Posts Tagged: A
Grasshoppers gobble crops, farm profits
UCCE advisors share control, abatement strategies across Northern California
That buzzing noise in Northern California is the sound of grasshoppers chewing a path of destruction through crops and pollinator-friendly plants as they hop across an expanding area.
This is the fifth year in a row that massive numbers of grasshoppers have overrun Modoc County and “probably the worst I've seen yet,” said Laura Snell, a University of California Cooperative Extension livestock and natural resource advisor in Modoc County, located in the northeastern corner of the state.
In past years, Snell has heard from farmers who have lost up to 70% of their hay crop. This year, she is hearing of grasshopper damage from farmers who grow a wider array of crops, including onions and garlic – crops that the pests eschewed in past years.
“I've had an even broader group of producers contact me about damage,” Snell said. “Our local vegetable producers are being affected, decreasing farmers market and food hub products. Bee producers are not seeing good honey yields due to grasshoppers eating huge amounts of pollinator plants.”
![Grasshoppers congregate on a denuded lavender plant. Grasshoppers congregate on a denuded lavender plant.](http://ucanr.edu/blogs/food/blogfiles/108211.jpg)
Modoc County isn't alone. Lassen, Sierra, Plumas, Siskiyou, Tehama, Butte, Placer and Nevada counties are being invaded by grasshoppers.
“The county ag commissioners are circulating a survey to get an idea of other counties that may be affected,” Snell said. “Things like droughts and – I suppose, fires as well – would affect grasshopper migrations.”
While scientists don't know what's causing the explosive growth of grasshopper populations, there are some contributing factors, according to Tom Getts, UC Cooperative Extension weed ecology and cropping systems advisor for Lassen, Modoc, Plumas and Sierra counties.
In the past, grasshopper outbreaks seemed to be more isolated, and the populations tended to crash after a year or two. Getts said, “For whatever reason, the population cycle does not appear to have been broken, and they continue to have high numbers.”
Grasshoppers can consume 30% to 250% of their body weight per day, according to a fact sheet about grasshoppers, co-authored by Getts. While grasshopper nymphs walk, adults can fly 15 miles or more.
Getts and UC Cooperative Extension farm advisors have been giving presentations throughout the intermountain region on grasshoppers and the various control methods.
“The difficulty to controlling them is the scale and their ability to move,” Getts said. “The insects need to be targeted at a small growth stage for the tactics to be most efficacious. Once they are adults, it doesn't matter what one grower does to control them if their neighbor doesn't do anything.”
UCCE farm advisors in multiple counties are working on abatement options.
They recommend monitoring in April–May to control grasshoppers while they are still nymphs and susceptible to insecticides. Birds, spiders, rodents and fungi also can help keep the insects in check, but years of drought have reduced the fungi.
“The population of grasshoppers in the region have increased in size, scope and density in recent years,” said Rob Wilson, a UC Cooperative Extension agronomy and pest management advisor and director of the Intermountain Research and Extension Center in Tulelake.
The massive growth and spread of the pests is a problem because 30 pounds of grasshoppers can eat as much forage as a 600-pound cow can eat per day, he explained.
Part of the challenge of controlling grasshoppers is their changing behavior. In the past, grasshoppers would go away after a couple of years, now they persist. They used to thrive in dry fields, but last year, grasshoppers migrated 10 to 20 miles into irrigated fields, Wilson said.
Wilson, who has been monitoring grasshoppers near Tule Lake since early April, said that In some fields, there were 20 to 30 nymphs per square yard. More than eight nymphs per square yard can cause economic damage.
As if the grasshoppers themselves weren't enough of a nuisance, they attract other pests, including blister beetles.
“As the grasshopper population increases, you are bound to see an increase in all of the species that eat them over time,” Getts said. “Blister beetles cause terrible blisters when they get on your skin, hence the name, but they can also be problematic for livestock if they contaminate bales of hay.”
Getts recommends that growers take steps to prevent grasshopper populations from building over successive years. Growers should coordinate with neighboring growers to treat their fields due to the limited longevity and efficacy of treatments on individual fields.
[Editor's note: The sentence comparing the appetite of grasshoppers to that of cows was revised to clarify that grasshoppers aren't eating cows.]
UCCE ayuda a mejorar la seguridad alimentaria y a reducir el desperdicio de comida entre familias del condado de San Bernardino
Entre agosto del 2023 y marzo del 2024, residentes de recursos limitados de diversos orígenes étnicos del condado de San Bernardino participaron en clases interactivas en las que expertos de Extensión Cooperativa de la Universidad de California les enseñaron sobre seguridad alimentaria, a reducir el desperdicio de comida y producir sus propios alimentos.
