Ongoing research

Summary Winged primrose willow is an invasive weed that was identified in Butte County rice fields in 2011. Most infestations were along borders of fields and canals; however, this weed can thrive in the flooded environment within rice fields.

The season is advancing and fields are starting to go into tillering. I have always been amazed at the capacity of rice plants to adapt to the conditions of the field, producing more tillers in thin stands and less tillers in dense stands.

Since this is National Pollinator Week, you're probably out celebrating the bees--maybe doing hand stands, cartwheels and pirouettes. But have you ever thought about beetles as pollinators? They are. We spotted this little critter on a California golden poppy at the Sonoma Mission in Sonoma, Calif.

Check out the June 2012 issue of the Retail Nursery and Garden Center IPM News FEATURES: Tools for Removing Dandelions and Other Weeds Invasive Plants Sold in California User-friendly Weed Identification Tool...

We have updated our newsletter addressing phylloxera on resistant rootstocks.Follow the newsletter link below to read our updated report.

Sometimes you see honey bees "making a beeline." Such was the case when this honey bee (below) encountered a native wildflower, blue lupine (Lupinus). Lupines are known more as pollen plants than nectar plants, according to Frank Pellett's book, American Honey Plants, a Dadant publication.

We received several reports of tadpole shrimp (TPS) problems this year. One field I visited had to be replanted due to TPS damage. Flooding of this field took a long time, resulting in checks that were flooded for more than 10 days before the field was seeded.

Spray Safe Meeting Wednesday, June 20th, 9am Colusa County Fairgrounds, Festival Hall 2 hours Laws & Regs and 1 hour CE Other...

It won't be lock, stock and barrel, but it will be stock. A team of scientists from UC Davis and Washington State University will be heading for Italy tomorrow (June 19) to gather germplasm (sperm) of Old World/Italian honey bee stock.

Weed Day 2012 comes to UC Davis July 19 The latest developments in weed control will once again take center stage at UC Davis when scores of scientists, students, regulators and more gather July 19, 2012 for the 56th annual Weed Day at the Buehler Visitors & Alumni Center.