Vegetable Crops Newsletter

In This Issue:

• 2022 research updates
  • Evaluation of darkling beetle overwintering locations and movement into tomato fields
  • Improved management strategies for the western striped cucumber beetle in melon production
• 2023 research plans
  • Jump starting BCTV awareness and pro-active management in the Sacramento Valley
• An experimental aggregation pheromone shows promise for cucumber beetle monitoring and further management strategies  by J. Ramirez, I. Grettenberger and A. Vinchesi-Vahl

South Sacramento Valley Processing Tomato Production Meeting

University of California Cooperative Extension Farm Advisors

Colusa/Sutter/Yuba and Yolo/Solano/Sacramento Counties

Woodland Community Center
2001 East Street, Woodland 95776
(From Highway113, exit on CR 25A, head west to East Street.  Right turn on East St. for ~1 mile)

8 am to noon, Tuesday, January 17, 2023

PCA credits: 0.5 Laws and Regs; 2 hours Other; PCA Meeting Code: M-0153-23

CCA credits pending: 3.0 hrs IPM; 0.5 hrs Nutrient Management

In This Issue:

• South Sacramento Valley Processing Tomato Production Meeting
• Fusarium falciforme cultivar performance table

Healthy Soils Field Day

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

9:00 am - 10:00 am

Location: 38°48'40.9"N 121°41'36.2"W, https://goo.gl/maps/SvmCJfiCqWXiWYy98

See attached for topics, speakers and location

In This Issue:

• Farm call summary
• Pest highlight: Vegetable Weevil
• 2022 Research Updates
• The South American Tomato Leafminer Tuta absolute: Threats of Invasion and Future Plans for Control by Ben Lee, Postdoctoral Researcher at UC Davis

VIRUS ALERT-2022

Resistance-breaking (RB) tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and beet curly top virus (BCTV) have been identified in Colusa and Sutter counties. 

______________________________________________________

Please see full attachment for all details.

New Date Announced!

COMPOST SPREADING DEMONSTRATION FIELD VISIT

Wednesday, April 6th

9:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. - See attached for map

University of California Cooperative Extension and Westside Spreading, LLC will be hosting an in-person drive-by field visit for compost spreading. This field visit is part of the 2020 Healthy Soils Demonstration Project, Evaluation of compost application to processing tomato fields in the Sacramento Valley.

The field visit is open to the public. Amber Vinchesi-Vahl from UCCE and Suellen Witham from  Westside Spreading will be at the field to answer questions about the project and to showcase compost application to the field and research plots. There will not be a formal agenda or presentations. Feel free to stop by anytime between 9-11am. Directions to the field site are below.

Please help us keep our community safe by following the following guidelines for the meeting:

• If you are sick or feeling a little sick, please do not come to the meeting.

No RSVP is required. Please contact Amber Vinchesi-Vahl, acvinchesi@ucanr.edu with questions.

2022 Sacramento Valley Processing Tomato Production Meeting

Thursday, February 10, 2022 - 9am-11:40am

Pre-register to receive meeting links and codes.

Register Here

In This Issue:

• 2021 Farm call summary
• 2021 Research results
• 2022 Research projects
• Characterizing the non-crop habitat for a pest of melons, the western striped cucumber beetle
• Save the Date: February 10th Virtual Sacramento Valley Processing Tomato Production Meeting (register to obtain meeting link)

The Vertebrate Pest Council Virtual Workshop

Don't miss this "virtual" opportunity to learn about methodologies and concepts involving human wildlife conflicts and vertebrate pest problems.

September 28-30, 2021

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. each day

$30 per person/per day

See attached for registration links for each day.

Email with questions: trainingsupport@target-specialty.com

2021 Virtual Healthy Soils Compost Field Day

Wednesday, July 28th, 9:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m. - Welcome and Introduction - Amber Vinchesi-Vahl, UCCE Vegetable Crops Advisor - Colusa, Sutter and Yuba Counties

9:10 a.m. - Impact of soil health practices on survival of soilborne plant pathogens - Kelley Paugh, Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Department of Plant Pathology, UC Davis

9:20 a.m. - Estimating N mineralization (or availability) from compost - Margaret Lloyd, UCCE Small Farms Advisor-Yolo, Solano and Sacramento Counties and Daniel Geisseler, Nutrient Management Specialist, UC Davis

9:40 a.m. - Compost municipal waste amendments and tomato production: a 3-year study in Merced County - Scott Stoddard, UCCE Vegetable Crops Advisor - Merced and Madera Counties

If you have any questions, please contact Amber Vinchesi-Vahl: acvinchesi@ucanr.edu or 530-458-0575.

