February 2016 CAPCA Adviser Magazine by CAPCA

CAPCA

ADVISER FEBRUARY 2016 / VOL. XIX, NO. 1

California Association of Pest Control Advisers www.capca.com

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Cover Photo: Edsel Querini, Getty Images

Table of Contents

REGULAR FEATURES: 5.

From the Editor

14.

Pathway to PCA

16.

CCA Update

12 ��Andy Klittich

18.

CAPCA ED

UC IPM

44.

Career Opportunities

24 ��Soil Biosolarization Research: Determining Improvements in Non-Fumigant Pest Management Strategies and Soil Health Parameters

46.

CAPCA Updates

47.

Continuing Education

LEADERSHIP 6 ��Leadership Update: New CEO Takes Reins of CAPCA John McClenahan

8 ��Government Relations Update Henry Buckwalter

PCA PROFILE Joyce A. Basan

James J. Stapleton, Ruth M. Dahlquist-Willard,Yigal Achmon, Jean S.VanderGheynst, and Christopher W. Simmons

FARM ADVISORS 30 ��Salinity Management in Field Crops and Vegetables Brenna Aegerter and Michelle Leinfelder-Miles

34 ��Nitrogen Fertilizer Technologies to Improve Nitrogen Management for Leafy Vegetable Production Richard Smith

38 ��Micro-sprinklers in Strawberry Production Surendra K. Dara

See page 14

DUES STATEMENT California Association of Pest Control Advisers 2300 River Plaza Dr., Suite 120 ● Sacramento, CA 95833 (916) 928-1625 ● FAX (916) 928-0705 dee@capca.com ● www.capca.com

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please enclose check payable to: CAPCA (A $25 FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR RETURNED CHECKS) [See reverse side for details on membership categories]

 

Active Member:  2016 = $145.00 Active Member:  2017 = $145.00 (Licensed PCAs must join as Active Members)



*$7.00 of dues will go to CAPCA PAC unless you check the box below



Past Active Dues:  2015 = $145.00

Associate Member:  2016 = $45.00 (Non-PCAs – printout not provided) *$7.00 of dues will go to CAPCA PAC unless you check the box below



Student Member:

 2016 (No fee)

Must not have a PCA/QAL/QAC/Pilot license

MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF FULL-TIME STUDENT REGISTRATION

 I DO NOT WANT CAPCA TO UTILIZE EMAIL TO COMMUNICATE BUSINESS OR C.E. MEETING NOTICES TO ME  I DO NOT WANT MY MAILING ADDRESS UTILIZED OUTSIDE OF CAPCA PURPOSES (If you mark this item, you may not receive meeting notices from organizations other than CAPCA)

 I DO NOT WANT $7.00 OF MY DUES TO GO TO CAPCA PAC Please print clearly:

Name ___________________________________________________________________ License No.____________________________ Employer_____________________________________________________

Cellular Phone (______)_________________________

Mailing Address_______________________________________________

Daytime Phone (______)_________________________

City, State, Zip________________________________________________

Fax Phone

(______)_________________________

E-mail address__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Additional Chapters ($20 each) Please name additional chapters you wish to join______________________________________________

Please sign to verify all above information is correct ______________________________________________________ SIGNATURE

I am interested in receiving emails and updates for the following Crop Teams (check all that apply):  Berry Team  Tree Nut Team

 Grains Team  T&O Team

 Grape Team  Vegetable Team

 Citrus /Subtropical Team

Which of the following categories is important in your work as a PCA (Check all that apply):     

Aquatics Berries Citrus & Subtropicals Cotton Deciduous Fruits

    

Forage/Silage Golf/Sports Turf Grains Grapes Rice

    

T/O Maintenance, Landscape (parks, etc.) Tree Nuts Vegetables Vegetation Mgmt (forestry, roadside & range) Organics

If using VISA, MasterCard, or American Express please sign your name below as it appears on your bank credit card.

VISA Card No.______________________________________________________________________  MasterCard American Express 3-digit CV# (found on back of card)________ Expiration Date (Month/Year)_____________ Signature__________________________________________________________ Date_____________________________ Federal Tax ID #94-2277533 Your dues payment is not deductible as a charitable contribution for federal and state tax purposes. However, a portion of your payment may be deducted as an ordinary and necessary business expense. Please advise your tax consultant if you qualify for an ordinary and necessary business expense tax deduction. If you qualify for an ordinary and necessary business expense tax deduction, you may deduct up to $119/$37 for dues of $145/$45 respectively. If you chose not to earmark $7.00 of your dues as a contribution to CAPCA PAC and you qualify for an ordinary and necessary business expense tax deduction, you may deduct up to $126/$44 for dues of $145/$45.

* The CAPCA PAC Contribution is a voluntary non-tax deductible contribution White Copy: Mail to CAPCA Office

CAPCA ADVISER | FEBRUARY 2016

Yellow Copy: Member Retains for Records

For CAPCA Use Only Check #___________ Amount____________

From the Editor GETTING STARTED

s many of us begin a new year by making one or more of those well-intentioned resolutions, chances are, as sincere as our resolve may be, many of those resolutions remain intentions. We’ve all been there. The determination to take action in a certain way and our earnest desire to make changes doesn’t always come to fruition. It may be that the goal or desire turns out to be higher than we can reach or more labor-intensive than we anticipated. But one thing is sure, if we don’t get started, there’s not much chance of making any progress or advancement, is there? Perhaps we should consider the value of the attempts we do make, even if we are not able to achieve our goals, whether right away or not at all. Confucius is quoted as saying “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Perhaps that really should be our focus – just getting started. Moving ahead, making the effort, beginning the attempt, starting the journey. In my experience, a large part of my growth and advancement has been the learning obtained along the way. So as we begin a new year, let us focus on the opportunities in the journey ahead of us – whatever it may be - and take that first step. Joyce A. Basan Deputy Editor joyce@capca.com

CAPCA EDITORIAL STAFF Ruthann Anderson - Editor Joyce Basan - Deputy Editor Dee Strowbridge - Marketing/Advertising Lien Banh - Executive Secty./Office Manager Mindy DeRohan - CAPCA ED Manager Ariana Zamora - So. CA Representative Jacqueline Tabarez - No. CA Representative Graphic Design - Rosemary N. Southward southwardr@comcast.net MISSION & PURPOSE California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA) is a non-profit voluntary mutual benefit association that represents 75% of the 4,000 California EPA licensed pest control advisers. CAPCA’s purpose is to serve as the leader in the evolution of the pest management industry through the communication of reliable information. CAPCA is dedicated to the professional development and enhancement of our members’ education and stewardship which includes legislative, regulatory, continuing education and public outreach activities. PUBLISHING INFORMATION CAPCA Adviser is published bi-monthly by the California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA), 2300 River Plaza Dr., Suite 120, Sacramento, California 95833. Web: www.capca.com, (916) 928‑1625. POSTMASTER: send address change to CAPCA. A portion of CAPCA membership dues is used to provide subscription privileges to the Adviser magazine. Nonmember subscriptions are $30/year. Third class bulk postage paid at Tucson, AZ and at additional mailing offices. CAPCA has endeavored to include appropriate and accurate statements, but disclaims any and all warranties and/or responsibility for the statements or articles submitted to CAPCA Adviser that may have additionally been edited for style, content and space prior to publication. Views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent CAPCA policies, or positions or endorsements. Editorial content of this publication is educational and informational in nature. No part of this publication, including images, may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publisher. Contact CAPCA at (916) 928‑1625 for reprint authorization. PRINTING: Sundance Press Tucson, Arizona

