Sustainable Ag: A View from the Field

Ready to Spring Forward with This Year's Growing Season

2012-03-05T22:16:00.000-08:00

Valley almond orchards are showing their brilliant colors.

With daylight lasting longer every day, activity is picking up in the fields and orchards across the San Joaquin Valley. I expect it to get a lot busier next week as we spring forward with Daylight Savings Time coming up this weekend. Longer, sunlit days certainly signal another growing season is upon us.

Cotton growers pre-irrigating their fields.

Cotton growers are continuing to pre-irrigate their fields in preparation of the spring planting. Those with sandy soil are just starting pre-irrigation.

Around the orchards, there is a sea of white and pale pink lighting up the landscape. Trees are in full bloom – a spectacular sight and wonderful Kodak moment for photo buffs. Small leaves are already developing on the trees.

Impact of shot hole fungus.
UC IPM photo/Jack Kelly Clark

While there was steady snow falling in the mountains, the late-winter storm didn’t produce much rain on the Valley floor. We had anywhere from a 1/10^th to 1/20^th of an inch of rain. Still to guard against disease and what rain we had, a lot of growers are applying their second bloom spray. That will prevent brown rot blossom blight and shot hole fungus from developing. Thanks to the warm weather, bees have been active pollinating the almond trees.

You can see the visible signs of brown rot blossom blight.
UC IPM photo/Jack Kelly Clark

The alfalfa crop is growing nicely. I anticipate the first cutting to take place in about three weeks – a little earlier than the usual because of the mild winter. Growers are now treating for alfalfa weevils as well as weeds. Some are combining treatments with one application to save on labor costs. Growers should keep in mind that it’s a good practice to rotate their chemicals to avoid long-term pesticide resistance.

Growers are treating for alfalfa weevils.

If you want to learn more about pest management guidelines for alfalfa weevils, the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management (UC IPM) program offers a wealth of information through its website. UC IPM also offers tips about weed management for alfalfa.

Water update: Despite last week’s heavy dusting of snow in the Sierra Nevada, the water outlook remains iffy for Valley growers, especially those in the Westlands Water District. The Bureau of Reclamation announced an initial forecast of 30 percent water allocation. Westlands General Manager Thomas Birmingham called the announcement both “disappointing” given the near-record amount of water stored in reservoirs and “outstanding” in light of the dry conditions this winter. That is prompting some growers to cut back on their cotton planting this year and opt for other crops such as tomatoes. I’m sure we haven’t heard the rest of this story. To be continued…

Looks Like Spring in the Valley, But Calendar Says It's Winter

2012-02-20T19:14:00.000-08:00

Almond trees are coming in bloom in many Valley areas.

It’s hard to believe spring is still a month away. As I drive around farm country in the Great Valley, I’m seeing a lot of almond trees in colorful bloom and alfalfa fields shimmering in green.

Almond growers that didn’t apply dormant sprays like copper and oil are seeing 60 to 80 percent bloom in their trees. Dormant sprays will delay bloom. Let’s hope our area isn’t hit with heavy frost or heavy winter storms, which could cause problems with these early blooming trees. That could lead to blossom rot.

Alfalfa is looking good and is long past its winter dormant stage. Farmers will let the alfalfa grow until the first cutting, which usually takes place in mid or late April.

Here's a map of the Westlands Water District.

Water officials and cotton growers are certainly checking the weather forecasts regularly and looking toward the skies for signs of more rain in the Valley and snow in the Sierra Nevadas. Rain is nature’s version of pre-irrigation.

Heard on the Farms: Growers in the Westlands Water District received some bad news last week. They won’t be able to transfer the rest of their current water allocation into next season. Since they don’t need the water right now, many farmers are letting other growers have their water to irrigate their winter crops.

About half our growers in our San Joaquin Sustainable Farming Project are in the Westlands district, which covers 600,000 acres of farmland south of Firebaugh (see the district map). Westlands growers have been anticipating a 35 to 50 percent water allocation this season. On Tuesday, the district will have its regular board meeting and I’m sure there will be an update about water availability for 2012. Stay tuned.

If water supplies becomes tight, some
growers may plant tomatoes over cotton.

In the past couple of years, cotton acreage has been on the upswing with increased water supplies and good commodity prices. Growers had talked about planting more cotton this year. But now, we may see less cotton acreage because of the water issue. Some growers will have to go to Plan B and plant less thirsty crops such as tomatoes using drip irrigation systems to conserve and maximize their water supplies. There’s no need to panic yet. There is still time before that decision will have to be made. Let’s keep that rain dance going.

Field Day Alert: Here’s a great opportunity to learn about dealing with this season’s pest management and water issues in almonds, cotton and alfalfa. SJSFP is sponsoring a free workshop from 9 a.m. to noon the Firebaugh Community Center, 1655 13^th St. Firebaugh, on Tuesday, February 28.

As usual, we will have a great panel of speakers: University of California Cooperative Extension Merced pomology farm advisor David Doll (almonds); UC IPM advisor Dr. Pete Goodell (cotton and alfalfa) and entomologist Walt Bentley (almonds), Chris Linneman, Program Manager, Westside San Joaquin River Watershed Coalition, and Louie Guerra, environmental scientist with the Department of Pesticide Regulation. Three continuing education credits have been approved.

While at the event, growers in Fresno, Madera and Merced counties can sign up to participate in our annual sustainable farming program. I can vouch that SJSFP growers improve their farming practices, increase crop yields and become better environmental stewards.

For more information about the field day or to sign up, contact me at (559) 259-1981 or Project Director Marcia Gibbs at (530) 370-5325.

Growers Irrigating and Pre-Irrigating Fields; Almonds Feel Sting from Bee Rental Rates

2012-02-06T21:49:00.000-08:00

While rain is in the forecast for Tuesday, growers in the San Joaquin Valley spent the past couple weeks irrigating water to their thirsty fields.

Snowpack is below normal.

That shouldn’t come to a surprise to anyone. The mild winter and meager snow and rainfall are certainly big topics of discussion for farmers across the Valley. Last week, the state Department of Water Resources took measurements in the mountains and estimated the statewide snowpack to be 37 percent of normal for this time of year.

It’s the same for much of the country. Consider this fact from the National Climatic Data Center: The number of record high temperatures set in January exceeded record lows by a 27 to 1 ratio in the lower 48 states. It was the 13^th straight month that new high temperatures topped low temperature records in the U.S. In our region, a similar story played out last month. For instance, the Fresno airport recorded a record-tying 68 degrees on January 14, matching the all-time high for that date set in way back in 1948. For the most part, our daytime highs have been in the low- to mid-60s.

But farmers don’t have to panic yet. Thanks to record snowfall in the California last winter, there are adequate water supplies for crops this season. Right now, westside growers are anticipating a 60 percent water allocation – at least for now. Stay tuned.

Buds develop on almond
tree outside of Firebaugh.

As I travel around the Valley, I am seeing a lot of activity. Growers have finished preparing the beds for this year’s tomato and cotton season and are starting to pre-irrigate their fields in preparation for spring planting. Orders are being placed for cotton seeds. Alfalfa plants are being fed nutrients and irrigation water to “wake” them up from their fall and early winter dormancy.

In the orchards, almond trees already have emerged from of their winter rest period. The fruit buds are starting to expand as they head toward bloom and flowering stages. This development cycle could speed up if this warm weather keeps up.

The commercial beehives (those white boxes you see around almond orchard floor) are in place as the pollination period nears. About two hives per acre are needed to pollinate the almond flowers this spring. Experts estimates about 1.5 million of the nation’s inventory of 2.5 million honeybees will be needed to pollinate about 800,000 acres of almonds in California this season. That’s about 60 percent of the U.S. inventory of bee colonies.

Beehives (the white boxes) border a local almond orchard.

Almond growers have found bee rental fees rising in recent years, partly due to a significant loss of bees because colony collapse disorder. Beekeepers estimate 30 percent of bees are loss annually. What has that meant to almond growers?

Well, the average pollination rental rates surged more than 160 percent from $58 for each hive in 2004 to $151 per hive in 2010, according to the California State Beekeepers Association. If you do the math, that’s going from $116 per acre to $302 an acre to pollinate your almond orchard. Experts say pollination now amounts to 13 to 15 percent of input costs. Well, growers can take some solace this year: Rates expect to be fairly stable, running in the $155 range per acre. Let’s hope for another record harvest for 2012. That would certainly lessen the financial sting from these high rental costs.

Doing a Rain Dance for the Central Valley Farm Region

2012-01-23T20:47:00.000-08:00

You might wonder what was that stuff falling from sky recently. Yes, it’s rain – something we haven’t seen since last year.

For growers across the San Joaquin Valley, the dark skies and rain drops are welcome sights. Indeed, almond trees and young alfalfa plants were starting to look a little parched.

During the early winter dry spell, I was seeing some growers irrigating their fields and orchards to keep their trees and plants alive. It’s important that first-year alfalfa plants get adequate water to help develop strong root systems and foliage.

Lately, you started to hear whispers about the dreaded “D” word again. Just the thought of drought is daunting, bringing back painful memories of the fallow fields and abandoned orchards across the Valley.

The good news is some weather forecasters are predicting above average rainfall for February. We’re counting on the storm door to stay open and bring more rain to the Valley and snow to the Sierra Nevadas.

Not only is rain good for the fields and orchards, it also helps reduce the salinity building up in the soil. Let’s keep up the rain dance.

With the start of the New Year, the San Joaquin Sustainable Farming Project is busy recruiting new almond, alfalfa and cotton growers from Madera, Merced and Fresno counties to join our program. Our participating growers have become better environmental stewards by embracing biological-based Integrated Pest Management practices. They have learned they can improve yields, reduce pesticide use and stay profitable. Growers have access to some of the state’s leading University of California extension farm advisors and IPM specialists.

Through our program, growers can save thousands of dollars in material and labor costs by cutting back on pesticide applications. I estimate each treatment can cost $10 to $20 an acre. For a 200 acre field, for example, that’s a savings of $2,000 to $4,000 for just one pesticide application. Growers interested in signing up for our program can contact me at (559) 259-1981 or by email at luis@sustainablecotton.org Tell a fellow farmer as well.

