient management. Our scientists are committed to improving water quality and are proud to be part of the process.

Some of the most popular handouts at our garden display at the Ventura County Government Center is Fruit Trees: Planting and care of young trees. This publication can be downloaded for free here.

Other related topics are also available at no cost are:

Fruit trees: Thinning Young Fruit

Fruit trees: Training and Pruning Deciduous Trees

Fruit Trees: Pruning Overgrown Deciduous Trees

Additional pruning resources can be found in our previous Deciduous fruit tree pruning post and Winter tasks for backyard deciduous fruit trees.

Ventura County Cooperative Extension will be hosting a strawberry irrigation field day on Thursday, February 18, 2010 from 8-11am in Camarillo. The program is in English with simultaneous translation into Spanish. There is no cost to attend, but to ensure your participation please contact Oleg Daugovish. Coffee and refreshments will be provided.

Topics to be covered include:

• Strawberry establishment with drip, partial or standard sprinkler irrigation
• Establishment of large scale irrigation study
• Water use/application and salinity measurements
• Plant performance and differences in salinity in two 4-drip line configurations
• Improvements in irrigation management
• Precision monitoring, affordable and practical irrigation equipment.

Further information can be found here.

Today Ventura County Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Ben Faber shares some of his knowledge of avocados with us.

The only treatment that should be done rapidly after a freeze is whitewashing. Often the most severe damage following a freeze results from sunburn of exposed twigs and branches after defoliation. Temperatures do not have to be extremely high to cause sunburn.  A white latex paint that has been diluted with water so that it can be sprayed is the easiest way to whitewash.  The whitewash needs to be white on the tree, so don’t add too much water.

Pruning should be carried out to prevent secondary pathogens and wood decay organisms from slowing tree recovery. Again, however, there should be no rush to prune. Premature pruning, at the very least, may have to be repeated and, at the worst, it can slow tree rehabilitation. It should be remembered that when pruning, all cuts should be made into living wood. Try to cut flush with existing branches at crotches. Do not leave branch stubs or uneven surfaces. Tools should be disinfected in bleach or other fungicide before moving on to the next tree.

Irrigate carefully! Remember that when leaves are lost, obviously evaporation from leaves is greatly reduced, and, therefore the amount of water required is also greatly reduced. A frost-damaged tree will use the same amount of water as a much younger or smaller tree. Over irrigation will not result in rapid recovery. Instead, it may induce root damage and encourage growth of root rotting organisms. This is particularly true for avocados. Irrigation should be less frequent, and smaller amounts of water should be applied until trees have regained their normal foliage development.

Fertilization of freeze-damaged trees should be carefully considered. There is no evidence to indicate that frozen trees respond to any special fertilizer that is supposed to stimulate growth. If trees are severely injured-with large limbs or even parts of the trunk killed-nitrogen fertilizer applications should be greatly reduced, until the structure and balance of the tree become re-established. Trees should be watched for evidence of deficiencies of minor elements. Deficiencies of zinc, manganese, copper, and iron are most likely to develop.