FEBRUARY 2016 | CAPCA ADVISER

LEADERSHIP

Leadership Update: New CEO Takes Reins of CAPCA John McClenahan, CAPCA Chair

he CAPCA Executive Committee would like to announce that Ruthann Anderson, currently the Director of Development at CAPCA, has been promoted to CEO/President effective January 1, 2016. Based on her experience and knowledge of CAPCA, the committee believes she is the right fit to move CAPCA forward. Ruthann has spent the last two years learning CAPCA culture, working directly with the Board of Directors and members on a multitude of programs and was mentored by retired CEO Terry Stark. Ruthann joined CAPCA in 2013 as an Executive Assistant and quickly expanded her duties within the Association. In 2015, she transitioned to Director of Development and was tasked with finding creative funding sources for new programing, which has included grant writing and expanding sustaining member outreach. With direction from CAPCA Forward initiatives, Ruthann will continue to work with PCAs, developing projects to improve professionalism and advance communications for PCAs with Crop Teams and the Leadership Institute launching in 2016. As the new CEO, Ruthann is committed to re-introducing the CAPCA Pathway to PCA program, expanding CAPCA ED seminars and maintaining the high standards of the CAPCA Annual Conference and Agri-Expo. Ruthann has a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from University of California, Davis. Before coming to

CAPCA ADVISER | FEBRUARY 2016

John McClenahan CAPCA Chair john@spmcclenahan.com

CAPCA, Ruthann worked extensively with non-profits around the world. Her experiences in logistical planning, fund development and business management give her a well-rounded approach to leading the diverse programing of the Association. I also want to acknowledge that, during 2015, Terry Stark provided important support and guidance as Interim CEO during the search and selection process for a full time President/CEO. On behalf of CAPCA, I extend our thanks to Terry for his devotion and dedicated service. T

Ruthann Anderson CAPCA President/CEO ruthann@capca.com (916) 928-1625 x211

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LEADERSHIP

Government Relations Update

Henry Buckwalter, Government Relations Chair

ark Allen, President of the Woodland Chapter, was a presenter at the recent California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s Bee Aware! Symposium in Stockton. Mark’s presentation stressed the need for communication and cooperation between the PCA, grower, beekeeper and their CAC; basically, CAPCA wants to be part of the solution for this complicated crop production issue. Several CAPCA members were part of the attendance, which was impressive and represented growers and beekeepers from across the state. The presentation by the President of the California Association of County Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers was alarming because he reported that there is only a 5% compliance of the regulations and statutes governing the beekeeper registry, hive identification, and

movement. The California Almond Board’s position of not spraying when bees are foraging was presented repeatedly. Dr. Shannon Mueller, UC Cooperative Extension, gave an excellent paper regarding bee health that clearly outlined the decline in bee vitality in California as one that is not just pesticide related, but a multifaceted issue. More information and brochures are available at CDPR’s Pollinator Protection web site: http://www.cdpr. ca.gov/docs/enforce/pollinators/index. htm T

Front row (l-to-r): Donna Marciano (Branch Chief Enforcement, DPR), Mara Johnson (DPR), Tracy Ellis (San Diego County Entomologist), Bob Curtis (Almond Board of California), Shannon Mueller (UC Director for Fresno/Madera), Karen Francone (DPR) and Courtney Albrecht (CDFA). Back row (l-to-r): DPR Director Brian Leahy, Mark Allen (Woodland Chapter CAPCA President) and Brad Pankratz (President of California State Beekeepers Association). Absent from photo: CAC Jim Allen (President of CACASA) and Gordon Wardell (Director of Pollination Operations, Wonderful Orchards). 8

CAPCA ADVISER | FEBRUARY 2016

Henry Buckwalter Government Relations Chair

Mark Allen, President of the Woodland Chapter, presenting at CDPR’s Bee Aware! Symposium in Stockton.

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Join our Band of

Superheroes 42nd annual CAPCA Conference and Agri-Expo

October 16-18, 2016 Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim, CA

For information on being a Sponsor or Exhibitor Contact Dee Strowbridge dee@capca.com 916-928-1625 x 203

2016 Exhibitors

Acadian Seaplants ADAMA Ag 1 Source Ag Spray Equipment AGQ Labs USA Agrian AgroLiquid AgroPlantae, Inc AgWorld Albaugh, Inc Almond Board of CA Amvac Arborjet Art Wilson Co Arysta LifeScience Baicor BASF BioFlora BioSafe Systems Blue Mountain Minerals Brandt CA Certified Crop Advisers CA Organic Fertilizers CDMS, Inc Compass Minerals Crop Production Services Crop Science a division of Bayer Deerpoint Group Inc Diamond K Gypsum Dow AgroSciences DuPont Crop Protection FBSciences, Inc FMC Corporation Gar Tootelian, Inc Gowan USA Helena Chemical Company

Irrometer Company Jet Harvest Solutions JH Biotech Liphatech Inc Mar Vista Resources Marrone Bio Innovations Mazzei Injector Company Metos USA Micro Matic USA Inc Miller Chemical Monsanto BioAg Motomco Netafim USA Nichino America, Inc NovaSource Nutrient Technologies Inc Ocean Organics OHP Inc Organic Farms Fertilizer Oro Agri, Inc Plant Food Systems Polymer Ag QualiTech, Inc Redox Chemicals Simplot Grower Solutions Solutions 4Earth Spectrum Technologies SunBurst Plant Disease Clinic Suterra LLC Syngenta SST Software TKI Trece, Inc UPI Valent USA Corp Verdegaal Brothers Westbridge Agricultural Products Willowood USA Yara North America

Sustaining Members have priority in Exhibit Hall until February 1, 2016

PCA PROFILE

Andy Klittich: Improving His Skill Set Through Education and CAPCA Involvement

Joyce A Basan, CAPCA Programs/Communications Director

ndy Klittich graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Agriculture and Environmental Plant Sciences. His studies concentrated on Plant Protection and he minored in Crop Science. Andy not only holds a PCA license, which he obtained in 2013, but is also a QAL and a CCA. The major crops he consults on are vegetables and strawberries. Active in the plant protection industry for two and a half years, he works for AG RX, spending his time inspecting fields, consulting with customers and working on special projects. “At AG RX I have been a part of putting together a display each year

for the Ventura and Santa Barbara County Fairs. It has been fun working on a project that helps the community see what we do.” One area he focuses on in his daily work is IPM: “IPM is using all the tools available to grow the crop in a sustainable and profitable way.” As far as where he sees the role of IPM going in the future, Andy responds “I think IPM will always be changing with the new technologies that come out but the basic idea of IPM will always stay the same.” Andy sees the pest issues that are currently posing the most problems to clients are “all the new invasive pests and the increasing issues with mites in strawberries.”

