Backyard Orchard News
Biennial UC Grape Day 2013 Aug. 13 in Parlier
Larry Williams, professor in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis, made use of a large, wine grape variety trial at Kearney to determine the contribution that water relations and vine hydraulics have on growth differences among grapevine cultivars. The study will help determine the most appropriate parameters for managing irrigation across divergent varieties and growing locations.
Following Williams' field demonstration, the presentations move indoors and include:
- Ecology of mycotoxin-producing aspergilli in raisin vineyards by Teresa L. O'Keeffe and Jeffrey D. Palumbo of USDA Agricultural Research Service
- Effects of pre-harvest calcium chloride and chlorine dioxide applications on fruit quality of crimson seedless table grapes by Matt Fidelibus, UCCE specialist in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis,
- Wood disease management options for grapevines in the San Joaquin Valley by Philippe Rolshausen, UCCE specialist in the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences at UC Riverside
- Movento in table grapes: understanding use patterns and expectations by David Haviland, UCCE advisor in Kern County
- Understanding wine oxidation by Andrew Waterhouse, professor in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis
Kearney-based Fidelibus hosts the event every two years at the field station, 9240 S. Riverbend Ave., Parlier. For the 2013 event he has applied for 1.5 hours continuing education credit.
Fidelibus will be tweeting about GrapeDay 2013 from his Twitter account @grapetweets using the hashtag #ucgrapeday. All Grape Day participants and attendees who use Twitter are encouraged to participate in discussions related to the event using the hashtag #ucgrapeday.
Attendance at UC Grape Day 2013 is free, but online advance registration is requested for planning purposes. To register, go to http://ucanr.edu/sites/grapeday.
Citrus Pest Management Guidelines Updated
The Citrus Pest Management Guidelines have been updated —
http://ucipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/selectnewpest.citrus.html
Significant changes to the management recommendations for Asian citrus psyllid, Fuller rose beetle, Diaprepes root weevil and bean thrips were made:
ACP adult and nymphs 003 Rogers
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A Bad Day for a Butterfly
It was a bad day for a butterfly. We stopped by the Ruth Risdon Storer Garden, part of the UC...
Crab spider with its kill, a cabbage white butterly. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This one got away. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
VOC Calculations
It’s that time of year again when hot weather fuels the creation of ozone, or smog. Some pesticides emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to ozone formation. Using pesticides that release VOCs may be restricted in certain California locations between May 1 and October 31.
If you plan to apply a pesticide, use the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s VOC calculators to determine emissions from fumigant and nonfumigant pesticides. You can get to the calculation site by going to the UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Citrus, click on a pest link and scroll down to the treatments. Click on the Air Quality button at the top of the treatment table.
Simple steps can minimize the release of VOCs into the air:
- Use pesticides only when necessary.
- Decrease the amount of pesticide applied if appropriate.
- Choose low-emission management methods.
- Avoid emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations and fumigants.
Ozone, or smog, is caused by mixing VOCs, nitrogen oxide, and sunshine. High levels of ozone can harm people and crops. Regions in California that do not meet federal or state air quality standards for ozone, called nonattainment areas, may restrict the use of pesticides that release VOCs.
A Bee Fly!
Have you ever seen a bee fly, a member of the family Bombylidae? It's about the size of some bees....
Bee fly, a bombyliid, hovers like a helicopter. Note the long tongue. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) 2800 copy
Bee fly foraging for nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)