SJ Sustainable Farming Projects Quite a Productive 2011 for Its Growers

2011-12-12T20:55:00.000-08:00

Cotton production is on the upswing.

As cotton and alfalfa growers participating in the 2011 San Joaquin Sustainable Farming Project gather in Firebaugh this Wednesday morning to recap the season, I’d like to share a few interesting statistics just released from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Upland cotton production (Acala in California) is forecast at 15.1 million bales nationally in 2011, down 14.3 percent from last year. But in California, production is predicted to be 1.2 million bales, up 47 percent from 2010. Pima production – where California accounts for 90 percent of the U.S. acreage – is predicted also to surge 47 percent over last year. At the same time, alfalfa production this year is expected to be up 3.7 percent year over year in California, compared to a 4.7 percent drop nationally.

Small output gain expected for alfalfa.

Whew. That’s a lot of numbers. But the bottom line is California cotton and alfalfa fared quite compared to the rest of the country. Things are looking up and even more cotton could be planted in 2012. We may get some preview into growers’ plans during our meeting Wednesday. Stay tuned.

Dr. Pete Goodell

Meanwhile, Dr. Pete Goodell, an advisor with the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management program, will review the pest management issues during the year and talk about what might be in store for 2012. Pete always offers a lot of good information and a wealth of knowledge about good IPM practices.

We welcome new growers interested in enrolling in next year’s SJSFP program to stop by the meeting. Farmers thinking about next season’s crop will find especially useful a presentation by UC cotton expert Robert Hutmacher from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Firebaugh Community Center, 1655 13^th Street.

Robert Hutmacher

Hutmacher, the director of the University of California Research and Extension Center in Five Points, will discuss cotton variety field trials and new varieties coming down the pike. Test plots have shown promising results with new Pima varieties that have produced good yields. Don’t miss this informative talk. The price is right: Free.

Well, the Central Valley Farm Scout and blog will take some holiday time off and return in a month. Enjoy the holidays and we will see you next year.

Planting, Growing, Harvesting; Time to Call the Season a Wrap

2011-12-05T20:01:00.000-08:00

After eight long months, we can finally call it a wrap on the 2011 cotton season.

Growers have picked the last of the cotton in the fields and are starting to plow down their fields before the December 20 deadline. Some already have prepared their beds for next season, readying their fields for another season of cotton or a rotation crop such as tomatoes. Others have planted winter crops. Generally, growers usually rotate their cotton fields every two years.

At the gins, cotton is still being processed, which could last much of December because of the later harvest as well as the increase in cotton planted this year.

Overall, I’d say yields were good for 2011 – even with the unusual weather we had this season – remember the March rains, cool spring, so-so summer heat and unseasonable early fall rain. In the end, though, growers were able to make up the heat units and effectively used growth regulators to help their yields. I estimate the average yield for Acala was about 2 ¾ bales an acre. One Pima field averaged 3 ¾ bales an acre – anything above 3 bales is good.

On the pest front, lygus and late-season worms were a problem. Biological pest controls were effective and some new soft materials worked well. These pay off in helping the environment and the bottom line for growers. I have to say things are looking up for cotton. Don’t be surprised to see growers planting more acreage in 2012.

Robert Hutmacher

Speaking of the future, growers will have a great opportunity to learn about cotton varieties coming down the pike. Robert Hutmacher, a noted cotton expert and the director of the University of California Research and Extension Center in Five Points, will discuss cotton variety field trials during a presentation from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, December 14, at the Firebaugh Community Center, 1655 13^th Street. The talk is free and open to the community. It should be very informative. See you there.

Something for Everyone at Our Annual Fall Almond Field Day

2011-11-26T11:57:00.000-08:00

Our fall almond field day is just a couple days away and I guarantee you that growers – whether they’re new to the crop or veterans – will come away learning some new. You might call it “I didn’t know that” moment.

Last year, one grower commented: “These meetings are really needed to help us farm almonds better.” We couldn’t say it better.

Entomologist Walt Bentley will discuss pests in almonds.

In fact, long-time University of California entomologist Walt Bentley says he can’t repeat his educational message enough to growers. Better yet, his tips can pay off for growers in the long run – often through fewer pest pressures, lower chemical input costs, better practices to protect the environment, including our local waterways, and more importantly improved yields.

Walt, a specialist with the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, will be joined by Merced County UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor David Doll, during our Monday, November 28 field day. They are among the top almond experts in the state and they’re eager to answer your questions.

Farm Advisor David Doll writes the Almond Doctor blog.

The free event will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the Rushing Ranch, 11599 W. Shaw Ave., Fresno. Walt will discuss sampling for scale and crop-damaging pests during the fall and winter. David, also known for his informative Almond Doctor blog, will cover dormant season practices to help prevent almond diseases and reduce the risk of fungicide resistance for the state’s leading export crop, worth $2.7 billion a year.

Sponsored by San Joaquin Sustainable Farming Project (SJSFP), the field day qualifies for two hours of continuing education credit. For more information and directions contact Project Director Marcia Gibbs at (530) 370-5325 or at marcia@sustainablecotton.org.

The sustainable farming project is a state- and federally funded program under the direction of the Sustainable Cotton Project (www.sustainablecotton.org), a nonprofit which has worked with San Joaquin Valley growers in the past decade to bring Cleaner Cotton™ to the multi-billion-dollar green consumer market. See you at the field day.

Giving Thanks for a bountiful Harvest in the Great Valley

2011-11-21T20:52:00.000-08:00

Almonds are being processed. The last cutting of alfalfa is a distant memory. And the cotton harvest is nearly finished.

With sunshine sandwiched between rain storms, growers are hoping for sunny windy days this week to allow them to pick the remaining 10 percent of cotton left to be harvested. If Mother Nature cooperates, many growers will enjoy their Thanksgiving turkey knowing their cotton crop has been picked and headed for the gin.

It certainly has been another weird weather year. But farmers are a resilient group and they certainly have weathered the storms …and the pests … and they plant diseases this season.

For cotton growers who have wrapped up their harvest, now is the time to cut the stalks and plow down their fields. Many are starting to prepare their beds for next season.

Cotton gin workers are busy processing the harvested crop.

In the almond orchards, growers are starting to prune their trees and get ready for the dormant season. I often see trees with some mummy nuts left. Almond experts remind growers to knock off those mummies to prevent problems with navel orangeworms next season. Remember good winter sanitation practices pay off in the long run.

If you want to learn more about preparing for next year’s almond crop, be sure to attend our Almond Pest Management Field Day on Monday, November 28. It’s a must-attend event if you want to get a jump on planning for the 2012 season. The free event will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the Rushing Ranch, 11599 W. Shaw Ave., Fresno.

UCCE's David Doll, left, offers tips to growers.

University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management program entomologist Walt Bentley will discuss sampling for scale and crop-damaging pests during the fall and winter. The “Almond Doctor” David Doll, aka the Merced County UC Cooperative Extension pomology farm advisor specializing in almonds, will cover dormant season practices to help prevent almond diseases and reduce the risk of fungicide resistance.

This is a great opportunity to get your questions answered from two of the state’s leading almond experts. At the same time, you can earn two hours of continuing education credits.

As we think about next season, we can look back at this season and give thanks to a bountiful and we hope profitable harvest. Happy Thanksgiving.

Cotton Harvest on Final Stretch; Farm Tour Gets Up Close and Personal

2011-11-14T19:10:00.000-08:00

With the on-again, off-again rainy weather lately, growers have been scrambling to harvest their cotton. So far, about three quarters of the Valley’s cotton acreage has been harvested, University of California experts told us during our annual Cotton Tour last week.

Acala is in. The Pima harvest is still out with growers hoping to get out into the fields and complete their second and final picking soon.
On Friday, we had more wet weather with rainfall totals overnight ranging from 0.1 of an inch to a half-inch in various parts of the region. More rain could raise concerns about mold developing in the harvested cotton. Let’s hope for a little wind and dry weather in the coming days. Weather forecasters are predicting more rain by the end of the week.

Cotton Tour participants get a chance to pick some cotton.

Fortunately, we had nice sunny weather during our farm tour – one of the best ever with lots of people attending – from students, to apparel company representatives to U.S. Department of Agriculture officials. During the all-day tour, we saw a nice perennial hedgerow at Windfall Farms, cotton harvested at George Bettencourt’s farm and saw- and rolling gin in action at Silvercreek Gin. We had lots of good questions: “How many people does it take to harvest cotton?” “How many acres of cotton are harvested per hour?” And “what is the difference between organic cotton and Cleaner Cotton™?’

Tour participants were treated with Indian Summer weather.

We explained our growers produce Cleaner Cotton™ without applying the most toxic chemicals used in cotton production. They follow biological controls and Integrated Pest Management practices – something that can save money for growers and help protect the environment. We pointed out that in California it isn’t economically viable to grow organic cotton because of high labor and input costs. I think many people on the tour came away with a better understanding of Cleaner Cotton™. They also left with a better appreciation for farmers and the cotton industry.

Say Hello to More Rain: The Cotton Harvest Put on Hold

2011-11-07T20:32:00.000-08:00

“Rain, rain, go away

come again another day

the farmer wants to harvest cotton …”

It is a good bet that many San Joaquin Valley cotton growers would love to recite to this little variation of the classic nursery rhyme. They would love to have the unseasonable early fall rain go away and come back again in December. Cotton growers certainly have had to deal with weird weather this season.

First, early spring rain delayed planting for many growers. Then early fall rain slowed defoliation of the cotton plants. Now, last Thursday’s and Saturday’s storms, which dropped up to a half inch of rain in our region area – put a temporary halt to the cotton harvest. Growers are counting on two days of sunny weather with light winds to dry the lint before resuming the harvest.

While the fields weren’t muddy for the harvesters, the rigs were idled because the fiber had absorbed too much moisture. Wet cotton stored in modules waiting to be ginned could develop mold. Growers don’t want to risk that.

Around central and north part of the Valley, I estimate about 80 percent of Acala – which develops earlier than Pima cotton – has been harvested. There is still lots of cotton left in the fields waiting to be harvested. In California, growers planted 190,000 acres of Acala and 260,000 acres of Pima.

Some Pima growers have finished their first harvest and are ready for the second picking. Others haven’t even started harvesting at all. In fact, there is concern the rain has spurred re-growth of the Pima plants and may require growers to defoliate again.

