Agriculture

It's getting hot and dry in the Central Valley and the movement of equipment in and out of fields/orchards/vineyards has the potential to stir up a significant amount of dust. Among its other impacts to agriculture (soil erosion, tissue damage, reduced photosynthesis, etc...

UC Cooperative Extension in Merced County and Bowles Farming are hosting the 2nd Annual Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Drone, Field Day on Tuesday, June 26, 2018. The event will run from 8:30-11:30 am and will be held at Bowles Farming headquarters in Los Banos (11069 Hereford Road).

A new UC Cooperative Extension podcast that focuses on growing orchard crops in the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys is now available free at http://growingthevalleypodcast.com, Apple iTunes and Google Play Music.

There are a limited number of herbicides registered for melon production in California and Arizona, two of the major production areas for cantaloupes and honeydews. Shallow cultivation and nonselective herbicides with no soil activity can be effective if used after bed formation and before planting.

Ciricillo named California 4-H Foundation director Mary Ciricillo, director of annual giving and individual gifts in ANR's Development Services, has accepted the position of California 4-H Foundation director.

Californians can help in the fight against invasive species by learning and participating during California Invasive Species Action Week, June 210.

A recent call about the poor control of marestail (horseweed, Conyza canadensis) to glyphosate (Roundup) wasn't surprising, but that paraquat didnt do the trick was. It turns out that there is multiple resistance to the materials.

Spring is in full swing and summer is right around the corner. If you work in agricultural, turf, landscape, or structural settings, you are probably at your busiest. If you handle pesticides as part of your work, you most likely wear some sort of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Sweeping acres of striking golden flowers may soon grace California's desert southwest. UC Cooperative Extension irrigation specialist Khaled Bali believes sunflowers may be an ideal crop for the state's most punishing agricultural region.

We remember photographing a young beekeeper, Mikayla Hagan of the Rio Vista (Calif.) 4-H Club, when she delivered presentations at Solano County 4-H events. Yes, 4-H'ers can enroll in beekeeping projects--if a club offers them. And they should! Rewind to the 2012 Solano County Project Skills Day.