Andy feels an important facet of CAPCA’s leadership role is to continue to update PCAs on regulatory issues and changes to regulation. To continue improving his own professionalism, Andy is involved in his local chapter board and also serves on the CAPCA State Board of Directors. “I am currently the Continuing Education Chair and State Representative for the Ventura Chapter and have learned that CE meetings take a lot of coordination. On the State Board, I have noticed that the Government Relations Committee does a lot of behind the scenes work with the Legislature that most of the membership is not aware of.”

Andy Klittich CAPCA Chapter: Ventura Education: BS in Agricultural & Environmental Plant Sciences, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Family: wife, Pam & two yellow labs, Kase & Ranger Interests: Working on his house, wine tasting, barbecuing

Some local activities Andy also finds beneficial, and believes other PCAs would find interesting, are the various field days that UC Extension holds. “I have gone to a few field days and meetings done by UC Extension and they have all presented great information. I have learned about new techniques being developed for use in strawberries and also about herbicide use on celery,” says Andy. When asked what he likes best about being a PCA, Andy replied “I like being able to spend most of my day in the field.” Although he is just at the beginning of his PCA career, he says the highlights so far have been the opportunity to continue to learn, as well as meeting growers and other PCAs. The advice that Andy would pass on to students coming out of college and entering the PCA profession comes from his own experience and observations: “Internships are the best way to learn about the profession. Entomology and pest control classes can teach you all the fundamentals,

but going out and walking fields will show you exactly what you are in for. My advice is to study and work hard.” In his daily contact with his clients, Andy finds that their involvement in pest management decisions varies. “Certain clients are extremely involved and others trust me to keep their crop clean for harvest,” he explains. Communication with all his clients is very important to Andy. “I try to explain why I make certain decisions so that they can know more about their fields.” When needing additional expertise to address crop protection issues, Andy finds other PCAs and Farm Advisors as valuable resources. “I ask other PCAs around the office and also reach out to the UC Cooperative Extension when I need help.” In his spare time, Andy enjoys being involved in his community. He is a member of the Fillmore Rotary Club, is the Charter Organization Representative of Cub Scout Pack 3400, and is a member of the Fillmore FFA Ag Advisory Board. T

2016 CAPCA Leadership State Director

Chapter

Chapter President

Paul Crout John Herlihy Rick Klicka Gerald Martin Mike Ansolabehere

Central Coast Central Valley Desert Valley Fresno-Madera Kern County

Nic Vanherweg Larry Fisk Chris Denning Allen Haynes Jason Haught

Sean Morelos

Monterey Bay

Greg Mirassou

JR Gallagher NorCal Doug Elrich Nick Lupien North Coast Hector Bedolla Erica Specht San Diego Jan Hall Jeoff Dunster San Francisco Jeoff Dunster Heather Palmer SoCal Fred Eckert Leanne Becker Sutter Buttes Leanne Becker Corey Thompson Tri-County Corey Thompson Rick Wescott Tulare-Kings Chuck Gullord Andy Klittch Ventura Susan MacDonald Patrick Dosier Woodland Mark Allen * Doug Okumura: Advisory Member

2016 Executive Committee Officers State Board Chair John McClenahan State Board Vice Chair David Goodrich State Board Treasurer Rick Harrison State Board Secretary Larry Fisk Ex-Officio Jeremy Briscoe

FEBRUARY 2016 | CAPCA ADVISER

PATHWAY TO PCA

Past State FFA Sentinel, Future PCA

Shannon Douglass shannonrdouglass@gmail.com Pathway to PCA Coordinator

t the 2015 State FFA Convention in Fresno, I had the pleasure of attending a few of the speeches by the State FFA officers. It was during one of those speeches that I first heard about Luis Sanchez from Gonzales, CA. Luis is like so many current FFA members these days. He didn’t grow up on a farm or ranch but joined FFA in high school. Gonzales FFA has a great animal science program and Luis was an active participant raising pigs, lambs, rabbits, chickens and steers. While there wasn’t a ton of crop science projects to get involved in, Luis was involved in the small school greenhouse where they raised succulents. Luis had never heard of a PCA until a career day presentation from Hartnell College. The speaker from Hartnell talked about some of the in-demand careers in agriculture, including the PCA opportunity. Luis was intrigued and started doing research. While he didn’t know any PCAs, he did find the Pathway to PCA YouTube videos and got to hear what actual PCAs had to stay about their careers. During his senior year of high school, Luis was elected as a State FFA officer. This is an honor that only six students in all of California get every year. It is a great testament to

CAPCA ADVISER | FEBRUARY 2016

how his peers view him and his public speaking skills. The position required him to take a year off of school and travel the state – and a bit of the country – representing California FFA. His career plans did not waver during his year of service. Luis and I connected shortly after the State FFA convention and started circulating his resume. Thanks to a great network of CAPCA members, Luis found a beneficial internship opportunity with Helena Chemical near his home. Last summer Luis got what he described as a “Great!” summer internship checking strawberry fields

in Salinas and Watsonville. Luis was really excited to talk about his experience and the great people he worked with. He worked primarily with Gary Omori but got to interact with several other PCAs, including Paul Crout and Nathan Miller. Gary not only taught Luis how to check fields and about the crop production, he brought him along for continuing education meetings and other presentations. Luis started college at UC Davis this fall and is on track to become a PCA. He was excited to find that some of his classes relate to what he learned in the field this past summer and he is looking forward to getting more

Luis is a great example of just the type of young person we need to recruit into the PCA field. I was very pleased to learn that the Pathway to PCA resources helped him, but it is critical to note that it was a local presentation that first got his interest. These local career fairs are a great way for you, as a PCA, to make a positive difference in a very short period of time.

hands-on experience next summer. He is keeping in touch with Gary and hopes to get to work with him again soon. Luis is a great example of just the type of young person we need to recruit into the PCA field. I was very pleased to learn that the Pathway to PCA resources helped him but it is critical to note that it was a local presentation that first got his interest. These local career fairs are a great way for you, as a PCA, to make a positive difference in a very short period of time. Students want to hear real, personal stories and we can supplement your presentation with Pathway to PCA handouts and materials. Perhaps your presentation will make a difference for someone just like Luis. Luis has a bright future ahead of him as a PCA and we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to watch his career develop! T

CAPCA Staff Contacts

RUTHANN ANDERSON CAPCA President/CEO Adviser Magazine Editor

JOYCE A. BASAN Programs/Communications Director

ruthann@capca.com (916) 928-1625 x211

ADVISER Magazine Deputy Editor

Contact for: Conference, Sustaining Membership, Advertising, Accounting

joyce@capca.com (916) 928-1625 x201

dee@capca.com (916) 928-1625 x203

MINDY DeROHAN CAPCA ED Manager mindy@capca.com (916) 928-1625 x207

DEE STROWBRIDGE Dir. of Marketing/Finance

LIEN BANH Executive Secretary & Office Manager Contact for: Membership, CE, Web Access, Chapter Mtgs. lien@capca.com (916) 928-1625 x200

ARIANA ZAMORA So. CA CAPCA Representative

JACKIE TABAREZ No. CA CAPCA Representative

ariana@capca.com (805) 704-3255

(916) 928-1625 x205

jackie@capca.com

CAPCA, 2300 River Plaza Dr, Suite #120, Sacramento, CA 95833 FEBRUARY 2016 | CAPCA ADVISER