So far, growers are not overly concerned. For some, the rain gave them an unexpected break. Others could get a jump preparing to plow down their harvested acreage. We’ll see how the weather plays out later this week with more rain in the forecast for Friday and the weekend. For now, repeat after me: “Rain, rain go away …”

Cotton Tour Here: Don’t be alarmed to seek large tour buses traveling the country roads on Tuesday. That’s our annual Cotton Tour passing by. If you see us, wave hello to our participants, who will meet with local growers, visit a gin and even pick some cotton. Buses will leave the Best Western Apricot Inn – Interstate 5 and West Panoche Road about 23 miles southwest of Firebaugh – at 8:30 a.m. and return about 4 p.m. I’ll let you know how it goes next time.

Almond Nut Quality Earns High Marks for the 2011 Season

2011-10-31T20:23:00.000-07:00

Editor’s note: We welcome again our guest blogger UC IPM entomologist Walt Bentley, whose specialty includes managing pests in almonds.

The final almond harvest samples are being evaluated and most of you have already gotten the quality grades from your processor. Based on what laboratory assistant Alex Newton and I have found, nut quality was excellent. As might be expected, navel orangeworm (NOW) was the most common problem followed by shriveled nutmeats. There was no plant bug or ant damage and very minor peach twig borer damage.

Table 1 below presents the infestation summary for the orchards in the San Joaquin Sustainable Farming Project, which is directed by the Sustainable Cotton Project.

UC IPM photo by Jack Kelly Clark

Not all samples have been evaluated. Nut infestation ranged from zero to 4.8 percent. Interestingly, the variety with the greatest damage was a Butte (hard shell) orchard. It is the orchard where our greatest navel orangeworm egg counts were found and the mummy load going into the summer was high.

Overall the infestation levels are very low. You can see from the harvests sample data that there were numerous locations where we found no infestation. Be sure to compare these results with what you get from your processor. We are still in the process of cracking almonds so, if you don’t see your orchard code in the table it means it has not been evaluated yet. This information will be available for the fall SJSFP almond meeting, which is scheduled for November 29. A field day announcement will be mailed to you.

Figure 1 presents the pooled egg count information from all 13 almond farmers in the project. This information comes from the trapping data in the egg counts. The egg laying is not the same as the harvest sample.

This year almond development was quite late and early harvest was not really possible. We didn’t see the initiation of hull split (Nonpareil - NP) until July 20 and 100 percent NP hull spit until August 3. NOW deposition, although later than normal, was not as affected after May. Consequently, most of the Nonpareil crop avoided infestation in July, but was completely exposed to moths in late August.

Compare your harvest date to the graph showing the development of the third period of egg laying beginning on August 10. This time frame is important because the new crop is not susceptible to NOW until the hulls split. Once 100 percent hull split occurs the new crop can be attacked. When moths are abundant and hull split has completed, infestation results.

Finally, I have included a graph from work done by Dr. Dick Rice, University of California, Davis emeritus, that compares the dynamics of NOW based on either male moth capture, black light capture of males and females, and eggs found on egg traps. Figure 2 presents this information. I interpret this to show that the egg traps are very effective in determining the dynamics of moth activity, particularly late in the season. It gives us confidence in the information gained from egg traps.

UC IPM photo by Jack Kelly Clark

After studying the cause of your rejects, make a mental note to count mummies left after harvest in your orchard. This will be done after the leaves are gone, but it is important. Unharvested mummies left in the orchard are the single best indicator of navel orangeworm problems to come. Only two trees counted per acre gives a good estimate of potential problems. Problems result when the orchard averages two mummies per tree. Remember it is a pair of deuces, two trees per acre counted and two nuts per tree.

Walt Bentley is a long-time entomologist with the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management program at the Kearney Ag Center in Parlier.

Annual Cotton Tour Nears: The deadline nears to sign up for our annual Cotton Tour on Tuesday, November 8. The free day-long tour offers participants have the opportunity to meet growers, visit a gin and even pick some cotton. Buses will leave the Best Western Apricot Inn – Interstate 5 and West Panoche Road about 23 miles southwest of Firebaugh – at 8:30 a.m. and return about 4 p.m. Spread the word to anyone you think is interested in joining us. Registration is required. Sign up at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RQG9P3G

Table 1. SJ Sustainable Farming Project: almond crack out, 2011 based on 500 nut sample.

Grower ID	Variety	Harvest date	% NOW	% PTB	% Total
30	NonPareil	24 Aug	0.0	0.0	0.0
14	Butte	31 Aug	4.6	0.2.	4.8
11	Butte	1 Sep	0.0	0.0	0.0
12	NonPareil	12 Sep	2.2	0.0	2.2
12	Fritz	26 Sep	0.0	0.0	0.0
0	NonPareil	12 Sep	2.6	0.0	2.6
15	NonPareil	15 Sep	0.2	0.0	0.2
29	Butte	---	0.0	0.0	0.0
29	Padre	---	0.2	0.0	0.2
13	Monterey	13 Sep	0.4	0.0	0.4
16	Padre	23 Sep	0.0	0.0	0.0

Fig. 1. NOW egg trap oviposition, 13 Orchards West Side

Fresno and Madera counties, Sept. 28, 2011.

It's Cotton Picking Time for Growers Across the Valley

2011-10-24T21:08:00.000-07:00

Acres and acres of cotton are ready for harvest in the Valley.

The wait is almost over.

In a few days, we should see some Pima growers sending out harvesters to pick their cotton. These grower will have a head start over other Pima producers because they were able to plant their crop during a break between storms in March.

I wouldn’t be surprise to find the Pima harvest wrapping up after Thanksgiving – thanks to early season cool weather.

Acala cotton harvest is in full swing.

Even with the late harvest, growers should have amble time to shred the cotton stalks and disc their fields to meet the plow-down deadline aimed at managing the crop-damaging pink bollworm in the spring. Of course, Mother Nature needs to cooperate. Last year, the deadline was extended in December because rain made the fields too muddy for farmers to get equipment into their fields.

For Acala growers, their harvest is well under way and they should continue picking their cotton for another week to 10 days.

Overall, the lint looks good. Acala growers should get good yields. Right now, cotton modules are lining up at the gins. To save costs, gins start firing up in November when lower winter electrical rates kick in. Then the ginning picks up steam.

Our annual Cotton Tour is a perfect photo opportunity.

Cotton Tour Nears: Our annual Cotton Tour is around the corner. The free event is Tuesday, November 8 and includes lunch in downtown Firebaugh. Participants will have an opportunity to meet growers, visit a gin and even pick some cotton. One of the stops will include a visit with Windfall Farms’ growers Frank Williams and Mark Fickett. Visitors will have a chance to inspect Windfall’s cotton fields and perennial hedgerow. So spread the word. Buses will leave the Best Western Apricot Inn – Interstate 5 and West Panoche Road about 23 miles southwest of Firebaugh – at 8:30 a.m. and return about 4 p.m. Registration is required. Sign up at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RQG9P3G

Growers Finally Start the Cotton Harvest in Central San Joaquin

2011-10-17T20:40:00.000-07:00

Growers have started picking the Acala cotton in the Valley.

It’s mid-October and the cotton harvest is finally here in the central San Joaquin Valley.

With the unseasonable rain behind us, harvesters started traversing local Acala cotton fields last week. Pima growers began defoliating their crop and in another few weeks, they will start picking the fluffy fiber.

I’m seeing anywhere from nine to 14 open bolls per plant. In my plant mapping, I’m counting an average of four locks (bunches of lint) within the boll in Acala and three locks in Pima as well as six to seven seeds per boll. All this indicates good crop set.

Wet cotton after last week's rain. The
lint dried quickly once the sun came out.

Because of this, Acala growers should see good yields this season. For Pima, it could turn out to be an average year for yields. But good commodity prices certainly will help everyone. You can attribute this year’s healthy yields to three things: Good pest management, ample availability of water (unlike those drought years) and warm summer weather, which allowed the cotton plants to make up some of the lost time due to late plantings caused by last-spring rains and cool temperatures.

Speaking of the rain, the early October wet stuff didn’t harm the fiber. Lint dried up quickly with the return of warmer temperatures. The rain did help wash off dirt and sticky honeydew from the cotton. Overall, growers are excited as they head for the final stretch of the season. They certainly will be ready for a little post-season rest and relaxation.

I'm describing a harvester to last year's Cotton Tour group.

Cotton Tour Countdown: Don’t forget to spread the word about our annual Cotton Tour on Tuesday, November 8. There’s still room available for the free event, which includes lunch in downtown Firebaugh. Participants always enjoy the opportunity to meet growers, visit a gin and pick a little cotton. For many, it’s the first time they have come face-to-face to a real cotton farmer. Buses will leave the Best Western Apricot Inn – Interstate 5 and West Panoche Road about 23 miles southwest of Firebaugh – at 8:30 a.m. and return about 4 p.m. Registration is required. Sign up at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RQG9P3G

Rain Leaves Cleaner Cotton Plants as Growers Prepare for Harvest

2011-10-10T21:15:00.000-07:00

The sun is shining. And Indian summer is back in the Northern San Joaquin Valley with high temperatures heading back into the 80s for the rest of this week.

October sure started off with a storm. We had up to 1 inch of rain around the region. On the plus side to cotton growers, the rain helped wash off any dust or sticky honeydew on the plants. Right now, growers don’t expect to have any mold or mildew problems with the fiber.

Kevin Long of Olam Cotton in Fresno tells us that he doesn’t think any fiber quality issues will develop because of the rain. “The sun was out after the rains and additionally there was a nice wind blowing afterwards that would help dry the cotton out. There is a smaller percentage of cotton exposed to the rain now vs. what will be open and exposed three weeks from now.”

Last week's rain across the Valley left fields muddy.

The rain did interrupt work in the cotton fields last week. Now, everything is buzzing again. Acala growers are ready to harvest their crop and Pima farmers are moving ahead with defoliation. Around our area, many growers should start picking Acala around mid-week.

As I traveled around Friday, the fields were too muddy for any ground application of defoliants. I saw some planes making aerial applications as growers rushed to take advantage of the warmer weekend weather.