Las clases, son parte de un proyecto que se lleva a cabo en el condado de San Bernardino dirigido por Christine Davidson de UCCE y el Programa Ampliado de Educación sobre Alimentos y Nutrición (EFNEP, por sus siglas en inglés) que movilizó a un equipo de voluntarios de este último programa y de Maestro de Jardineros y Maestros Conservadores de Alimentos de UC para educar a familias en comunidades en desventaja a través de una serie de talleres prácticos.
Estos esfuerzos fueron financiados por el Programa de Pequeños Subsidios del Programa de Investigación y Educaciónen Agricultura Sustentable de UC, el cual apoya la creación de sistemas alimentarios sustentables en las comunidades.
Las participantes también asistieron a talleres del Programa Maestro de Jardineros para aprender a cultivar verduras en sus huertos familiares y preparar abono o composta con desperdicios de comida. El Programa Maestros Conservadores de Alimentos de UC también dijo presente en este proyecto enseñando a los participantes a preparar recetas saludables y preservar alimentos de manera segura con un enfoque en reducir el desperdicio de comida.
Por otro lado, 220 niños pertenecientes a dos escuelas asistieron a la serie de lecciones de EFNEP y un taller donde aprendieron a hacer composta con gusanos o en un frasco. “A los estudiantes le encantan las actividades prácticas y con estos conocimientos pueden participar en la producción de abono con desperdicios de comida en casa”, manifestó Davidson. “Fue especialmente satisfactorio enseñarles a los estudiantes de kinder sobre compostaje pues fue un concepto nuevo para ellos”.
El subsidio de SAREP aportó fondos para la compra de material y los kits o paquetes que padres y niños se llevaron a casa para aplicar sus nuevos conocimientos en la preparación de diferentes ensaladas y consomé de sobras de verduras, para cultivar huertos de hierbas y hacer composta en casa. Los kits son un excelente incentivo para que las personas asistan
Con una mejor planeación de comidas y el almacenamiento apropiado de alimentos, las familias pueden ahorrar comida y dinero. “Yo he empezado a guardar las sobras para preparar un consomé de verduras que uso para cocinar arroz. A mis hijos le encanta colectar las sobras y eso ahorra dinero al comprar el consomé”, dijo uno de los padres de la primaria Bradley de San Bernardino.
Además, a las familias se les educa sobre la reducción de desperdicios orgánicos requerida por el Proyecto de Ley del Senado 1383 y lo que pueden hacer para reducir el desperdicio de comida.
El producto final del proyecto financiado por SAREP será el Kit de Herramientas para el Taller para Prevenir el Desperdicio de Alimentos en español e inglés que será compartido ampliamente y entregado en los talleres de UC ANR por el personal y voluntarios en otros condados. “Nuestro objetivo más allá de proporcionar estos materiales para apoyar a nuestra comunidad es ayudar a incrementar su uso en todo UC ANR para que más familias puedan beneficiarse de ellos”, mencionó Davidson.
Subsidios pequeños, un gran impacto
Entre las prioridades de financiación del Programa de Pequeños Subsidios se incluyen a granjeros, rancheros y administradores de tierras en la adopción de prácticas regenerativas del medioambiente y asociarse con comunidades rurales, urbanas y tribales para expandir el acceso a alimentos producidos de manera saludable, sustentable y promover el bienestar de la comunidad.
“El Programa de Pequeños Subsidios es una parte importante de nuestra misión”, indicó Ruth Dahlquist-Willard, directora interina de UC SAREP, un programa de la División de Agricultura y Recursos Naturales de UC. “Los resultados del programa muestran que una pequeña inversión financiera puede tener un impacto grande en el mejoramiento de las vidas de los californianos”.
Este artículo es parte de una serie acerca del impacto del Programa de Pequeños Subsidios de UC SAREP. Para apoyar este programa, por favor haga sus donativos aquí. Elija elPrograma de PequeñosSubsidios deSAREPparaque seaasignado aesteprograma.
Adaptado al español por Leticia Irigoyen del artículo en inglés. Editado para su publicación por por Diana Cervantes
Could empty lots be growing food, economic opportunity?
UCCE scientists study feasibility of specialty crops for small urban growers
The vacant lots around your neighborhood could be growing fruits and vegetables and making local produce more accessible – while reducing energy needed to transport and distribute the food. Could turning those empty lots into small farms also become opportunities for economic development?
To answer this question, a team of researchers from University of California Cooperative Extension in San Diego County are investigating the economic feasibility of growing high-value specialty crops in urban settings like vacant lots. The project – led by Eric Middleton, UCCE integrated pest management advisor for San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles counties – is currently in progress at The Flower Fields in Carlsbad, a seasonal attraction for locals and tourists.