CCA UPDATE

Regional Committees: Desert, Valley and Coastal Aaron Heinrich, CA CCA Chair

n 2015 the California Certified Crop Adviser (CA CCA) program has grown to almost 1,100 members. In an effort to bring CCA specific activities and issues to its members, the California CCA Board hosted two regionally focused continuing education meetings with CAPCA ED in September and November 2015. Feedback from CCAs across the state was that they want to get more involved locally. In response, the CA CCA Board has created three regional committees that any California or Arizona CCA can join to lend a voice to regional issues and outreach. California and Arizona will be divided into three regional committees by geography – Desert (to include Arizona CCAs), Valley and Coastal. To move towards sustainability, each regional committee is seeking to fill the committee with no more than 50% of CA CCA Board Members. Regional Committees will meet quarterly and provide a regional report/ update to the CA CCA Board of Directors following each meeting. The anticipated time commitment is 1-2 meetings quarterly plus any marketing outreach or continuing education meetings. Regional Committees empower CA CCAs to get involved locally, provide relevant education, communications and marketing outreach.

Outreach – Regional committees will identify and support regionally relevant marketing outreach. Outreach focus may vary from attending grower functions to educate about the value of the CCA, to Expos to actively recruit new CCAs, and to attending regional meetings as a representative of the CA CCA program. CCA Exams – Support the Test Committee by participating in the annual test question evaluation and serving as test proctors at local exam sites. CE Meetings – Regional Committees are encouraged to identify a regional speaker pool that could serve as expert speakers for CCA CE meetings, assist with onsite set up or moderate CE meetings to provide relevant CCA CE hours locally. Communications – Provide technical article or regional updates for the CAPCA Adviser magazine or CCA Newsletter focusing on a regional issue relevant to CCAs. Committee Chairs have been identified for 2016: Clark Webb (Desert Committee), Don Wolf (Valley Committee) and Jim Dana (Coast Committee). If you would like to serve on a regional committee please contact CA CCA Chairman Aaron Heinrich or the CAPCA office. T

http://cacca.org

save-the-dates 2016 CCA NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT SEMINARS March 2, 2016 - Exeter Veterans Memorial Building

July 27, 2016 - Gilroy Gilroy Lodge on the Hill

July 28, 2016 - Fresno Fresno Radisson

November 15, 2016 - Modesto Stanislaus Co. Ag Center (Harvest Hall)

CA CCA Executive Board Officers:

November 29, 2016 - Bakersfield

Aaron Heinrich – Chairman Fred Strauss – Vice Chairman Mike Huffman – Ex-Officio J.W. Lemons – Secretary Allan Haynes – Treasurer Tim Hartz – Member-at-large

For more information: Mindy DeRohan Mindy@capca.com (916) 928-1625 x207

CAPCA ADVISER | FEBRUARY 2016

Hodel’s Country Dining

2016 CA CCA Annual Meeting Tuesday, February 2, 2016 7:30 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9:00 a.m. Wyndham Visalia, Maple Room 2016 CA CCA Annual Meeting

Visalia, CA

2016 California Plant & Soils Conference

No pre-registration or cost required Approved for 1.0 CCA Credit (1.0 Nutrient Mgmt) For more information contact Steve Beckley at (916) 539-4107, agrecruiter@gmail.com Note: Meeting takes place just before the 2016 California Plant and Soils Conference Tuesday & Wednesday, February 2-3, 2016 - Wyndham Visalia For additional information on the Plant and Soils Conference visit http://calasa.ucdavis.edu/

FEBRUARY 2016 | CAPCA ADVISER

COMMUNICATIONS

Meet Jackie Tabarez Mindy DeRohan, CAPCA ED Manager

APCA is excited to announce that Jackie Tabarez joined the CAPCA team in November 2015 as the Northern California Representative and CAPCA ED Coordinator. Jackie attended Modesto Junior College and California State University, Stanislaus where she earned her A.S. degree in Animal Science and her B.A. degree in Agricultural Studies. Jackie is no stranger to CAPCA as she has been a student member of CAPCA and very involved with the Central Valley CAPCA Chapter for the last three years. Jackie currently holds her Private Applicator Certificate and is working towards obtaining her PCA license. With a background in walnut production, Jackie is able to relate with growers and understand the important role that a PCA plays in farming and ranching. Jackie, who speaks both English and Spanish, is highly committed to serving the CAPCA membership. As the Northern California Representative and CAPCA ED CE Coordinator, Jackie is responsible for building relationships with all CAPCA chapters and coordinating continuing education seminars to update and educate PCAs. Jackie jumped right in attending and assisting with the remaining CAPCA ED seminars in 2015 and looks forward to her seminar schedule in 2016, staring on January 27 in Yuba City. Jackie comes to CAPCA with a variety of work experience including an internship with Mid Valley Agricultural Services, a field scout position with Applied Bio-Control and an Appraisal Analyst and Trainee with Valbridge Property Advisors | Hulberg & Associates. As the newest CAPCA team member, Jackie looks forward to bringing more value to CAPCA members through the CAPCA ED program. “I want to continually grow and raise the level of professionalism through seminars showcasing all aspects of the industry. My goal is to have the attendees walk out of the seminar with newly acquired knowledge that will benefit California agriculture as a whole. I also look forward to coordinating bilingual seminars in the future by partnering with other organizations and raising the level of continuing education.” For more information on upcoming CAPCA ED seminars, please visit www.CAPCAED.com. T

JACKIE TABAREZ No. CA CAPCA Representative and CAPCA ED Coord. jackie@capca.com (916) 928-1625 x205

CAPCA ED – CE Seminar Opportunities Mark your calendars now for these informative and valuable training events coming your way. March 2, 2016 – Exeter – Nutrient Mgmt March 3, 2016 – Santa Ana – CAPCA ED March 15, 2016 – San Ramon – CAPCA ED March 16, 2016 – Tracy – CAPCA ED March 22, 2016 – Redlands – CAPCA ED April 12, 2016 – Ontario – CAPCA ED April 13, 2016 – Escondido - OFAC April 19, 2016 – Lodi – CAPCA ED April 27, 2016 – Lakewood – CAPCA ED April 28, 2016 – Simi Valley – CAPCA ED May 4, 2016 – San Jose – CAPCA ED June 8, 2016 – Burbank – CAPCA ED June 9, 2016 – Palm Desert – CAPCA ED June 14, 2016 – Corona – CAPCA ED June 22, 2016 – Modesto – CAPCA ED June 23, 2016 – Sacramento – CAPCA ED July 8, 2016 – Chico – OFAC July 27, 2016 – Gilroy – Nutrient Mgmt July 28, 2016 – Fresno – Nutrient Mgmt Watch our web site for registration information: https://capcaed.com/ For additional information contact: Mindy DeRohan, CAPCA ED Manager mindy@capca.com / (916) 928-1625 x207 Ariana Zamora, So. CA CAPCA ED Coordinator ariana@capca.com / (805) 704-3255

CAPCA ADVISER | FEBRUARY 2016

Jackie Tabarez, No. CA CAPCA ED Coordinator jackie@capca.com / (916) 928-1625 x205

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CAPCA 2016 Sustaining Membership Benefit Level Descriptions To maximize the benefit opportunities that CAPCA can offer their sustaining members, we are adjusting our tier membership program to better accommodate your specific needs. We encourage you to choose a level that will best suit your business goals and allow you to support CAPCA. Please read over the benefit levels carefully as they have been updated for 2016.