With the later-developing Pima varieties, I expect growers to start defoliating sometime this week. If Mother Nature cooperates, look for the Pima harvest to start the first week of November.

Buses will shuttle dozens of Cotton Tour participants
directly to the field to meet and talk with cotton growers.

Cotton Tour Coming Up: Here’s another reminder about our annual Cotton Tour on Tuesday, November 8. There’s still room available for the free event, which includes a tasty lunch in downtown Firebaugh. Participants will have an opportunity to meet growers, visit a gin and even pick some cotton. Buses will leave the Best Western Apricot Inn – Interstate 5 and West Panoche Road about 23 miles southwest of Firebaugh – at 8:30 a.m. and return about 4 p.m. Registration is required. Sign up at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RQG9P3G

Cotton Experts Weigh in on Early Fall Rain in the Valley

2011-10-06T10:22:00.000-07:00

Because of the unseasonably cool weather and early fall rain swooping into the San Joaquin Valley this week, we are publishing a special post updating growers about the weather's impact on this year's cotton crop. We thank two leading California cotton experts for providing their perspectives and tips.

Dr. Pete Goodell, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management advisor, Kearney Ag Center: Westside Fresno and Merced counties received between 0.35 inches at the UC West Side Research and Extension Center in Five Points and 1.28 inches in Los Banos.

Dr. Pete Goodell

In general, a half inch is considered good for cleaning dust, dirt and honeydew off plants. However, if cotton is still green with defoliation weeks away, rainfall could wash more dirt and honeydew onto lint.

If defoliation has occurred, this will affect efficacy due to lower temperatures. It might also cause some re-greening as plants receive some limited moisture. If defoliation and harvest is still a ways off, it might have no effect.

The bottom line: It all depends on location, amount of rainfall and condition/maturity of crop.

Bob Hutmacher, UC statewide cotton specialist: Lower temperatures and the start of rain bring some challenges to getting this cotton crop harvested and out of the field.

Bob Hutmacher

Lower temperatures slow the rate of maturation of later developing bolls, making it harder to get them open and ready for harvest. The cooler weather also means that chemicals like Ginstar don’t work quite as well as harvest aids. As a result, you may need to consider higher application rates at lower temperatures (such as with Ginstar), or if temperatures drop well below 80 degrees, you may do better by changing to different harvest aids (defoliation/prep combination, for instance) that work better at lower temperatures.

Rain is always a threat as we prepare for harvest. In some cotton varieties, cotton is held relatively “loose” in the boll and the added weight of rain can cause the cotton to “string out” even more than would otherwise occur. This brings the real threat of cotton dropping to the ground instead of hanging on the plant waiting for the picker. Fields usually hold up pretty well through the first rain, but repeated rains can result in some significant losses, particularly those varieties with loosely held cotton and fully mature bolls (such as some of the Acalas). Try to stage harvests to get the worst-affected fields harvested first, before losses can become more severe.

Storm clouds hover over Firebaugh area Thursday morning.

To be harvestable, some of the really late-developing cotton bolls need some additional heat units to fully mature and be ready to open up as we apply harvest aids. If there are too few heat units for the really late bolls, such as some of the late bolls in the upper canopy on Pima plants this year, it is unlikely that those can be opened for harvest no matter what combination of harvest aid chemicals are used.

In many parts of the San Joaquin Valley this year, particularly in Pima fields, there may be more second-picking of cotton fields, as the growers get the first picks out of the way during better weather and then see if a second pick might be a possibility for later maturing bolls.

Cooler Weather Puts Pima Defoliation in Holding Pattern

2011-10-03T11:29:00.000-07:00

Ominous rain clouds hover over the California Aqueduct.

When it comes to farming there’s one prediction that’s sure to come true: Unpredictable weather.

That’s certainly the case for cotton growers.

First rain and cool weather pushed back spring plantings. Now, Mother Nature is at it again in early fall. Unseasonal cool daytime high temperatures and the chance of rain in the coming days have put prepping and defoliation plans on hold for pima cotton growers. (Acala bolls develop faster so growers don’t have to do prep work. They started defoliating last week).

Rain will impact work in cotton fields.

Pima growers will prep their plants with materials (boll openers) to enhance boll development before applying defoliants. You want plants to have at least 50 to 65 percent of the bolls open.

However, growers are in a holding pattern because any significant rainfall could wash away some material and force growers to spend more money on re-application. Moreover, daytime temperatures need to be above 80 degrees for several days to ensure proper defoliation. The forecast calls for highs in the 70s through Friday. Historically, Valley daytime highs hover in the 80s during the first couple weeks of October. So we wait. The University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management website has more information about harvest aid chemicals for cotton.

For the optimists, a little rain could help clean off dust and any honeydew on the plants, which can prevent sticky cotton and a downgrade on fiber quality. If Mother Nature cooperates, we may see some Pima being harvested after Thanksgiving.

Overall, everything is pretty much moving ahead. Pests aren’t a real concern now. And growers are expecting some good yields this season.

The media learns about cotton cultivation during our annual farm tour conducted at harvest time.

Annual Cotton Tour Reminder: Don’t forget to spread the word about our annual Cotton Tour on Tuesday, November 8. It’s a free event and includes lunch in downtown Firebaugh. Participants will have an opportunity to meet growers, visit a gin

and even pick some cotton. Buses will leave the Best Western Apricot Inn – Interstate 5 and West Panoche Road about 23 miles southwest of Firebaugh – at 8:30 a.m. and return about 4 p.m. Registration is required. Sign up for the tour at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RQG9P3G

Better Late Than Never: It's Time for Cotton Defoliation

2011-09-26T14:35:00.000-07:00

Finally… Westside growers are ready to start defoliating their cotton plants in preparation for the fall harvest.

It’s been an anxious time for growers. The defoliation timetable is about a week to 12 days later than normal compared to the 30-year average – thanks to the wet spring which delayed planting. Usually, growers start applying defoliants around Sept. 15 to 20 – just as the summer winds down. Well, it’s now fall and growers will finally start this week.

Westsiders have seen their fellow cotton growers in the southern San Joaquin Valley – from Five Points south – already start defoliating their pima and acala crops. Dos Palos growers began last week on their acala.

This year, growers are trying to maximize yields because of the strong cotton commodity prices. That meant holding off as long as possible with defoliation. If Mother Nature cooperates, the wait should pay off. We could see growers achieving an average yield increase of 5 to 8 percent this season. Proper defoliation requires temperatures for several days to be above 80 degrees during in the day and more than 50 degrees in the morning.

The University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management website has more information on scheduling defoliation.

Our YouTube video features UCCE
Fresno Farm Advisor Dan Munk.

You also can view the Sustainable Cotton Project’s short YouTube video featuring University of California Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor Dan Munk, who discusses cotton defoliation. The video was taken during our Sept. 7 Cotton Field Day.

On the pest front, aphids and white flies have been an issue, especially in cotton fields west of Fairfax. But treatments have been effective in managing these pests.

Cotton Tour participants get a first-hand look on Valley cotton cultivation.

Annual Cotton Tour Alert: Once again, buses carrying consumers, apparel company representatives and textile industry officials will be crisscrossing the Valley during our annual Cotton Tour on Tuesday, November 8. The price is right for the tour – FREE. Participants have the opportunity to meet growers, visit a gin and even pick some cotton. Buses will leave the Best Western Apricot Inn – Interstate 5 and West Panoche Road about 23 miles southwest of Firebaugh – at 8:30 a.m. and return about 4 p.m. Spread the word to anyone you think is interested in joining us. Registration is required. Sign up at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RQG9P3G

Knocking Off Leftover Almonds Can Yield Double Dividends

2011-09-19T10:09:00.000-07:00

Walt Bentley

Editor’s note: We welcome again our guest blogger UC IPM entomologist Walt Bentley, whose specialty includes managing pests in almonds.

We are collecting almond nut samples from the orchards to check for damage. To date, the damage is quite low.

Damage has been low this season.

I want to remind farmers that they should be evaluating 200 to 300 nuts throughout the orchard. Then they should compare the samples with the information received from the processor.

Worker uses pole to knock
off remaining nuts in tree.
- Jack Kelly Clark photo

As a rule, trees should have two or fewer mummy nuts per tree by February 1. You can go to the UC IPM website for more information about pest management guidelines for NOW.

Lack of good mummy nut removal last year was quite evident in many of the west side orchards. This needs to be a priority if NOW is to be kept at manageable levels. It will pay off in the long run.

Walt Bentley is a long-time entomologist with the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management program at the Kearney Ag Center in Parlier.

SJ Valley Cotton Growers Are Gearing Up for the Harvest

2011-09-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

More than 30 growers and PCAs attended our Cotton Field Day last week.

Growers check out the progress of the Pima cotton during our field day.

Around the Valley’s cotton fields, there’s excitement in the air. Growers are both eager and anxious about the upcoming harvest.

That was the buzz among the 31 growers, pest control advisors and county ag officials attending our Cotton Production and Pest Management Field Day last week at the McCurdy Farm south of Firebaugh. We had a great turnout and learned a lot from University of California Cooperative Extension cotton specialist Dan Munk.

Dan Munk, left, chats with local grower.

Here are some of Dan’s observations about the cotton season so far:

Most growers this year are concerned about the lateness of this year's crop. This season we saw very late planting conditions and a cool post-emergence period that caused a delay in vegetative growth and more importantly a delay in the date of first flower, a growth measure linked to yield. Because of the cool spring conditions, most fields in the area did not begin to bloom until after July 4 with some fields reporting average first bloom in mid-July. This is a particular problem for the Pima crop since it requires an additional two weeks to produce effective bloom than upland cotton types. We want to try to mature as many late season bolls as possible and we want the plant to be in cut-out while there are enough heat units to mature the boll properly. However, in some fields, we are not going to have an opportunity to harvest everything the plant produces this year because of the delayed crop development.
In terms of pest management pressure, there has been both good and bad during the season. We have had some mixed results. But generally speaking we’re going to expect average yields to above average yields, which is really not expected for a year with such a late start. Growers generally have done a very good job of managing their fields to ensure maximum yields.

Pima cotton field at the McCurdy Farm.

