Woodland, Calif., (November 16, 2017) – The screech of a barn owl at night may be startling or annoying to some. But others may find their harsh calls satisfying, knowing that barn owls are out, feeding on pesky rodents. They’re fierce hunters with a voracious appetite for mice, voles, gophers, and rats. A family of five barn owls, including two …

Sacramento, Calif., (November 9, 2017) – The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has adopted new rules to further protect young students from pesticide exposure. The rules, which take effect on January 1, 2018, regulate the use of agricultural pesticides near schools and licensed child day-care facilities. “These rules will help to further protect the health of children, teachers and …

American Vineyard Magazine is pleased to invite grape growers and vineyard consultants to attend the Sonoma Grape Expo coming on November 10th.  This FREE bi-ennial Expo will feature an industry trade show, educational grower seminars, and state of wine grape industry addresses by Jeff Bitter from Allied Grape Growers and Todd Azevedo from the Ciatti Company.  The USDA-Farm Service Agency and NRCS will …

Sacramento, Calif., (November 2, 2017) – The California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing two vacancies on the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee. The Committee advises the CDFA Secretary on activities associated with the statewide citrus specific pest and disease work plan that includes, but is not limited to outreach and education programs and programs for surveying, detecting, …

November has come and growers & PCAs are anticipating the annual Tree & Vine Expo on November 7th at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, held by American Vineyard, California Fresh Fruit, and Pacific Nut Producer Magazines.  The Expo will feature educational grower seminars, and state of the grape, nut, and tree fruit industry addresses by Jennifer Williams from the California Walnut Board, Kelly Covello from …

UC IPM Advisor David Haviland recently shared some tips on mealybug control. The goal is to lower mealybug populations, prevent movement, protect the cluster and keep the vines compatible for biocontrol (especially postharvest). Some insecticides effective against vine mealybug include: Chlorpyrifos (delayed-dormant treatment), Buprofezin (best against crawlers), Spirotetramat (foliar applied/systemic in the phloem and xylem), and Neonicotinoids (some soil, some …

Sacramento, Calif., (October 31, 2017) – Every year, county agricultural commissioners, who handle enforcement of state pesticide laws in the field, receive several reports of injuries resulting from improper pesticide storage. Commonly, such accidents involve pesticides placed in food or beverage containers. One such incident in April involved a toddler in Los Angeles. The girl, just 21 months old, was …

Don’t miss the annual Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo coming to the Big Fresno Fairgrounds on November 14th, put on by American Vineyard, California Fresh Fruit, and Pacific Nut Producer Magazines.  The Expo will feature educational grower seminars, and state of the grape, nut, and tree fruit industry addresses by Gary Schulz of the Citrus Research Board, Ian LeMay of the California Fresh Fruit …

Sacramento, Calif., (October 19, 2017) – Topsin® M WSP and Rally® 40WSP now have 2EE labels to protect pruning wounds on almonds (and other stone fruit trees and/or grapes) from canker disease infection. These products should be especially helpful in protecting young trees where disease infection of relatively large pruning cuts may cause extensive damage. — Canker diseases listed on …

Visalia, Calif., (October 13, 2017) – UC Agriculture and Natural Resources will be offering a three-day, multi-topic Pistachio Production Short Course on Nov. 14-16, 2017. Held in Visalia, this course will provide participants with the latest information and research from several UC experts on pistachio orchard production, field preparation, planting, pruning, economics, diseases, integrated pest management, and harvesting. The course is designed …