Registration link

SPECIAL VIRUS ISSUE

Information provided by Dr. Bob Gilbertson, Department of Plant Pathology, UC Davis

• Grower Alert - 2021
• Disease Highlight: Beet Curly Top Virus

In This Issue:

• 2020 Research Results
• Fusarium wilt of tomato, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici race 3 - a soil-borne killer

California Processing Tomato Production

When: Friday, January 22, 2021, 9am-11:30am, PST

Where: Virtual workshop via zoom

Cost: $15; fee waived for California Growers

Registration Link: https//ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=32668

See attached for more information!

"On behalf of UC Davis and Russell Ranch, you are invited to a virtual field day, Tuesday January 5, 2021, 10-11 AM (PST)

Alternative management in organic tomatoes: Exploring new tools for sustainability and profitability

Please join to hear the latest updates and data on:

-Benefits of Alfalfa in rotation – effects on soil health and tomato yield: Nicole Tautges (Michael Fields Institute)

-Costs and Benefits of grazing cover crops in organic tomato fields: Sequoia Williams (Gaudin lab, Plant Science, UC Davis)

-Perennial vs. annual rotation in transition to organic: Oren Hoffman (Scow Lab, Land Air & Water Resources, UC Davis)

*After the talks we will have a short Q&A session

Register for the free online event HERE."

https://www.evite.com/event/0135H5Z37WEDUMH7UEPLHJOMQSNCC4/rsvp?utm_campaign=send_sharable_link&utm_medium=sharable_invite&utm_source=evitelink

Coming up:

November 18th, 3-4pm - Biological Plant Growth Regulators: Experience, Facts, and Future - Michael Rethwisch, MSc, UCCE Farm Advisor, Riverside County - 1.0 CCA CEU

December 3rd, 3-4pm - Biostimulants From A Regulatory Perspective - Nick Young, Senior Environmental Scientist, CDFA-Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program

December 9th, 3-4pm - Synergistic or Antagonism? Integrating Crop Biologics into IPM - Dr. Surendra Dara, UCCE Farm Advisor, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties - 1.0 DPR & CCA CEU

Contact: Dr. Zheng Wang, UCCE Vegetable Advisor, (209)525-6822, zzwwang@ucanr.edu

 *****************

Survey of Your Understanding of Crop Biostimulant

Crop biostimulants are not biopesticides (suppressing pest and disease); instead, they are "substances or microorganisms that, when applied to seeds, plants, or the rhizophere, stimulates natural processes to enhance or benefit nutrient uptake, nutrient efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, or crop quality and yield." Common active ingredients of biostimulants, which are distinct from those in biocontrol agents, comprise growth promoting bacteria and/or fungi, mycorrhizae, seawood extract, humic substances, kelp, or plant hormones.

To better help vegetable growers with the use of crop biostimulant and implement our future research and extension programs, please spend a few minutes filling out the anonymous survey http://cestanislaus.ucanr.edu/Agriculture/Vegetable_Crops/Biostimulant_Survey/ to share your experience, concerns, confusion, and hopes about an efficient use of these biologics.  Your response will be used for research and education

UCCE Virtual Webinar

Sacramento Valley Pest Management

Wednesday, December 9th - 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

9:00 am - Weeds in Rice Research Update - Whitney Brim-DeForest, UCCE Rice & Wild Rice Advisor

9:30 am - Rice Pest Management Update - Luis Espino, UCCE Rice Farming Systems Advisor

10:15 am - Integrated Pest Management of Processing Tomatoes - Amber Vinchesi-Vahl, UCCE Vegetable Crops Advisor

10:45 am - Field Crop Pest Management Update - Sarah Light, UCCE Agronomy Advisor

11:30 am - Regulatory Update - Scott Bowden, Dep. Ag Commissioner, Sutter County

Registration Fee $25  

Link and instructions to join Zoom will be emailed to registrants

DPR and CCA Continuing Education Credits Pending: 2.0 hours "Other", 0.5 hours Laws & Regs