Bronze Level - $600.00

Silver Level - $2,000.00

Gold Level - $3,000.00

➢ One Subscription to CAPCA Adviser Magazine – $30.00 Value ➢ One Job Opportunity Placement in Adviser Magazine and on CAPCA Website – $400.00 Value ➢ Listing on Sustaining Member Page of Adviser Magazine (one line) – $200.00 Value ➢ 50% off Non-member Mailing Label Prices – 50% Savings ➢ Link on CAPCA Website (one line)

➢ Two Subscriptions to CAPCA Adviser Magazine – $60.00 Value ➢ Two Job Opportunity Placements in Adviser Magazine and on CAPCA Website – $800.00 Value ➢ One Advertorial in Adviser Magazine (any 2016 Edition) – $2000.00 Value ➢ Listing on Sustaining Member Page of Adviser Magazine (2 lines) – $300.00 Value ➢ Discounted Premium Exhibit Booth ($100.00 discount) ➢ Link on CAPCA Website (2 lines)

➢ Unlimited Job Opportunity Placements in Adviser Magazine and on CAPCA Website – $1,200.00++ Value ➢ Listing on Sustaining Member Page of Adviser Magazine (+ Logo) – $500.00 Value ➢ One Complimentary Mailing Label Request – $450.00 Value ➢ One Advertorial in Adviser Magazine (any 2016 Edition) – $2000.00 Value ➢ Discounted Agri-Expo Premium Exhibitor Booth ($200.00 discount) ➢ One Conference Registration – $295.00 Value ➢ Link on CAPCA Website (+Logo) ➢ Recognition at CAPCA Conference ➢ Access CAPCA’s Conference Room Suite at Discounted Rates

✧ Chrome Level - $5,000.

➢ 2 Advertorials in Adviser Magazine (any 2016 Edition) – $4000.00 Value ➢ Unlimited Job Opportunities Placements in Adviser Magazine and on CAPCA Website – $1,200.00++ Value ➢ 2 CAPCA Conference Registrations – $590.00 Value ➢ Discounted Agri-Expo Premium Exhibitor Booth ($200.00 discount)

✧ Diamond Level - $10,000.

➢ ALL GOLD Level Benefits ➢ Free Access to CAPCA Conference Room ➢ Authorization to Use CAPCA Diamond Seal Logo ➢ One 2-page Spread Advertisement in Adviser Magazine (any 2016 Edition) ➢ Listing on Diamond Sustaining Member Page of Adviser Magazine ➢ Link on Diamond Sustaining Member Page of CAPCA Website ➢ Priority Exhibit Space at Future Conference ➢ One Additional Conference Registration – $295.00 Value ➢ Customizable Member Benefits

✧

✧ Platinum Level - $25,000.

➢ All DIAMOND Level Benefits ➢ CAPCA ED Seminar Branding ➢ Authorization to Use the CAPCA Platinum Seal Logo ➢ Two 1-page Advertisements – Free ➢ Customizable Member Benefits

To negotiate customizable benefits contact Ruthann Anderson: (916) 928-1625 x 211

UC IPM

Soil Biosolarization Research: Determining Improvements in Non-Fumigant Pest Management Strategies and Soil Health Parameters James J. Stapleton, UC Statewide IPM Program, Kearney Agricultural REC; Ruth M. Dahlquist-Willard, UCCE Fresno County; Yigal Achmon, Food Science & Technology UC Davis; Jean S.VanderGheynst, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UC Davis; and Christopher W. Simmons, Food Science & Technology, UC Davis

esearch and implementation efforts continue to advance the knowledge needed to provide effective and economical alternatives to agricultural soil fumigation. There are many reasons to support these efforts, including protection of human and animal health, protection of the environment, and development of organically-acceptable farming technology desired by consumers. Solarization and biosolarization are two, closely related approaches that have had significant adoption by end-users in various parts of California. The process known as anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is another, similar treatment. Solarization and biosolarization both rely upon plastic film covering moist soil, which is passively heated by solar radiation during warm weather (Figure 1). Numerous field studies have shown that, under proper conditions, these approaches can provide fumigantlike reductions in soilborne pests. Many organic and conventional growers have worked within these conducive conditions and successfully adopted these methods (for details, see Stapleton et al., 2007). Biosolarization is simply solarization with the deliberate addition of selected organic soil amendment(s). Because there are a number of nonoptimal conditions which can decrease the efficacy and/ or predictability of solarization, biosolarization seeks to improve the pesticidal activity of the treatment, while simultaneously contributing to the overall fertility and microbial richness of the treated soil. Neither solarization nor biosolarization are new concepts or practices in California agriculture. They have been used successfully as soil disinfestation treatments, mostly by organic producers, for 30 years (for details, see Stapleton et al., 2006). Practitioners use a wide choice of organic amendments for their biosolarization treatments. As an example, an early biosolarization trial in a field infested with southern root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) was conducted in 1991 to 1992 at the UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, in the central San Joaquin Valley (for details, see Gamliel and Stapleton, 1993). Ten tons per acre of commercially-available chicken compost was used as the soil amendment, with and without four weeks of solarization during the summer. Following soil treatment, the plots were double-cropped to fall- and spring-harvested leaf lettuce. The study showed that, while composting or solarization alone each moderately lowered nematode galling on lettuce roots, both treatments together reduced galling to undetectable levels (Figure 2). Furthermore, soil disinfestation by the combined biosolarization treatment provided the highest lettuce yields in both fall and spring crops (Figure 3). 24

CAPCA ADVISER | FEBRUARY 2016

Figure 1. Planting bed soil disinfestation treatment with biosolarization at an organic vegetable farm in the San Joaquin Valley. Photo: J. Stapleton

In order to improve these soil fumigation alternatives, research must utilize results obtained from field trials to more deeply explore the physical, chemical, and biological underpinnings of their pesticidal activity and impacts on soil health. To this end, we have conducted a number of recent studies on the components of biosolarization. Among other solid waste materials, we have continued to focus on use of composts as amendments, although our interests have been on plantbased materials, rather than on animal by-products. There are useful similarities between finished composts and solarization: both are heat-based processes that tend to select for heat-tolerant microbial communities. With