With irrigations terminated, it’s time to begin thinking about the harvest. We want to do that in a timely manner so we allow as many bolls as possible to open up. That means monitoring nodes above cracked boll and applying the right materials at the right time to have an effective defoliation.

From the discussions at the meeting, many growers are looking forward to a good harvest and the discussion about harvest aid timing was particularly useful.

(For more information about cotton defoliation schedule, check the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management website.) Thanks again to Dan Munk for taking time to meet with growers and answer their questions.

Aphid and Whitefly Infestations Lead to Sticky Problems

2011-09-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

It’s a safe bet you’ll find lots of folks enjoying some sticky cotton candy at next month’s Big Fresno Fair. Valley cotton growers certainly hope that’s the only place you’ll find any kind of sticky cotton.

With the last irrigation complete, we’re now at cut-out – the last stage of cotton plant development before the bolls start to open. Our attention focuses on cracked bolls and insects, especially aphids and whiteflies.

Sticky cotton impacts the fiber quality.

In late summer and fall, aphids and whiteflies are the major pests in cotton. This season, I’m seeing more whiteflies than normal in the fields. These pests secrete sugary honeydew on the cotton plant, which can contaminate an open boll. A sooty mold growth on the fiber creates sticky cotton.

The late-season insects can cause damage in the lint as it goes through the gin as sticky cotton. Sticky cotton affects the quality of the fiber and results in a markdown in grade, costing growers money in the long run.

Whiteflies found under the leaf.

To prevent an infestation, you need to monitor their fields for these pests. Divide your field into four different parts. Pull 20 to 25 leaves from each section, giving you a total of 80 to 100 leaves for the entire field. Then inspect the back of each leaf for aphids and whiteflies.

Check the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management website for monitoring guidelines and treatment thresholds for aphids and whiteflies in cotton.

Monitor plants for aphid problems.
- UC IPM photo

If you need to treat for these pests, remember to ask your PCA about softer materials that won’t harm beneficial insects. Using stronger materials could open up a Pandora’s Box to other problems in the future.

Right now, mites and worms aren’t a major concern. Still growers need to keep an eye out for potential problems with worms that can damage young bolls.

Have any questions about pests and the upcoming harvest? Get your answers at our Cotton Production and Pest Management Field Day on Wednesday. It will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the McCurdy Farm, south of Firebaugh. UC Cooperative Extension cotton specialist Dan Munk will provide lots of valuable tips about timely cotton termination and more advice about avoiding sticky cotton. I will be there to give a field scouting update. Check our Sustainable Cotton Project website for directions. You also can earn 1.5 hours of continuing education credits. See you there.

Ant Damage Risk Rises Longer Almonds Are Left on Ground

2011-08-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

Editor’s note: We welcome again our guest blogger UC IPM entomologist Walt Bentley, whose specialty includes managing pests in almonds.

Nonpareil almonds are now being removed from trees in Fresno and Madera counties. Many of these orchards are beginning to windrow the nuts and will be delivering the first loads to the huller within a day or two.

This is good news in terms of Navel orangeworm and peach twig borer infestation. It is also good news in terms of ant damage. For Nonpareils and other soft shell varieties, the shorter time the nuts are on the ground, the less ant damage.

Remove almonds from the orchard floor once they are sufficiently dried.

However, ants can still be a problem if nuts are left on the orchard floor for too long. Past research has shown that, depending on ant density, damage can increase by 0.5 percent per day as nuts remain on the ground. Don’t delay in removing nuts from the orchard floor once they are sufficiently dried.

UC IPM photo by Jack Kelly Clark

The high temperatures have aided us in drying the nuts quickly. Such temperatures also reduce the foraging time for ants. Both California fire ants and pavement ants do not forage on nuts when the ground temperature is above 95 degrees. Neither of these species is a problem on hard shell varieties.

We have also seen mites developing in some of the orchards. At this time of year, web spinning mites are not a serious issue. Many farmers and pest control advisors will worry if they are seeing webbing but the crop has developed and the impact of leaf feeding is very minor.

Many believe early defoliation will impact next year’s nut set. This impact has been tested and shown to be untrue. So, be patient and don’t worry about the spider mites now. We are close to the final leg of the race and we are in a good position for a clean harvest.

Walt Bentley is a long-time entomologist with the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management program at the Kearney Ag Center in Parlier.

Cotton Field Day Reminder: Don’t forget to remind your colleagues in the cotton business about our upcoming Cotton Production and Pest Management Field Day. It will be Sept. 7 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the McCurdy Farm, south of Firebaugh. UC Cooperative Extension cotton specialist Dan Munk will give important tips about timely cotton termination and pest management practices to avoid sticky cotton. I will give a field scouting update. Check our Sustainable Cotton Project website for directions. The event offers 1.5 hours of continuing education credits. It’s a perfect opportunity to have your questions answered.

Putting Together a Solid Off Season Game Plan for Alfalfa

2011-08-22T11:59:00.000-07:00

In the Bay Area, the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers will be make their final roster cuts over the next few weeks. In the San Joaquin Valley, alfalfa growers also will be making their last cut of the season.

Soon it will be the off season for alfalfa growers and just like pro football coaches they need to set up a solid a game plan for the fall and winter months. You need to tackle potential pest, weed and disease issues to avoid problems with next year’s crop. So fall and winter sanitation for insects and weeds is important. The University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management program offers tips for a successful year-round IPM program for alfalfa, including activities for the fall and winter months.

Alfalfa weevils are potential threats.
- Jack Kelly Clark photo

Over-wintering aphids tend to carry viruses into the following year. You also need to monitor for alfalfa and Egyptian alfalfa weevils, which can chew up the leaves.

Fiddleneck weeds emerge in a field.
- Jack Kelly Clark photo

Soon after the last cut, growers should start surveying the fields for weeds, which start to germinate in late September and October and continue growing through January. Use the UC IPM monitoring forms for weevils (70.2 kb, pdf), aphids (107kb, pdf) and weeds (116.4 kb, pdf) to help you with your record keeping.

Remember, the post-harvest season still means growers need to head to the field with their sweep nets every two or three weeks to check for pests. You should do 25 sweeps each in four different sections of the field. Stick to your game plan and you’ll be ready to kick off your next growing season on a good footing.

Cotton Field Day: We finally worked out the details of our Cotton Production and Pest Management Field Day. It will be Sept. 7 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the McCurdy Farm, south of Firebaugh. UC Cooperative Extension cotton specialist Dan Munk will give important tips about timely cotton termination and pest management practices to avoid sticky cotton. I will give a field scouting update. Check our Sustainable Cotton Project website for directions. We’ve applied for 1.5 hours of continuing education credits. It should be an informative meeting as we head toward the cotton harvest.

Valley Cotton Growers Are Preparing for Last Irrigation

2011-08-15T14:19:00.000-07:00

After another weird weather year, we’re finally heading down the backstretch of the cotton-growing season.

Growers are counting the days before they cut off irrigation and get their crops ready for harvest. Typically, the last irrigation comes between Aug. 20 and Aug. 25. Before you know it, the fields will be alive with the click-clacking sounds of the harvesters working the fields.

Right now, I’m still seeing lygus treatment applied around the around the Valley. Growers are concerned about retention and plant stands.

In the acala varieties, there should be five to six nodes above white flower. With water cut-off around the corner, growers expect that 20 percent of the crop above white flower will make it by harvest time. Growers should be cautious about scheduling any late-season treatment for lygus. It may not be worth the extra expense. The University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management program offers a publication discussing nodes above white flower measurements for determining when to stop monitoring for lygus.

I want to re-emphasize the importance of going into the fields to inspect plant development, monitor pests and determine when to schedule the last irrigation.

Overall, the cotton plants I am seeing have up to 73 to 76 percent retention. Lygus pressure has been higher this season, but treatment has been effective to control potential plant damage.

I’m finding late-season mite damage, which was virtually non-existent in the past couple of years. These pests are migrating from almond orchards being harvested or dusty roads that are not being sprayed with water to control dust. If there are mite problems, growers should consider adding some miticides to their other treatment. Aphid issues are occurring in areas near harvested tomato and cantaloupe fields.

Field Day Alert: Our next cotton field day will be coming up in early September. University of California extension advisors and IPM specialists will be among the experts discussing defoliation and other harvest-related topics. I will pass along more information after we work out the final details.

Cutting Off the Water to Prepare for Harvest

2011-08-05T09:59:00.000-07:00

Editor’s note: We are featuring a guest blog by UC IPM entomologist Walt Bentley, whose specialty includes managing pests in almonds.

Navel orangeworm egg deposition has dropped as of Wednesday, Aug. 3. I expect that to continue for at least another week.

This drop signals the end of second-generation egg laying by NOW moths. This second generation NOW eggs usually result in very minimal infestation. I have seldom seen over 2 percent infestation resulting from worms hatched from these eggs. Additionally, these hatched worms or larvae are the ones that our hullsplit spray targets.

In talking with the almond farmers in the project, the timing of that spray for Nonpareils was excellent. What we must now focus on is the harvest before the third generation eggs are laid. The third generation is the one that can result in substantial damage and, if you have your Nonpareils on the ground before these eggs are laid, you will avoid NOW infestation.

I recognize many of you have a number of acres to harvest. Some of you don’t have harvest equipment and must rely on others to come in and shake the almonds. If you have Nonpareils, try to arrange for harvest as soon as you can. This means timely cut off of water. Remember the impact that late irrigation has on the development of hullrot. Those with higher density plantings are particularly susceptible.

So focus on getting the water off and preparing for Nonpareil harvest. If there are orchards that have had more problems than others in the past, schedule them first for harvest.

Finally, make sure you take some samples from the nuts that are on the ground. You can collect 500 to 1,000 from each orchard, throw them in the freezer and crack them out when you have time later. This will give you an idea of what infestation or disease issues are present in your orchard. Good luck on this year’s harvest.

Walt Bentley is a long-time entomologist with the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management program at the Kearney Ag Center in Parlier.

Setting the Final Stage for Developing Cotton Fruit

2011-08-01T15:39:00.000-07:00

We’re almost halfway through summer and farms across the Valley are bustling with activity. As I travel around the fields, I see tomatoes being harvested, safflower drying nicely and cotton plants are almost finished setting their fruit.