Registration Here: http://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=32431

Logistics: Rene McCrory, rjmccrory@ucanr.edu, 530-822-7515
Course Content: Sarah Light, selight@ucanr.edu, 530-822-7515

UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisors Rachael Long and Zheng Wang are collaborating with UC IPM to host a series of four 1-hour educational webinars on the use of biostimulants and plant growth regulators in crop production, with a focus on vegetable and field crops. Both types of biologics are increasingly used in regulating crop growth and development but also bring discussions on their definition, regulation, and efficacy in field situations. The free webinars are designed for the agricultural community including growers, researchers, crop consultants, pest control advisors, and others in the industry. Please check the attached flyer for details. Webinars will be held Nov. 10th, Nov. 18th, Dec. 3rd, and Dec. 9th. To register, follow the link (https://ucanr.edu/sites/ucexpertstalk/) and click on each webinar topic for the registration page. Contact Zheng Wang (zzwwang@ucdavis.edu) with any questions.

    IN THIS ISSUE:

• Winter Cover Crop Performance in the Sacramento Valley
• Healthy Soils Demonstration Project Results: Winter Cover Crops in Annual Rotation
• Equipment to Manage Cover Crops in Annual Rotations

Continuing Education Virtual Webinar event tomorrow - September 16th, 3-4pm!

Amber Vinchesi-Vahl, UCCE Vegetable Crops Advisor speaking on Pest Management of Weeds and Diseases in Tomatoes and Insects in Melons

Register now:

http://ucanr.edu/svc-uccevirtualwebinars

CEC credits now approved!

If questions, please contact UCCE Sutter-Yuba Office: http://cesutter.ucanr.edu or call 530-822-7515 for course content contact  Whitney Brim-DeForest, wbrimdeforest@ucanr.edu

COLUSA COUNTY AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT
Commissioner Greg Hinton Phone: 530-458-0580
100 Sunrise Blvd. Suite F Fax: 530-458-5000
Colusa, CA 95932 Email: ccag@countyofcolusa.com

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2020

Contact: Colusa County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office

Mysterious and Unsolicited Seed Shipments Arriving in Colusa County
The California Department of Agriculture (CDFA) has become aware of a number of reports regarding “mysterious and unsolicited seed shipments from China.” These shipments have been arriving at homeowner and business locations throughout the country, including here in Colusa County. The package contents typically list the contents as jewelry, toys, or a number code.

The CDFA is currently in communication with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to determine what the actions will be for these seed packages. In the meantime, CDFA is instructing residents not to open any unsolicited seed packets received. In addition, please DO NOT PLANT or dispose of the seeds. Instead, please immediately contact the Colusa County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office if you come into possession of these unsolicited seeds, and we will arrange to pick up the seeds or you may drop them off at our office.

Seeds that are legally sold to residents of California must go through proper channels in order to protect California’s multi-billion dollar agricultural industry. Colusa County is one of California’s significant seed producing locations. Seeds with unknown origin and those that have not been properly inspected, treated, or tested may have a significant impact on our local industry and ag based economy.

If you have received these seeds, please contact our office via the options below to arrange for delivery or pick up. If you have planted

In This Issue:

• Have disease in your field, contact Amber!
• Cover Crop Survey
• 2020 Research Progress/Results

Please read the attached document for important information about PPE for Farms During COVID-19. Thank you.

As of 3/15 all UC Cooperative Extension events that are scheduled through April 3rd will be postponed. This includes:

-3/17: Healthy Soils and Cover Crop Field Day

I will be rescheduling these events as I am able, or will provide access to the information to be presented  through other means.  In the meantime, I am available to discuss  questions related  to these projects.  Please contact me (acvinchesi@ucanr.edu) or (selight@ucanr.edu) directly if you would like more information.

Thank you for your understanding. 

Amber Vinchesi, Vegetable Crop Advisor

Sarah Light, Agronomy Advisor

Healthy Soils and Cover Crops Field Day

March 17, 2020

8:30am-11:00am

See attached for full agenda.

If questions please contact Amber Vinchesi (acvinchesi@ucanr.edu) 530-458-0575 or Sarah Light (selight@ucanr.edu) 822-7515.

