Pest management

Crabgrass popping up in your lawn or landscape can be aggravating, but don't despair -- you can manage this common annual weed with integrated pest management!  First, make sure that you are dealing with crabgrass and not a lookalike grass like dallisgrass or bermudagrass. The newly revised Pest Notes:…

In this issue…BEST WATER AND NITROGEN MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN DRIP-IRRIGATED DESERT LETTUCE AUGUST WEATHER-INDUCED DISEASE-LIKE SYMPTOMS IN COTTON: BOLL ROT, LEAF SPOTS, AND BRONZING SURVEY IDENTIFIED ELEVATED BERMUDAGRASS STEM MAGGOT ADULT PRESENCE AND DAMAGE IN BERMUDAGRASS FIELDS IN THE IMPERIAL…

Two worms and one idea (monitoring):     One of the main challenges to growing tree fruits are pests that can destroy the fruit or make it unmarketable. Some pests can injure the trees directly, affecting their growth.  The oriental fruit moth (scientific name, Grapholita molesta)…

Fall is officially here! Even though the weather is still warm in many places in California, leaves are beginning to drop and things are starting to slow down in our gardens. It’s time to prepare for garden and landscape pest problems that could come with the changing season. Did you know that UC IPM…

Farmers in the Western region including California can select and decide the recommended cover crop which is suitable for their farm by using an online tool and clicking 5 simple steps. The Western Cover Crops Council with a collaboration between Precision Sustainable Agriculture, and the U.S…

Virtual Fencing: Collaring and Training Livestock In an earlier article, we introduced virtual fencing (VF) as a system for containing livestock without traditional fences. Now, let’s explore how to collar and train livestock to recognize these virtual boundaries.Setting Up Virtual Fencing Collars …

Virtual Fencing: A New Tool for Livestock and Land Management Virtual fencing (VF) is a precision agriculture tool gaining traction across California’s diverse rangelands. It uses GPS collars to contain livestock without physical fences. Producers set virtual boundaries across their pasture from a…

Infestations of Medusahead can be suppressed by targeted grazing Medusahead (Elymus caput-medusae) is a common invasive grass on California’s annual rangelands. It accumulates high levels of silica as it matures, making it unpalatable to livestock and slow to decompose. As a result, livestock tend to…

September Walnut Orchard Tasks for Agriculture To-Do List  September is the time to focus on finishing the crop season well by protecting the kernel color and quality, keeping the insect pests in check, and setting the trees up for a stress-free winter. Irrigation and Nutrition Management in the…