Topics in Subtropics

Emitter clogging – either microsprinkler or drip, they both emit – is fairly easily dealt with through proper filtration for particulates like sand and gunk; with chemigation for clearing out bacterial and algal slimes and chemical precipitates; and just regular flushing to deal with stuff that builds up…

Recently we were called out to inspect trees that had unusual cankers.  Unusual, because it was a cluster of about 20 trees and the cankers had insect larvae in the liquid sap that had accumulated in the cankers.When I see an avocado tree like this with discrete white cankers going up and down a branch…

Reducing Tillage On-Farm and Cover Cropping in the US and California and Some LimitationsA recent paper by Jeff Mitchell and others has highlighted the work done on reducing soil tillage which accelerates soil organic matter decline, resulting in a variety of ills from ground water contamination, poor soil…

False Chinch Bug Shows Up as Hills Dry UpThe false chinch bug (FCB), Nysius raphanus (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae), is a pest of many plants. FCB is a generalist and has been found to be a problem in many cropping systems such as soybeans, quinoa, tobacco, cotton, broccoli and other Brassicaceae plants. FCB adults …

In the last month there have been sightings of a stink bug on avocado fruit and stems in the Santa Paula/Fillmore area. The bug feeds on the stems of mature fruit, causing damage to the stem, creating wounds that leak white sugar exudate on the stem that drips on to the fruit. The weakened stem, can’t hold…