The cotton plants are showing an average of 75 to 80 percent fruit retention with about 12 to 13 fruiting branches (some fields have 11 to 12 fruiting branches). The retention rate is very good, which is a credit to the work of growers and pest control advisors. You can refer to the University of California Statewide IPM web site for information about monitoring cotton plant growth.

Right now, cotton is about two weeks away from cut-out, which is the final stage of plant growth before the bolls start to open. As we head into hot August nights, I am telling growers to remember their WIGs. That’s short for:

Water management. A lot of growers have completed their third or fourth irrigation. Some might want to cut off irrigation to push the plants to cut-out. However, there’s still time to get more fruit so continue reviewing your water management strategy to maximize fruit development.
Insects. Lygus counts continue to increase in the cotton fields. In one field, I collected more than 50 adults and 50 nymphs in 25 passes of my sweep net. That’s high. The lygus are migrating from neighboring alfalfa and safflower fields. Remember to leave uncut strips of alfalfa to provide a home for lygus. You can treat for lygus in the safflower and alfalfa. Consider this: It’s more economic to treat five acres of an alfalfa strip than 150 acres of cotton.
Growth regulators. Some growers might consider using a growth regulator product to enhance plant production such as boll and closed canopy development. Be aware a cooler than normal fall may make it difficult for late bolls to mature. It’s up to you to decide if you are willing to roll the dice, spend the money on regulators and go after late season bolls.

It's still important to leave alfalfa strips to manage lygus.

Our Summer Weather Perfect for Cotton ... and Pests

2011-07-26T14:13:00.000-07:00

Cotton plant develops first bloom.

You can’t ask for better cotton growing weather.

Our recent daytime temperatures in the Valley have been hovering around the low 90s. Plants are doing well and are in their second position square on the seventh node.

Conditions are perfect – for pests, too.

As growers head into the final critical three weeks for the cotton crop to set this season, I’m seeing increased pressure from lygus and worms. They are migrating from nearby safflower, which are now drying, and from neighboring harvested alfalfa fields. Growers can treat their safflower for lygus as well as leave uncut strips of alfalfa to keep these pests from moving into cotton.

Lygus a threat to cotton.
- Jack Kelly Clark photo

As I scout the cotton fields, I’m collecting in my sweep net as many as 11 adult lygus and nine to 10 lygus nymphs (which feed on the cotton squares). I can’t stress enough the importance of sweeping your fields twice a week so that you can the upper hand on any potential square losses. Check the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management online site for more information about lygus and cotton and for treatment thresholds.

When treating your fields, it’s important to select softer products that won’t harm beneficial insects such as green lacewings, big-eyed bugs and ladybugs. Belay and Carbine of some of the good products on the market.

Without natural predators around, you may be opening a Pandora’s box for an outbreak of crop-damaging pests such as aphids. In the end, you could wind up making a second or third pest control application to take care of these problems. That's money you can spend on something else.

Speaking of beneficial bugs, I’m releasing about 5,000 to 10,000 green lacewing eggs per cotton field to help control aphids. A single lacewing larvae can gobble up about 90 aphids a day. Put up the "Hard At Work" sign for these tiny natural pest control workers.

Here I'm releasing green lacewing eggs in rice hulls on young cotton plants.

Almond Crop Is Behind, but NOW Development on Time

2011-07-18T11:25:00.000-07:00

Walt Bentley, left, offers some tips at our almond field day.

Editor’s note: This week, we are featuring a guest blog by UC IPM entomologist Walt Bentley, whose specialty includes managing pests in almonds.

As we all know hullsplit of Nonpareil almonds, the most susceptible cultivar to navel orangeworm (NOW), is almost 2 weeks behind schedule in the central San Joaquin Valley.

Interestingly, the development of the second generation of NOW is not behind schedule with eggs being laid during the first week of July (see chart below). This presents an interesting situation. I believe many of these eggs will result in suicidal emerging larvae, since they will not be able to infest the nutmeat until hullsplit occurs.

NOW's 2nd generation emerging.

This doesn’t mean we are home free concerning NOW infestation, however. It points to the importance of timing sprays to the development of the susceptible stage of the nut (initiation to 5 percent hullsplit). Such timing will optimize the effects of any insecticide applied with the residual remaining through the complete second generation egg laying. I believe a good portion of the early second generation eggs will hatch and be unable to infest the nut. The remainder of the generation, that can reach the nutmeat, will be shorter in time duration than normal. If sprays are timed correctly, excellent chemical control should be achieved.

Hullsplit is behind schedule in the Valley.

The same scenario that could optimize control of NOW in Nonpareils may result in making later splitting varieties such as Carmel, Sonora and Price more susceptible. This is a scenario that we see from time to time. Here the third generation eggs may be timed to Carmel hullspit, resulting a greater potential for infestation. So, try to focus on early harvest of any late soft shell variety. It may still be a good idea to monitor egg traps to see how NOW egg laying coincides with the hullsplit of these later soft shell varieties. This can give you an idea if additional chemical control may be needed.

Walt Bentley is a long-time entomologist with the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management program at the Kearney Ag Center in Parlier.

The Envelope Please: Alfalfa Growers' BMPs an Award Winner

2011-07-11T13:53:00.000-07:00

If there were a Best Management Practices Award in farming, I would surely nominate some of our local alfalfa growers. With cotton entering an important period of plant development, growers are doing a good job trying to keep pests from migrating from alfalfa to neighboring cotton fields.

I’m seeing lots of strips of uncut alfalfa during my travels throughout the Valley. These strips are acting as homes for lygus, armyworms and alfalfa caterpillars and keep these pests away from cotton. At the same time, some growers are treating the strips for the pests. Kudos to these growers and here’s my BMP Award to them.

For a short refresher course, check out the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program’s online site about managing alfalfa and lygus.

Right now, growers are either on their fifth or sixth cutting of alfalfa. The triple-digit heat is affecting the quality of the crop. The Farmer’s Almanac says the Valley temperatures average around 94 degrees this time of year. Since the unusual rainstorm we had at the end of June, we’ve had multiple days above 100 degrees.

To deal with the quality issues and hot weather, growers are adding a little nitrogen to help push the crop and help the alfalfa grow a little faster. Keep following those BMPs, stay cool and remember your hat and sunscreen.

Critical Time to Invest in Managing Cotton Crop

2011-07-05T13:07:00.000-07:00

I'm checking in with growers at our field day.

Dan Munk stresses importance of plant monitoring.

Can we declare California cotton the comeback commodity of 2011? When global prices sagged and water became a precious commodity during the height of the drought, some started to write the obituary for the state's cotton industry.

With apologies to Mark Twain, the reports of cotton’s death have been greatly exaggerated. While local growers and pest control advisors attended our Cotton Pest Management Field day last week, the National Agricultural Statistic Services was reporting planted cotton acreage in California this year surged to 450,000 acres, up 47.1 percent from last year. Pima planted acreage rose 44.4 percent to 260,000 acres while acala acreage increased 52.2 percent to 190,000 acres.

Growers are investing a lot in cotton this season. With everyone talking about a short season because of the unseasonable weather this year (including the weird summer rainfall last week), these next five to six weeks will be critical for setting the cotton crop. To assist growers through this important period, our Field Day experts offered these tips and observations:

Dr. Pete Goodell, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management advisor, Kearney Ag Center: In many cases in the northern San Joaquin Valley, there is a pretty good set going on. Lygus is going to be the primary threat to setting the crop. There are three things growers should do:

1 – Ask what are the potential sources for lygus.

2 – If you have lygus in your field, be vigilant about monitoring the fields to ensure you can detect them and carefully evaluate whether the populations collected in your sweep net are actually a damaging population.

3 – If you need to treat the fields, rotate your materials to avoid insecticide resistance and start with softer materials first. These materials will protect as many beneficial insects as possible and help you avoid outbreaks of aphids or spider mites.

We are behind this year, but if we get a warm October without rain then we will be able to enjoy an extended season. But if the season ends at the normal time, then it’s going to be a short season, which translates into a short crop. Right now is the time to invest in getting a good set going. Go out and look at your crop. Don’t panic. For those with alfalfa nearby, leave alfalfa strips wherever you can during your next two cuts this month to protect your cotton fields from lygus.

Dan Munk, Cotton Specialist, UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor in Fresno County: With talk about the late development of the crop, growers should be realistic and adjust their practices with the expectation of a lower yield, particularly pima, which requires a longer season. Growers should scale back some nutrient applications to reflect those lower yield expectations.

Fusarium race 4 is a very serious issue. (The disease will causes cotyledons and leaves in young plants to wilt and drop. Certain pima varieties are the most severely affected.) During the season, there is not a lot you can do about it. To manage it, growers need to first recognize they have a problem, identify where it is in the field and take steps to contain it. The best tool for dealing with Fusarium race 4 for next season is using varieties that have a high tolerance for the disease. In the past five to six weeks, I have seen significant plant die back and presence of the disease in Fresno County. Call a farm advisor for a field visit if you suspect any problems. More information about the disease is available from UC IPM.

Bob Hutmacher, UC Statewide cotton specialist: Fusarium race 4 has spread over the past seven or eight years. Growers in the southern part of the Valley have dealt with the disease the longest. More growers are becoming educated and aware about the disease. The problem is caused by soil inhabiting fungal organisms that can survive in the soil for years. It is a long-term management issue for growers as they consider options to contain its spread. They are learning how to identify the disease and select resistance varieties.

Weathering This Unusual Growing Season: Field Days Offer Answers

2011-06-29T14:40:00.000-07:00

Record-setting rainfall is the talk of the Valley as we continue to see some wild weather and yo-yoing temperatures. It’s turning out to be a short season for cotton growers. How should growers approach their crop this summer?. Well, there will several opportunities in the coming week to ask questions and learn what to do this season from top cotton experts.

On Thursday, I will participate in our Cotton Pest Management Field Day from 10 a.m. to noon at the Bettencourt Farm in Mendota. The featured speakers: Dr. Pete Goodell of University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management at the Kearney Ag Center on managing lygus and Dan Munk, UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor and cotton specialist, on plant development and its role in IPM. Check our Sustainable Cotton Project website for directions.

