Ongoing research

Pests, Pesticides & IPM Project Coordinator Academic Coordinator II AP #16-12 LOCATION HEADQUARTERS: Kearney Agricultural Research & Extension Center, Parlier, CA or UC IPM State Office, Davis, CA.

I have received armyworm traps from UC Davis entomology specialist, Larry Godfrey, and UCCE farm advisor, Luis Espino, to monitor populations in San Joaquin County rice fields. Luis has described 2016 armyworm pressure in a recent posting on the UC Rice Blog.

When you're chasing a tiger, you don't have to worry about the fangs or the claws. No worries about this tiger. This tiger has wings.

Avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd) is a small (247 nt) pathogen that causes discoloration and disfigurement of leaves and fruit. It is transmitted by grafting, pruning tools, pollen, seed, and root grafting.

"You can hawk and perch in our yard all day if you want," I told her. And she did. A spotted dragonfly chose a spot in our pollinator garden--a bamboo stake overlooking a patch of Verbena and African blue basil--and she stayed most of the day.

This year, armyworm infestations were not as severe as last year. Populations did not reach the very high numbers of 2015, but they were early. Growers and PCAs were scouting diligently, and were able to recognize infestations when the worms were small.

After 36 years as an agronomist/weed science advisor with UC Cooperative Extension, Steven Wright retired June 30.

I was recently contacted by a PCA who was observing armyworm feeding in Delta rice fields. Over the last two years, both locally and in the Sacramento Valley, armyworms have been striking rice fields earlier in the season and in greater numbers.

Whitney Brim-DeForest is the newest addition to the UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor rice team. She will be based out of the Sutter-Yuba Office, but will serve Placer and Sacramento counties as well. She holds a Ph.D. in Horticulture and Agronomy and an M.S.

So here's this tattered old worker bee seeking some nectar from the broadleaf milkweed, Asclepias speciosa. She looks as if she's not only been around the block a few times but around the county several dozen times. Her wings look too ragged to support her flight back to her colony.