a few exceptions, heat-tolerant soil organisms tend to be competitors to plant pest organisms. In addition to compost, we have evaluated wheat bran and pomaces of processing tomato and red and white wine grapes as soil amendments (Figure 4). An initial step of our recent, in-depth evaluation of biosolarization mechanisms was to examine heat generation during treatment. Both biological activity and potential phytotoxicity in solarized soil amended with mature greenwaste compost plus wheat bran were measured. Our earlier results were confirmed, showing that organic matter amendment increased soil heating during first week of solarization, by means of aerobic heat of respiration. Measurements showed that approximately 85% of the total respiration potential of the amended soil was exhausted during the 22-day treatment period. Freshly-amended soil was initially phytotoxic to lettuce seedlings prior to solarization, but was remediated following the treatment period (for details, see Simmons et al., 2013). In addition to the heat generation and respiration evaluations, microbial community structures in the same amended soils were studied. Bacterial composition was found to vary with depth in the biosolarized soil. Bacterial communities were enriched in the amended and solarized soils. As might be expected, the new bacterial community structures reflected a significant degree of thermotolerance. This change was associated both with the bacterial consortia added with the compost, and with the soil heating during solarization. The soil amendments affected levels of agriculturally-relevant bacteria after solarization, which may have overall ramifications for soil health (for details, see Simmons et al., 2014). Apart from the soil ecological aspects, biosolarization using greenwaste compost plus wheat bran gave excellent initial weed control results in field trials (for details, see Hernandez et al., 2012). Black mustard (Brassica nigra) test seeds buried at five inch depth in biosolarized plots showed 100% mortality after 3 days of treatment, while those in solarized plots without organic amendment tested at 87% mortality after 22 days of treatment (Figure 5). More recently, the biosolarization potential of tomato and grape processing wastes was assessed. Simulated and field biosolarization gauged weed seed inactivation mechanisms in amended soil. Processing tomato and white wine grape pomaces provided significant soil heating via respiration, as well as a moderate drop in soil pH. Oxygen availability in soil influenced the magnitude of heat of respiration, and of acidification. Pest inactivation conditions induced during biosolarization with red wine grape pomace appeared to be less promising (for details, see Achmon et al., 2015). Our biosolarization studies will continue, with the objectives of improving nonfumigant (and organicallyacceptable) soil disinfestation efficacy, optimizing treatment technologies, and promoting overall soil health

Figure 2. Early demonstration of southern root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) control with biosolarization in a ‘Parris Island Cos’ leaf lettuce field trial at UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Compost+solar (biosolarized) treatment consisted of incorporation of 10 tons/acre commercial chicken compost, followed by irrigation and solarization for 4 weeks in August 1991. Adapted from Gamliel and Stapleton (1993).

Figure 3. Leaf lettuce yields from an early biosolarization field trial at UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Following August soil treatments, ‘Parris Island Cos’ was seeded in September 1991 and harvested in December 1991; then the same beds were reseeded in February 1992 and harvested in May 1992. A significant (P<0.05), negative correlation of higher nematode galling and lower lettuce yield was found in the fall crop. Adapted from Gamliel and Stapleton (1993).

FEBRUARY 2016 | CAPCA ADVISER

Figure 4. Promising biosolarization results have been found following soil amendment and solarization treatment with plant-based solid waste materials: (L) finished greenwaste compost and (R) processing tomato pomace. Photos: J. Stapleton

(Figure 6). In addition to the research reports cited herein, a UC Agriculture and Natural Resources website devoted to resources on solarization, biosolarization, and related techniques is available online (for details, see Stapleton, 2015). Acknowledgements Portions of this work were supported by the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (BARD #US-4266-09 R1); the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (grant agreement number 14-PML-R004), and the National Science Foundation (CBET-1438694). For More Information: Achmon, Y., Harrold, D.R., Claypool, J.T., Stapleton, J.J., VanderGheynst, J.S., and Simmons, C.W. 2015. Assessment of tomato and wine processing solid wastes as soil amendments for biosolarization. In press, corrected proof Waste Management: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. wasman.2015.10.022 or http://www.researchgate.net/ publication/283494044_Assessment_of_tomato_and_ wine_processing_solid_wastes_as_soil_amendments_for_ biosolarization.

CAPCA ADVISER | FEBRUARY 2016

Figure 5. Mortality of black mustard (Brassica nigra) seeds buried at a five-inch depth in a field trial at UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Red bars represent seed mortality in soil biosolarized with greenwaste compost plus wheat bran, while yellow bars show seed mortality in solarized soil without amendment.

Figure 6. Pole tomato plants on biosolarized beds in the San Joaquin Valley. Photo: J. Stapleton

Gamliel, A., and Stapleton, J.J. 1993. Effect of chicken compost or ammonium phosphate and solarization on pathogen control, rhizosphere microorganisms, and lettuce growth. Plant Disease 77:886–891. http:// www.apsnet.org/publications/PlantDisease/BackIssues/ Documents/1993Articles/PlantDisease77n09_886.pdf. Hernandez, K., Betts, S., Dahlquist, R., Marshall, M., VanderGheynst, J., Simmons, C., Claypool, J., and Stapleton, J. 2012. A field trial to evaluate deleterious effects of composted municipal greenwaste and soil solarization on black mustard seeds. In: Proceedings, 2012 Annual Meeting of the California Weed Science Society 64:33. http://www.cwss.org/uploaded/media_pdf/25932012PROCEEDINGSUPDATED22415.pdf. Simmons, C.W., Claypool, J.T., Marshall, M.N., Jabusch, L.K., Reddy, A.P., Simmons, B.A., Singer, S.W., Stapleton, J.J., and VanderGheynst, J.S. 2014. Characterization of bacterial communities in solarized soil amended with lignocellulosic organic matter. Applied Soil Ecology 73:97–104.

Simmons, C.W., Guo, H., Claypool, J.T, Marshall, M.N., Perano, K.M., Stapleton, J.J., and VanderGheynst, J.S. 2013. Managing compost stability and amendment to soil to enhance soil heating during soil solarization. Waste Management 33:1090–1096. Stapleton, J.J., Molinar, R.H., Lynn-Patterson, K., McFeeters, S.K., and Shrestha, A. 2006. Soil solarization provides weed control for limited-resource and organic growers in warmer climates. California Agriculture 59:84–89. http://californiaagriculture.ucanr.edu/landingpage. cfm?article=ca.v059n02p84&fulltext=yes. Stapleton, J., Turini, T., and Bottoms, R. 2007. Solarization heats up in the low desert. CAPCA Adviser Vol. 10, No. 3: pages 22–23 & 53. http://ucanr.edu/sites/ Solarization/files/114653.pdf. Stapleton, J.J. 2015. UC ANR Solarization Informational Website. http://ucanr.edu/sites/Solarization/. T

FEBRUARY 2016 | CAPCA ADVISER

CAPCA Conference Facility

Meeting Room Space Available Room Rate - $250/day

CAPCA has its own executive conference room located on the first floor of the California Farm Bureau corporate office in Sacramento. The CAPCA executive board room can comfortably seat up to 20 attendees, (max 30).

Our meeting room has a beautiful view of walnut/ oak trees and access to an outdoor patio. Guests have easy access to restrooms as well as the Farm Bureau cafeteria.

CAPCA Diamond level members will be allowed 5 With built-in AV you can project to either the drop meetings free per year, while Gold level members down screen or the 55â&#x20AC;? LCD monitor or both. The receive a discounted rate of $100. Platinum level members have unlimited access. room also has wireless Internet (and state of the art teleconferencing equipment). Meetings can be held Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Unlike some meeting room space, CAPCA does not have a meal requirement, giving you To make reservations, contact: the flexibility to use the Farm Bureau Cafe Lien Banh (conveniently located on site) or an outside caterer.