The following week on Wednesday July 6, there will be two Cotton Production Meetings focusing on making realistic crop, nitrogen and water management decisions in a short season. Growers can attend either one. The presenters include Dan Munk, UC Statewide cotton specialist Bob Hutmacher, UCCE Tulare and Kings counties farm advisor Steve Wright and UC extension entomologist Larry Godfrey.

The first session will be from 8 to 9:15 a.m. at the Comfort Inn, 10 N. Irwin St., Hanford. Breakfast and registration begins at 7:15 a.m.

The second session will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the West Side Research and Education Center, 17353 W. Oakland Ave., Five Points. A lunch will follow. For more information, call Steve Wright (559) 684-3315 or Dan Munk (559) 456-7561.

Bring your questions to these free events. See you there.

Cotton: The Case of the Missing First Squares

2011-06-24T16:17:00.000-07:00

As I travel around the Valley, I’ve been noticing an unusual trend in many cotton fields.

The plants are at the seventh or eighth node, or true leaf, and showing the first pinhead squares. In all my years of scouting, though, I’ve never found so many first squares missing on young cotton plants. The first square location is important and can impact profits in the long run. Losing the first square position causes the plant to become more vegetative and experience problems retaining fruit.

I’m seeing missing first squares in 20 to 30 percent of the cotton fields that I’m scouting this season. In the past, the highest rate 5 to 10 percent of the fields.

The squares are nibbled off by pests we had this spring. The growing season is eight to 10 days behind schedule.

Some growers irrigated too soon and ended up lowering the soil temperature, which affected plant development. UC IPM is a good resource to learn about monitoring early squaring in cotton growth and development.

Of course, this plant condition is worrisome to growers. Some might be tempted to apply growth regulators such as Pix, which are designed to increase boll retention and cut back vegetative growth. Regulators can reduce yields if applied when plants are going through stressful, especially moisture-related, conditions. They also can lead to stunted plants, which could prompt growers to increase nitrogen into the soil to help the plants grow taller for easier harvest in the fall.

Determine the reasons why the first squares are missing. Some pest control advisors might want to start treating for lygus now.

Remember to keep monitoring the fields for pest pressures and be familiar with the surrounding fields. If you’re growing safflower nearby, you might want to treat it for lygus. If you have alfalfa, let borders or strips to prevent migration of worms and lygus. You could treat the alfalfa strips rather than the cotton field.

Lacewings are natural enemy to aphids.

Meanwhile, I’ve spotted some aphids in the cotton fields. Natural predators such as ladybugs and lacewings could take care of small problems. Spot treatment is another alternative.

I am starting a weekly release of 10,000 to 15,000 lacewings for each field I’m scouting to control the aphids.

Field Day Alert: I will participate in our Cotton Pest Management Field Day on Thursday, June 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Bettencourt Farm in Mendota. The featured speakers: Dr. Pete Goodell of University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management at the Kearney Ag Center on managing lygus and Dan Munk, UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor and cotton specialist, on plant development and its role in IPM. Check our Sustainable Cotton Project website for directions. It’s sure to be extremely informative and give growers an opportunity to meet cotton experts directly.

Butterflies a Warning Sign for Alfalfa Growers

2011-06-14T15:40:00.000-07:00

Alfalfa caterpillar butterflies.

Photo buffs might get a thrill taking snapshots of colorful yellow and white butterflies fluttering around amber fields of alfalfa.

Growers, though, might get a chill when they spot dozens of these insects in their fields. It’s a warning sign that alfalfa caterpillar populations are on the rise.

Sweep the net in a 180-degree arc.

With summer around the corner, I’m starting to see an increase in worms around Valley alfalfa fields as growers prepare to cut their crop for the third time this season. If left unchecked, caterpillars and armyworms can eat away a grower’s profits as they feed on leaves and stems and defoliate the crop.

I can’t stress it enough: Monitoring your fields pays off. It’s a smart way to manage pest threats effectively and economically while helping you determine when to schedule treatment. In the long run, you avoid unnecessary treatments and save money because your decisions are based on need instead of the calendar.

As soon as caterpillars are spotted in the field, you can use this as a warning sign and begin regular sweeping for alfalfa caterpillars, western yellowstriped armyworms and beet armyworms.

To make the task easier, the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management program offers a monitoring form (100 kb pdf) to record your observations and tips about sampling with a sweep net. The monitoring form includes treatment thresholds.

Here’s a summary of alfalfa caterpillar and armyworm monitoring guidelines from UC IPM: With a sweep net 15 inches in diameter, you should take weekly samples in fields where plants are at least plants 6- to 10-inches tall. Divide each field into four sections and take five sweeps per area – for a total of 20 sweeps. Lets confirm that these are taken from the site correctly.

Western yellowstriped armyworm larva.

After finishing your sweeps, identify, count and record the number of healthy and parasitized caterpillars (caterpillars with fatal parasitic wasps living in them) caught in the net. Then you divide the total by the number of sweeps. Use the monitoring form to list the average number per sweep. Here’s how you determine a parasitized caterpillar: Pull apart young worms (at least a half-inch long) and see if a white or green parasitic wasp larvae comes out. Population estimates are based on the average taken in a field, counting only armyworms that are at least a half-inch long.

Full-grown alfalfa caterpillar.
UC IPM photos by Jack Kelly Clark

If you’re not scheduled to cut soon after monitoring, you should follow these guidelines for scheduling treatment:

An average of 10 or more nonparasitized alfalfa caterpillars per sweep.
An average of 15 or more nonparasitized armyworms per sweep.
An average of a combined 10 or more nonparasitized alfalfa caterpillars and armyworms per sweep.

Be sure to talk to your pest control advisor about organic and or targeted reduced risk materials that won’t harm beneficial insects or the environment.

Patience a Virtue When Scheduling First Irrigation of Cotton

2011-06-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

Mother Nature is sure taking us on a roller coaster ride in the San Joaquin Valley. It’s warm and sunny one day. Cool and rainy the next.

The unseasonably cool and wet weather lately has left cotton growers sitting on the sidelines, anxiously waiting to irrigate their young crop for the first time this season. Normally, the first irrigation comes around the end of May or the first week of June. This year, the first irrigation might be 7 to 10 days later than usual.

My advice to growers: Be patient. Scheduling your first irrigation too early could hurt you in the “bucket” at harvest time. Watering too soon will lower the soil temperature by 3 to 8 degrees and slow plant development and growth. It can lead to vegetative plants using up valuable nutrients and make it difficult to manage the crop. In the long, this translates into lower yields in the fall.

Looking at the 10-year average, we should be seeing 6 to 8 true leaves or nodes this time of the year. Today, I’m seeing plants at 4 to 5 true leaves, with some showing the 6^th leaf.

University of California researchers indicate the proper timing of the first irrigation is crucial and can boost yields by up to 400 pounds per acre. Air temperatures, wind and plant root development are among the factors that go into the decision.

As a general rule, growers schedule the first irrigation when moisture in the soil is six inches from the top. Currently, I’m finding moisture at 4 to 5 inches deep. We’re close to the irrigation threshold, but not there yet. We'll have to see what the impact will be from the rainfall over the weekend.

Bob Hutmacher, University of California at Davis statewide cotton specialist, reminds us this spring’s roller coaster weather requires growers to be vigilant about monitoring soil moisture and assessing root development in making irrigation decisions. A good ’ol shovel comes handy for monitoring, he says. To read about crop conditions and irrigation decisions, download a pdf (64.7 kb) of Bob’s recent Cotton Field Check publication.

Ants Are Out on a Limb in Almond Orchards

2011-06-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

Editor’s note: This week’s post is written by guest blogger Kevin Parkinson, almond field scout for the San Joaquin Sustainable Farming Project.

Most of us know by now that ants can cause significant damage to almond crops once the nuts have been shaken to the ground (see “The Almond Doctor” May 2, 2010). But something that many do not realize is that ants may begin to be a problem at hull split if the lower limbs of the almond tree are touching the ground.

Photos by UC Statewide IPM Program.

If your limbs are touching the ground at this point in the season or you have a history of ant damage, the best thing you can do is monitor for ants following the guidelines of the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management program for ants in almonds and treat if necessary.

Result of ant damage in almonds.

To prevent ants from climbing limbs in future seasons, make sure limbs are pruned high enough off of the ground to prevent them from touching the ground with a full crop of almonds. Remember: Ants do not climb up the trunks of almond trees. If you have ants attacking nuts while still in the tree, they are climbing up limbs that are touching the ground.

On a final note, you should know that not all ants are bad. Many are beneficial. Check out this guide to help you identify common ants found in almond orchards.

Bug Counts Up: Time for Border Strips in Alfalfa fields

2011-05-24T10:20:00.000-07:00

There’s one way I can tell when the spring will begin getting warmer and sunnier. The bugs start coming out.

With daytime temperatures now in the upper 70s and low 80s, I’m starting to see more pests in the alfalfa fields. Specifically, looper worms and alfalfa caterpillars are showing up in greater numbers as I scout various fields around the San Joaquin Valley. I’m also noticing lygus counts are on the way up.

Monitor for looper worms. Photos by Jack Kelly Clark

Last week, my sweep net collected an average of 5 to 7 worms for every 50 sweeps in the alfalfa. That’s up from an average of 1 to 3 worms the previous week. So far, the sampling indicates were in a safe mode, which means the pest pressure isn’t great enough to warrant pesticide treatment. As the days grow warmer, I expect the pest numbers will increase.

Right now, most growers are preparing for the second cut of alfalfa. A few are even poised for their third cut. The recent rains had growers on edge and mulling the timing of their next harvest.

It’s never too early to think about creating border strips. It’s good to have small strips of uncut alfalfa this time of the year. I recommend a leaving quarter swath – roughly a 2 to 3 feet wide strip – at the end of the field. These strips will retain loopers, alfalfa caterpillars and lygus, preventing them from migrating to nearby fields and damaging those crops, especially cotton. Alfalfa strips also will attract natural enemies such parasitic wasps.

Keep an eye out for alfalfa caterpillars in the fields.

This farm management practice can save time and money because you’re holding off spraying pesticides until absolutely necessary. That’s where field monitoring and pest sampling comes in. Here’s a rule of thumb: Consider treatment when after 50 sweeps per stop, you collect 10 or more alfalfa caterpillars, or 15 armyworms, or a combination of 10 alfalfa caterpillars and armyworms. I usually make 3 to 4 stops in each field.