Tucked away in the back of the field is the Small-Scale Urban Ag Demonstration Site where Middleton and his team established a small farm on approximately 17,000 square feet, starting fall 2023. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the farm is designed to evaluate containerized production both outdoors and under high tunnels.
Growers don't necessarily need land, just space
High tunnels, also referred to as hoop houses, are semi-permanent structures that act similarly to greenhouses in providing a controlled environment. For the experiment, Middleton will compare cost, effort and durability of two types of high tunnels: one made of steel and the other out of PVC pipes.
“We want to give interested growers information on as many options as we can,” said Middleton, who explained that the project is motivated by the challenges of urban settings, including limited space and lack of arable land.
In the trial, they are growing turmeric, ginger and blueberries. The high-value crops were selected because of their potential to earn a profit. Data evaluating plant variety, soil mix, fertilizer, growth performance, yield and pest and disease pressures will be collected and reported when the project concludes in 2026.
As the crops develop in containers – blueberries in pots and turmeric and ginger in grow bags – Middleton pointed out the mobility aspect of the study, noting that growers don't necessarily need land, just space.
Whether it's a backyard or a rooftop, containerized production means easier transport, especially since vacant land doesn't always remain vacant forever and urban lots may often need soil remediation. Growing in containers solves the anticipated problem of having to relocate.
Where to set up shop in San Diego County
Jan Gonzales, project coordinator and community education supervisor for UCCE San Diego County, is leading the effort to identify available urban land in San Diego County as well as the policies and procedures for growers to access these spaces.
Gonzales is collaborating with community members who are working on similar projects to identify space for prospective growers.
“This has been done before for different objectives and for specific areas in the region, but the information was either project-specific and not publicly available, or not easy to find,” Gonzales said.
Having spoken with people associated with previous or ongoing agricultural land mapping projects, Gonzales has agreed to coordinate and facilitate an advisory work group to discuss areas of potential collaboration and develop project efficiencies. She anticipates holding the first group meeting before the end of the summer.
A production guide to help community members re-create the project
The ideal audience for a study like this is anyone who wants to grow specialty crops, according to Lindsey Pedroncelli, interim director of UC South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine, who worked on the project alongside Middleton when she was a staff research associate with UCCE San Diego.
“If you're a new grower or a grower who wants to diversify your crop production, what we're learning here can be applied to you,” said Pedroncelli.
Pedroncelli has been instrumental in bringing the experiment to life and documenting its step-by-step workflow thus far. The production guide, which is being created as the study unfolds, will include instructions detailing how to replicate the experiment from the ground up. Currently, it contains information on how to design your farm, the materials to buy, building structures, irrigation setup and crop management.
The most intriguing open question, whether the operation is profitable, is the driving force behind the production guide and will certainly be addressed, Pedroncelli said.
Book a tour and visit the farm
When visiting the farm, you'll encounter three varieties of blueberries: Star, Snowchaser and Misty. Snowchaser has been a top producer since it was planted in January, but the variety is known to be an early season producer.
Using only one variety of each, the turmeric and ginger were planted in late March-early April. With some unanticipated cold weather in San Diego County, both crops struggled when transitioning out of dormancy, leading to very slow progress, which the team is still navigating today.
Visually, Middleton and his team have noticed differences between the crops growing under the high tunnels versus those grown outdoors, although the data has not been analyzed to confirm or explain notable differences.
Attempting to demonstrate how to profitably grow high-value crops in urban settings using limited space and resources, Pedroncelli said she hopes this study will also encourage people to grow culturally significant crops for their communities.
To tour the Small-Scale Urban Ag Demonstration Site at The Flower Fields in Carlsbad, email Eric Middleton at egmiddleton@ucanr.edu with "Urban Agriculture Demonstration Site Tour" in the subject line.
To learn more about the project and its progress, visit https://ucanr.edu/sites/socalIPM/Small_Scale_Urban_Agriculture_Project_/.
/h4>Paper highlights how climate change challenges, transforms agriculture
As the climate continues to change, the risks to farming are only going to increase.
That's the key takeaway from a recent paper published by a team that included UC Merced and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources researchers. The paper dives into what those challenges are, how farmers are working to address them and what should come next.
"Climate Smart Agriculture: Assessing Needs and Perceptions of California's Farmers" was first authored by Samuel Ikendi, academic coordinator, with Tapan Pathak, UC Cooperative Extension climate adaptation in agriculture specialist, as a corresponding author. Both are based at UC Merced. Pathak is also a project director of National Institute of Food and Agriculture-funded project "Multifaceted Pathways to Climate-Smart Agriculture through Participator Program Development and Delivery," which supported this study. The study appeared in the open access journal Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems.
The needs assessment was designed to understand farmers' perceptions and experiences with climate change exposures; the risk management practices they currently use; and what tools and resources would assist them in making strategic decisions.