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FARM ADVISORS

Salinity Management in Field Crops and Vegetables

Brenna Aegerter, UCCE San Joaquin County; Michelle Leinfelder-Miles, Ph.D., UCCE San Joaquin County

quality and rainfall. While our projects were focused on the unique challenges in the Delta, we describe some basic principles of salinity management that broadly apply to Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s irrigated agricultural systems. Salt problems are not unique to the Delta and occur on approximately one-third of all irrigated land in the world, particularly in arid regions like California. Some soils are salty because parent materials weather to form soluble salts. On croplands, salts may be applied with irrigation water to create or exacerbate salty conditions. In the Delta, tidal influences on surface waterways, as well as a shallow and fluctuating groundwater table, also influence soil salinity. Salt impairment may be identified by white or black crusts on the soil surface, wet spots on the soil surface, marginal leaf burn, or the presence of salt-tolerant weeds. Salt impairs plant growth in many ways: by exerting osmotic stress that results in decreased turgor pressure in plant cells, degrading soil physical conditions that impair water penetration and the plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to access water, and specific ion toxicities that vary by plant species. Limited water supplies due to drought and deficit irrigation methods Figure 1. Soil salinity profile at the end of the second season can exacerbate of drip-irrigated tomatoes in the Delta. The blue oval at the 12â&#x20AC;? soil salinity, thus depth at bed center represents the location of the drip tape. magnifying these Soil depths are relative to the top of the bed, thus the blank stresses on plants. areas near the furrow. Colors represent the salinity gradient The primary from low (green) to high (red), and show that salts were management moving laterally from the drip tape. he Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta region is a unique agricultural region of California characterized by organic soils, shallow groundwater (and consequently limited drainage), and access to generally good quality irrigation water. Delta farming, however, is challenged by salinity, which can stress crops and reduce yields. Results from two on-farm research projects in the Delta illustrate the unique challenges of managing salts in Delta agricultural systems. We developed a project in processing tomato to evaluate how converting to drip irrigation impacted water use and soil salinity by studying furrow and drip irrigation systems over the course of three seasons (2013-2015). In a second project which spanned the same time period, we studied seven border check irrigated alfalfa systems to understand how well soils were being leached of salts, as influenced by surface water

CAPCA ADVISER | FEBRUARY 2016

strategy to combat soil salinity is leaching. Leaching is accomplished by applying water in excess of what the root zone soil can hold and the crop needs; this excess water moves below the root zone, carrying salts with it. Leaching that occurs during non-crop periods is typically done with sprinklers or flooding, which leach the entire soil profile. Leaching that occurs during the crop season is called maintenance leaching. Maintenance leaching can result in root rot or leaching of fertilizers or pesticides if not done carefully. Maintenance leaching can also be done with drip irrigation systems but with some limitations. Namely, salts move outward and downward from the tape, but the soil above the tape cannot be leached. Leaching decreases with distance from the drip tape, and no leaching occurs mid-way between adjacent lines. The greater the volume of water applied, the greater the leaching effect. UC Farm Advisors Tom Turini and Dan Munk, working at the West Side Research and Extension Center in Fresno County, showed that with the availability of high-quality surface irrigation water, they could decrease the average EC of drip-irrigated tomato soil over a 3-year period; although salinity increased in some portions of the profile. Drip irrigation has some advantages for salinity management in row crops. Although salts can accumulate on the periphery of the wetted zone, this may not greatly impact the crop since the majority of the roots are in the wetted zone. Another advantage is that some crops are particularly sensitive to foliar accumulation of salts from sprinkler irrigation water, and drip eliminates this issue. Additionally, with more frequent irrigations, soil moisture can be maintained more evenly with drip irrigation, which minimizes the impacts of salinity.

UC Davis Specialist Blaine Hanson, working with UC Farm Advisor Don May on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, showed that daily irrigations matched to crop water use, coupled with groundwater monitoring, allowed use of poor quality groundwater to successfully grow processing tomatoes. In the long run, however, salt build up can endanger subsequent crops unless the soil is leached. It is important to monitor salinity (typically measured as electrical conductivity) of soil (ECe) and irrigation water (ECw) to understand baseline conditions and how management practices can change the soil salinity profile over time. Our projects involved extensive soil and water sampling to understand the soil salinity profile, how it changed over time, and whether leaching was occurring to move salts out of the profile. Ayers and Westcot (1985) provide guidelines for crop salinity tolerances. For processing tomato, yield declines are expected when the average root zone salinity ECe reaches 2.5 dS/m

Figure 2. Soil salinity profiles, and groundwater depth and salinity, for a flood irrigated alfalfa field in the Delta. With the exception of the Spring 2015 sampling, the soil reached its highest salinity at about 3.5 feet, or around 105 cm. This was also the shallowest depth of groundwater in the spring of every year, which suggests that shallow groundwater is limiting the leaching of salts below this depth. or ECw averages 1.7 dS/m over the season. Likewise, yield declines for alfalfa are expected at salinities of 2.0 dS/m and 1.3 dS/m for soil and water, respectively. Our Delta research illustrates that salts are accumulating in the soil, despite relatively good quality

water (particularly compared to groundwater quality in other regions of the state) being used for irrigation. In our study of tomatoes under buried drip, we observed that with high quality surface water, the average ECe increased slightly over the three years. We saw localized leaching that was less downward than what was observed in the studies conducted on the west side of Fresno County. Salts were moved out of the soil that was lateral to the drip tape (Figure 1). Some of the salt was pushed to the surface of the bed and furrow.

Figure 3. Soil salinity of a furrow-irrigated tomato field in the Delta. Soil depths are relative to the top of the bed, thus the blank areas near the furrow. Colors represent the salinity gradient from low (green) to high (red). The soil sampled from the top end of the field, where irrigation water enters, shows more leaching than the soil sampled from the bottom end of the field, indicating uneven distribution of irrigation water down the field. FEBRUARY 2016 | CAPCA ADVISER

Salt also accumulated in a layer of soil about three feet below the surface. We attribute this accumulation to finetextured organic matter at this depth. The fine organic matter fills up soil pores and impedes water movement. In the alfalfa project, some of the study sites accumulated salts because soil conditions and/or shallow groundwater impaired leaching. Figure 2 illustrates the soil salinity profile of one of the alfalfa sites. The soil is a silty clay loam with low saturated hydraulic conductivity. Water does not move down the profile quickly, and the groundwater can be as shallow as 3.5 feet. Likewise, the ECe was at its maximum at about 3.5 feet at every spring and fall soil sampling except Spring 2015. Thus, it would appear that soil conditions and/or groundwater are preventing leaching below this depth. Figure 2 also illustrates the importance of soil sampling below the top foot for a better understanding of the salinity profile. While the ECe of the top foot of soil was in a tolerable range for crops like tomato and alfalfa, there was a considerable jump in salinity in the second foot below the surface. Crop roots can easily penetrate this depth, and thus, were anchoring into soil that had higher salinity than what is generally recommended (Ayers and Westcot, 1985). This, again, illustrates the need for leaching with low salinity irrigation water and/or water applied in excess of crop evapotranspiration. Results from both the tomato and alfalfa projects illustrate that in gravity-fed irrigation systems (furrow, flood), the top end of the field, where irrigation water enters, may be more easily leached than the bottom end of the field (Figures 3 and 4). The top of the field has a longer opportunity time for water to infiltrate. Irrigating over a longer run time may provide for better leaching at the bottom of the field; however, longer run times will also increase runoff from the field and could result in standing water on clay soils. Figure 4. Soil salinity profiles of a flood-irrigated alfalfa field in the Delta. Profiles are depicted for the spring and fall seasons of 2013, and are depicted for top, middle, and bottom sections of the field, where top indicates the side of the field where irrigation water enters. In both the spring and fall, the top section of the field was leached better than the middle and bottom sections.

