Calag Archive

Agricultural pests include insects, nematodes, disease-causing organisms, mites, weeds, and vertebrates. By monitoring their populations and life stages, growers can act to control pests at the most effective times, before they can substantially damage crops.

A strategy of slightly deeper water, no draining, and lower grass herbicide rates can help rice growers maintain weed control and sustain high yields while lowering the economic and runoff costs of herbicides.

The McKellar project is a large scale, multidisciplinary effort involving irrigation, nitrogen fertilization, fungicides, nematicides, miticides, and gibberellin treatments. The project, now in its seventh and final year, wlll show which treatments are most efficient and lucrative for growers.

Research on egg distribution and treatment levels for the tomato fruitworm led to a set of monitoring guidelines, which were demonstrated in parts of the Sacramento Valley. Evaluation of this program documents grower adoption and an impact on insecticide use.

Leaf removal can effectively manage Botrytis bunch rot and the “summer bunch rot complex” of wine grapes in the San Joaquin Valley and coastal growing areas. The practice may help manage such insect pests as leaf hoppers. Producers have sdopted leaf removal as a routine cultural practice, especially where high-value, premium varietals are grown.

CALEX/Cotton is a user-friendly computer program that simulates human problem-solving behavior. Growers can use this system to help manage crop production or predict the effects of any one decision on subsequent events. In 7990, more than 700 cotton producers have taken advantage of the CALEW Cotton computer program.

Almond pest control was an early focus for UC IPM researchers. That work continues today. IPM practices for almond insect management are now used by most growers, and have reduced California's annual pesticide bill by an estimated $4.1 million.

An independent review of research funded by UC IPM in its first ten years provides evidence of a successful program with practical impact on pest management practices. The review also suggests that some research projects have led to reductions in pesticide use.

Sour skin rot of onion was controlled successfully by substituting furrow irrigation for overhead sprinkler irrigation. Fresh weight of bulbs and percentage soluble solids were not affected by the irrigation method or the volume of water delivered.

Time-of-use (TOU) electric rates offer growers an opportunity to reduce the cost of pumping irrigation water. Peak-hour electricity rates can run from two to four times the off-peak rates. Times designated as off- and on-peak vary depending on the utility's rate schedule.

A 20-year photographic record shows that grazing by deer and cattle can maintain forage after brush clearing.

Pheromone traps in the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys indicate that seasonal patterns of the tomato fruitworm are similar across large areas. Catches were greatest late in the season. A non-pest species (false corn earworm), also captured at all locations, is easily confused with the pest.

An economic study of vineyard costs in the major wine grape production area of southern California indicates that establishment and production costs exceed returns.

A 6-year grazing study on sub-clover pasture at the UC Hopland Field Station indicated that lambs weaned at 40 Ib made excellent gains. Phosphorus and sulfur fertilization enhanced the gains enough to be profitable. By concentrating lambs on highly productive, well-protected pastures, researchers not only used inputs more efficiently, they also prevented many of the predator losses encountered in nearby, less-protected pastures.