Of the farmers surveyed, roughly two-thirds agree climate change is occurring and requires action. Even more said they are interested in learning more about the impacts of climate change on the agricultural industry. Most respondents said they experience greater climate change impacts on their farms today compared with 10 years ago.
Farmers were very concerned with water-related issues, with those in the San Joaquin Valley, Central Coast and Inland Empire areas particularly worried about a reduction in the availability of groundwater. Increased drought severity was a very significant concern among farmers in the Inland Empire, Central Coast and Southern regions. Farmers in the North Coast and Southern regions were concerned about increased damage to crops due to wildfire.
Closely related were temperature-related issues, including crop damage due to extreme heat.
Those who farm vegetables were more concerned about water availability for irrigation, while fruit farmers were more concerned about increased crop/water stress and increased crop damage due to extreme heat.
Many respondents said they are implementing climate adaptation practices including managing water resources, maintaining soil health and making more use of renewable energy sources. They are seeking insurance and government help to pay for these adaptations and increase their agricultural resilience, the researchers wrote.
The farmers expressed interest in learning more about measures they might take to mitigate climate change. But they cited significant barriers to this work, including government regulations, high implementation cost, labor access/cost, access to water and the availability of money to pay for it.
"Climate change is significantly altering California's highly diverse agricultural landscape, posing challenges such as increased water stress, heat stress, and shifting growing seasons," Pathak said. "Climate-smart agriculture practices can alleviate some of those stresses."
But, he said, research and UC Cooperative Extension efforts only have value if they lead to enhanced climate-informed decision-making at the local level.
"Assessing their level of knowledge, perception and needs will help in tailoring research and extension activities that are most relevant to farmers on the ground," Pathak said. "Results from this study could also provide important policy insights on financial incentives and technical assistance."
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Almond crop yields threatened by disease new to California
Detection of fungus causing red leaf blotch spurs call for grower vigilance
Symptoms of red leaf blotch (RLB), a plant disease caused by the fungus Polystigma amygdalinum, have been observed for the first time in California across the Northern San Joaquin Valley.
Molecular DNA testing by the laboratory of Florent Trouillas, University of California Cooperative Extension fruit and nut crop pathology specialist, has detected P. amygdalinum. Pest identification was confirmed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The disease, named for the characteristic orange-to-dark red blotches that appear on infected leaves, is typically nonlethal for trees but has been a long-standing problem for almond-growing regions across the Mediterranean. Causing trees to lose their leaves prematurely, the fungal pathogen can significantly diminish crop yields in the current year and the next.
“It is one of the most severe diseases of almonds for Spain and the Middle East,” said Trouillas, an associate professor in the UC Davis Department of Plant Pathology. He recently co-authored an explanatory article on the UCCE San Joaquin Valley Trees and Vines blog.
With symptomatic trees seen in multiple orchards across Madera, Merced, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, Trouillas said RLB is already “somewhat widespread.”
“From the first observations so far, it seems like it affects some of the most-planted cultivars, like Nonpareil and Monterey,” he added. “We've observed it in a diversity of cultivars already.”
UC Cooperative Extension specialist urges taking preventive measures
According to Trouillas, RLB caused by P. amygdalinum is “highly specific” to almond trees, and generally only affects their leaves. Infection typically happens at petal fall, when small leaflets are first emerging and most susceptible to disease. After the pathogen's latent period of about 35 to 40 days, the first symptoms appear – small, pale-yellow spots on both sides of the leaves.
Those blotches become yellow-orange and then reddish-brown in the advanced stages of the disease during June and July. Now, with RLB symptoms becoming more prominent, Trouillas and UC Cooperative Extension advisors across the Central Valley have seen an uptick in calls.
“PCAs [pest control advisers] have been confused because they've never seen anything like this,” said Trouillas, noting that the yellow-orange-red blotches are symptoms unique to RLB and cannot be confused with other known almond diseases.
Applying fungicides after RLB symptoms appear is ineffective, Trouillas said. The best thing growers can do at this point is to report symptomatic trees to researchers so they can track the prevalence and distribution of the disease.
Growers who see signs of this new disease in their orchard should contact their local UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor.
Preventive measures are the best way to manage RLB, Trouillas said. He urges concerned growers to think ahead to next winter/spring and plan for fungicide applications at petal fall and – if rains persist – also at two weeks and five weeks after petal fall. Fortunately, those are the same three key timings for managing other diseases, like shot hole and almond anthracnose.
“Because RLB is something that is introduced and potentially aggressive, it will be important for growers to keep that in mind next year and be on schedule for next year's spraying program,” Trouillas said.
Additional information on RLB can be found at https://www.sjvtandv.com/blog/first-detection-of-red-leaf-blotch-a-new-disease-of-almond-in-california.
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