Healthy Soils and Cover Crops Field Day

Meridian, CA

March 17, 2020 ~ 8:30-11:00am

See attached for full agenda.

This project was supported by the California Climate Investments program (http://www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov/) and

the California Department of Food and Agriculture Healthy Soils Program (https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/).

The University of California prohibits discrimination or harassment of any person in any of its programs or activities. (Complete nondiscrimination policy statement can be found at http://ucanr.org/sites/anrstaff/files/107734.doc). Inquiries regarding the University’s equal employment opportunity policies may be directed to Affirmative Action Contact and Title IX Officer, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2801 2nd Street, Davis, CA 95618, (530) 750-1397; titleixdiscrimination@ucanr.edu.

Directions:

Turn on Drexler Rd. from Hwy 20. Follow to the stop sign (2.5 mi) and take a right on Moroni Rd.

Follow for 0.3 mi and take your first left onto S. Drexler Rd.

1. Drexler turns into S. Meridian after 0.5 mi, field is on the left across from

OR: Follow UC Cooperative Extension signs from the corner of Moroni Rd. and S. Drexler Rd.

In case of a rain, call 530-822-7515 to find out if event will be held or rescheduled.

If you have any questions, please contact Sarah (selight@ucanr.edu or 530-822-7515) or Amber (acvinchesi@ucanr.edu or 530-458-0575)

In this issue:

¨ Healthy Soils and Cover Crops Field Day—Save the date!

¨ Multisite demonstration of conservation management practices for soil health and greenhouse gas emissions reduction

¨ Evaluation of weed control in tomatoes comparing finger weeders to standard cultivation

¨ Evaluation of Fusarium wilt survival in the Sacramento Valley as influenced by rotational crops of flooded rice and dry-farmed crops

¨ Pest Management Strategic Plan for Processing Tomatoes

¨ Management of spotted and striped cucumber beetle in melon production

¨ 2020 Research Plans

Healthy Soils and Field Crop Meeting - Wednesday, February 19th

• Ag Building Meeting Room, 142 Garden Hwy, Yuba City
• Wednesday, February 19th from 8:45 a.m. - noon
• Topics include: Healthy Soils, Pest Management, Law and Regs, and Hemp
• PCA and Private Applicator Credit: 1.0 hour approved
• CCA Credit: 3.0 hours approved
• Irrigated Lands Program Nitrogen Management Credit: 1.0 hour approved

See

attachment for full agenda.

Next Wednesday, January 8, is the South Sacramento Valley Processing Tomato Production Meeting.  Agenda is attached!

South Sacramento Valley Processing Tomato Production Meeting

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

8am-12pm

Doors open at 7:45am

Woodland Community Center

2001 East Street, Woodland 95776

(From Highway 113, ext on CR 25A, head west to East Street. Right turn on East Street for ~1 mile)

Reminder-

Healthy Soils Field Day and Equipment Showcase

Meridian, CA

November 6, 2019 - 8:30am - 11:00am

Please see attached for full agenda and directions.

• SAVE THE DATE! Healthy Soils Field Day and Equipment Showcase
• Farm Call Summary 2019
• Weed highlight: Branched broomrape
• Differentiating wilt and crown rot diseases in field
• SAVE THE DATE South Sacramento Valley Processing Tomato Production Meeting

• 2018 Research Results
• 2019 Projects
• Fusarium wilt and crop rotation article

Soil Health and Cover Crop Field Day

December 6, 2018

8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Meridian (see attached for directions)

• Save the Date - Cover Crop and Soil Health Field Day, December 6, 2018
• 2018 Farm Call Summary
• Disease Highlight: Verticillium dahliae
• Insecticide screening and cucumber beetle biology and movement in fresh-market melons
• Monitoring southern blight prevalence in Colusa County

• Disease Highlight: Alfalfa Mosaic Virus
• Multisite demonstration of conservation management practices for soil health and greenhouse gas emissions reduction
• Insecticide screening and cucumber beetle biology and movement in fresh-market melons
• Monitoring southern blight prevalence in Colusa County

• South Sacramento Valley Tomato Processing Meeting, January 11, 2018, Woodland
• Southern Blight Cliff Notes - 2017