Fresno Bee captures the essence of UCCE

Fresno Bee reporter Dennis Pollock captured the mission, message and mindset of UC Cooperative Extension in a prominent article on the front page of the business section on Saturday.

The report was based on a field day in almond orchards near Firebaugh and Mendota, where UCCE advisors shared ways to minimize pesticide sprays, avoid plant diseases and make the best use of limited water resources.

Illustrated with an 8 1/2-by-6-inch color photo of Madera County farm advisor Brent Holtz, the story included information from four current and two former UC experts.

According to Pollock's story:

• UC entomologist Walt Bentley demonstrated the use of egg traps to determine when best to spray for navel orangeworm.
• Holtz warned that hull rot can be worse if too much water is applied, referring to the condition as "good growers disease."
• Retired UC plant pathologist Beth Teviotdale called hull rot the "gout of almond diseases," adding that, "too much food and drink is bad for almonds just like it is bad for us."
• Retired Kern County farm advisor Mario Viveros recommended tying the branches of young trees to prevent wind damage.
• Merced County farm advisor David Doll talked about crown rot and phytophthora.
• A grower credited IPM advisor Pete Goodell for suggesting he use alfalfa as a nursery for good bugs.

My only quibble with the coverage would be with the headline, which proclaimed in inch-high letters, "Nutty advice." Cute, but impertinent.

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