In early summer start sweeping fields with adequate plant height 2 to 3 times per week to monitor for caterpillars and continue through fall. Early cutting will give satisfactory control if the infestation appears late in the cutting cycle.
Combine monitoring of armyworms with monitoring for alfalfa caterpillar as described in Alfalfa Caterpillar and Armyworm Monitoring. Count and record the number of healthy and parasitized caterpillars caught in your sweep net on a monitoring form (68 KB, PDF).
If cutting is not practical or not scheduled soon after monitoring, treat if there is an average of 10 or more nonparasitized alfalfa caterpillars (those not infected by parasites) per sweep, 15 or more nonparasitized armyworms per sweep, or 10 or more nonparasitized alfalfa caterpillars and armyworms combined per sweep.

When you need to spray, consider selecting from a variety soft pesticide materials on the market. They’re effective and good for the environment. Talk to your pest control advisor about the available materials, especially those that won’t harm beneficial insects.

There are great resources available from the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management program. Check out UC IPM’s website for more tips about pests and alfalfa.

Making Dollars and Cents out of Applying Miticides

2011-05-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

Want to keep a few thousand dollars in your pocket? Here’s my money saving tip of the week: Hold off spraying miticides in your cotton fields.

Every year, I see a number of growers trying to get “free ride” by adding miticides to their weed control applications. They figure “why not control weeds and spider mites at one time.” By my estimation, you spend $5,000 to $7,000 for a miticide to cover a 150-acre block of cotton. Save the money.

In the past three years, I haven’t seen any significant spider mite outbreaks. Biological controls – meaning natural predators such as six-spotted thrips and big-eyed bugs – can take care of any small threats by mites.

Newly planted habitat of corn, mustard and sunflowers.

Spraying to control weeds takes place during the development of the first node and sixth node on a cotton plant. The most common weeds are crab grass, nut sage and morning glory. To save on labor costs, growers will add a miticide to their weed control spray – thus getting that free ride or a “two-fer” you might say.

Spider mites feed on the leaf surface of a cotton plant, causing the leaves to fall and ultimately affecting yield. There are alternatives to control mites without spending thousands on a miticide application.

Around the borders of the fields, you can water the roads to keep dust down and lessen the disturbance of over wintering mites, which emerge from the soil. We’ve encouraged growers to plant a natural habitat to attract more beneficial insects. I’ve included a list detailing the plants and the corresponding beneficial insects they attract below.

My message is simple: Why spray if you don’t need to. It makes a lot of dollars and cents.

Extra notes:

Final call to almond growers: Don’t forget our San Joaquin Sustainable Farming Project’s field day Friday from 10 a.m. to noon at Del Bosque Farms on the west side of Firebaugh. The “Almond Doctor,” also known as UCCE Merced farm advisor David Doll, and UC IPM bug expert Walt Bentley will talk about “Almond Practices for Late Spring and Summer.” Check our SCP website for directions and additional details. See you there.

Planting the Seeds for Biological Pest Management

Plants	Prey	Beneficial Insects
Dill	Aphid, spider mite and many other insects	Aphid midge, aphid parasites, braconid wasp, lacewing, tachinid fly, chalchid wasps, ladybird beetles, mealybug destroyer, spiders, spider mite destroyer, syrphid fly, whitefly, parasitic wasp (Encarsia Formosa)
Mustard	Aphid, armyworm, cabbageworm, codling moth, gypsy moth, European corn, borer, beetle larvae, flies, aphid, caterpillars and other insects	Braconid wasp, aphid midge, aphid parasistes (Aphidius Matricariae and others).
Sweet clover	Aphid	Aphid midge.
White clover	Aphid (see mustard)	Aphid parasites, braconid wasp and chalcid wasps
Yarrow	Aphid, thrips, leafhopper, treehopper, small caterpillars, fall armyworms, sawfly, Colorado potato beetle and Mexican bean beetle.	Spined soldier bug, mealybug destroyer, ladybug, chalcid wasps, damsel bug, braconid wasp and aphid parasites.
Sunflower	Soft-bodied insects, including aphid, thrips, mealybug, scale, caterpillars and mites.	Braconid wasp, damsel bug, lacewing (Chrysopa spp.), ladybug, mealybug destroyer, minute pirate bug, spined soldier bug and whitefly parasitic wasp (Encarsia Formosa).
Buckwheat	Aphid, mealybug, spider mites and soft scales.	Ladybug, minute pirate bug (Orius spp), tachinid fly, chalcid wasps, lacewing (Chrysopa spp), and Braconid wasp.
Corn	Thrips, spider mites, leafhopper, corn earworm, small caterpillars and many other insects	Lacewing (Chrysopa spp), minute pirate bug (Orius spp.)
Fennel	Cutworm, armyworm, tent caterpillar, cabbage looper, gypsy moth,’ some attack sawfly, Japanese beetle, May beetle, squash bug, green stink bug and sow bug.	Braconid wasp, chalcid wasps (many families, including Trichogrammatidae). Ladybird bettle or ladybug, mealybug destroyer, spider, spider mite destroyer, syrphid fly, whitefly and parasitic wasp (Encarsia Formosa).
Sweet alyssum	Spider mites	Spider mite destroyer, tachinid fly, syrphid fly or hover flies.
Alfalfa	Many insects, including other bugs, flea beetles, spite mites, insect eggs and small caterpillars.	Big eye bug (Geocoris spp.), damsel bug and minute pirate bug.
Sorghum	Nematodes.	Parasitic nematodes and buffer zone (insect trap zone).
Black eye beans	A number of insects.	Parasitic wasps.
Valvet beans	A number of insects.	Parasitic wasps.
Suddan grass		Buffer zone (Trap zone)
Cilantro	Aphids, thrips and small caterpillars.	Hover flies, parasitic wasps and tachinid fly.
Radish	Aphids, thrips and worm eggs.	Hover flies and parasitic wasps.

Sustainable Irrigation Blossoming in Cotton

2011-05-10T14:02:00.000-07:00

As you drive around the San Joaquin Valley this summer, you might notice something different going on in some of the cotton fields. You might ask, “Where’s the water?”

Well, the answer is simple: It’s underground.

More cotton growers are using subsurface drip irrigation.

I’m seeing more growers turn to subsurface drip irrigation this season – even with the wet winter and spring and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation boosting water allocations to 80 percent of normal. Still, everyone around here is still conscious of the devastating drought. That’s one reason why a small group of growers see drip as a sustainable way to irrigate.

This year, almost a third of our Cleaner Cotton growers are using drip irrigation in their cotton fields. In 2010, we had only one grower use drip.

Cotton is a good rotation crop for tomatoes, which are irrigated by drip systems. With the buried drip tape already in place, cotton growers don’t have to spend money to install a new system for their cotton crop.

Drip has an advantage over conventional furrow irrigation. It’s more efficient because you can apply water uniformly to all the plants in the field. In the end, you get better boll retention and higher yields while saving on water. With cotton prices still high, growers are looking for every opportunity to increase their profit margins. Expect to see more cotton growers using drip irrigation.

Checking out first true leaf of a cotton seedling.

As I traveled around the Valley last week, I saw cotton plants at first true leaf for about 80 percent of the growers. Expect to see the first nodes in about 10 days.

I still haven’t seen any major signs of pest or disease problems. Plants are growing pretty uniformly. This season, growers have planted about 16 to 18 pounds of cottonseed per acre.

For the coming week, growers should continue to monitor any signs of armyworms migrating from neighboring alfalfa fields into cotton. The pests are easy to spot. Battalions of armyworms will cross ditches and roads any time of the day, moving in a rainbow shape. I’ve seen these pests gobble up plants, leaving a rainbow-shaped path of destruction in a field.

Field Day Alert: Almond growers will want to attend our San Joaquin Sustainable Farming Project’s spring almond field day next week at the Del Bosque Farms on the west side of Firebaugh. “Almond Practices for Late Spring and Summer” will be discussed 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, May 20, and feature UCCE Merced farm advisor David Doll, UC IPM entomologist Walt Bentley and Kevin Parkinson, SJSFP field scout. We have applied for 1.5 hours of CE credits.

I will join our SCP staff at the event to learn about orchard monitoring and management tips from some of the state’s leading almond experts. Check our SCP website for directions and additional details.

Around the Cotton Growing Season in 180 Days

2011-05-03T11:54:00.000-07:00

For the next six months during the cotton-growing season, I’ll be giving you my view from the ground around the San Joaquin Valley.

First True leaf of cotton seedling.

Well, it’s nice to see cotton plants finally emerging. I’ve seen seedlings of 1 to 2 inches. The crop emergence is good all around with stands uniform with few skips. I expect to start seeing plants entering the first true leaf stage this week.

To determine if your crops is growing satisfactory, check out the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management website about assessing stand development.

In the past week, a number of growers turned their attention to making sure the cotton beds retain moisture.

The windy weather late last week – with gusts of up to 35 mph – had growers concerned about the ground drying and causing surface cracks. I saw growers rolling their cotton beds to seal any cracks and create a moisture barrier. Water is always a precious commodity around here. With diesel prices hovering around $4.50 a gallon in the Valley, some growers are monitoring their fields for the time being and waiting before the right time to roll their beds.

UC IPM photo by Jack Kelly Clark

At this time, everyone is keeping an eye out for any signs of seedling diseases such as Pythium disease. UC IPM also offers information about seedling diseases.

On the bug front, I haven’t seen signs of worm pressure in the cotton fields after the first cutting of alfalfa this season. This week, growers should keep an eye out for worms and mites. So far, so good.

Fresh views from the field

2011-04-10T14:03:00.001-07:00

Welcome to my Ag Log blog. Throughout the year, I will be giving growers and anyone interested in sustainable farming in the San Joaquin Valley interesting insights straight from the field as the field scout for the two-year old San Joaquin Sustainable Farming Project and Sustainable Cotton Project.

Right now, growers are busy with spring planting and cotton growers are checking the UC IPM forecast for cotton planting conditions: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/WEATHER/cottonforecast.html With weather in the 60s and 70s this week, I'll be out checking the latest activities in the fields. Be sure to log into the Sustainable Ag Log for my next post.