CAPCA ADVISER | FEBRUARY 2016

In conclusion, salinity is an issue in the Delta and throughout California, and limited water supplies due to drought and deficit irrigation may exacerbate the issue. Leaching is the primary way to combat soil salinity, but Delta research has shown the challenges to leaching high organic matter soils with shallow groundwater. In a drip irrigated tomato field, leaching occurred laterally, but salts accumulated at the soil surface and in an organic matter layer that was still within the crop rooting zone. In gravity fed irrigation systems, uneven water distribution down the row may result in poor leaching at the bottom end of the field, and thus variable field conditions that could become difficult to manage. Additionally, shallow groundwater may be restricting leaching in the Delta. Monitoring soil and water salinity and understanding soil and groundwater characteristics will help growers optimize leaching and agricultural productivity. Further Reading Ayers, R. S. and Westcot, D. W. 1985. Water Quality for Agriculture. FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 29 Rev. 1. FAO, United Nations, Rome. Grattan, S. 2002. Irrigation Water Salinity and Crop Production. Oakland: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication 8066. Hanson, B., Grattan, S. and Fulton, A. 2006. Agricultural Salinity and Drainage. Oakland: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication 3375. Hanson, B. and May, D. 2011. Drip Irrigation Salinity Management for Row Crops. Oakland: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication 8447. T

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FARM ADVISORS

Nitrogen Fertilizer Technologies to Improve Nitrogen Management for Leafy Vegetable Production

Richard Smith,Vegetable Crop and Weed Science Farm Advisor, Monterey County

itrogen management is a critical crop production issue and growers are under increasing pressure to improve nitrogen use efficiency and reduce losses of nitrate in surface runoff and leaching to groundwater. Regulations implemented by Central Coast and Central Valley (Regions 3 and 5, respectively) Regional Water Quality Control Boards are prompting growers to evaluate ways to bring nitrogen application rates closer to the nitrogen uptake of their crops. Efficient water management is a key practice that can help maintain soil nitrate in the root zone and reduce leaching losses. In addition, adjusting fertilizer application rates by accounting for the nitrogen contribution to the crop of residual soil nitrate and nitrate in irrigation can help improve the efficiency of applied nitrogen. These practices provide the majority of improvements that growers are able to make in improving nitrogen 34

CAPCA ADVISER | FEBRUARY 2016

use efficiency. However, fertilizer technologies are available that can help growers manage nitrogen fertility of their crops. In this article I will discuss research that we have conducted over the past several

Efficient water management is a key practice that can help maintain soil nitrate in the root zone and reduce leaching losses.

years evaluating various nitrogen technologies in spinach and lettuce production in the Salinas Valley. In the corn belt of the US and in Europe â&#x20AC;&#x153;nitrogen stabilizersâ&#x20AC;? are commonly used to reduce nitrogen

losses via volatilization of urea and ammonical fertilizers, as well as nitrate leaching. Nitrification inhibitors slow the transformation of ammonium to nitrate by disrupting the action of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter bacteria that carry out this transformation. In so doing, a greater portion of the fertilizer nitrogen stays as the positively charged ammonium molecule which binds to negatively charged clay particles and organic matter. Ideally, the nitrogen would have a longer residence time in the root zone giving the crop a greater opportunity to take it up before it is leached by excess rainfall or irrigation. Examples of nitrification inhibitors include nitrapyrin, dicyandiamide (DCD) and dimethlpyrazolphosphate (DMPP). Nitrapyrin and DCD are used extensively in the Midwest, and DMPP is used in Europe. The nitrification inhibitors eventually biologically degrade and lose their effect. Under

(left) Photo 1. Spinach nitrogen technology trial (Photo: R. Smith) cold soil conditions they last longer than during warmer conditions in the summer. Given the action of nitrification inhibitors on the bacteria in the soil, some are classified as pesticides and must go through the EPA registration process. Others such as DCD are not classified as pesticides and do not require registration. In addition to these products, there are other chemicals such as thiosulfates that also show some ability to inhibit nitrification. There are also products that blend urease inhibitors with nitrification inhibitors to slow the breakdown to urea to ammonium (e.g. DCD + urease inhibitor). In addition to nitrification inhibitors, there are other nitrogen technologies. Products range from polyurethane coated urea prills to chain and ring formulations of urea that slow the release of ammonium from urea and give it more residence time in the soil. The polymer coated urea products are rated by the average number of days it takes to achieve maximum release of N from the prill. This is typically regulated by the thickness of the plastic coating with thinner coatings providing more rapid release. All of these nitrogen technology materials operate in the soil which is a complex biological system with changing temperatures and moisture

conditions. These factors affect the performance of the materials and make absolute prediction of how well they will perform difficult. To add to this complexity the crops that we were working with in these studies were spinach and lettuce. Both of these crops have particular nitrogen uptake characteristics that make nitrogen management challenging. Clipped spinach is produced on densely planted 80inch wide beds that are exclusively sprinkler irrigated. Spinach typically matures in 30 days in summer, and takes up from 80 – 100 lbs nitrogen/A, the majority of which is absorbed in the last 2 weeks of crop cycle. In addition, the crop has strict quality requirements necessitating deep green leaf color and no tolerance for yellowed nitrogen deficient plants. Romaine lettuce takes up 60-65 days to mature during the summer. Sixseedline romaine grown on 80-inch wide beds takes up from 140 to 170 lbs nitrogen/A. It takes up very little nitrogen during the first 30 days following seeding, but takes up the majority of nitrogen in the final 30-35 days of the crop cycle. Given the potential of nitrogen technology materials to help maintain nitrogen in the root zone by reducing nitrate leaching during irrigations, we were interested in

testing if nitrogen technologies could improve nitrogen use efficiency on spinach and lettuce. We conducted trials with a wide spectrum of nitrogen technologies over the past several years. The spinach trials were all conducted in cooperating grower’s fields and the lettuce trials at the USDA research station south of Salinas. A standard nitrogen fertilizer treatment was included in all trials as well as a moderate N fertilizer rate that was 25 to 35% less than the standard treatment. All of the nitrogen technology fertilizer treatments were applied at the same seasonal N rate as the moderate treatment; this was done to detect if the nitrogen technologies gave an increase in the yield over the unamended moderate rate. This approach worked for the most part, but the results from individual trials varied depending on residual soil nitrate at the site and/or other factors. Table 1 summarizes 7 spinach trials and 4 lettuce trials conducted from 2012 to 2015 (Photos 1 and 2). The data show that for both crops the nitrogen technology treatments modestly improved yield compared to the moderate treatment (which received the same seasonal N rate). The exceptions were urea triazone on spinach (which may have had an N

Table 1. Performance of nitrogen technology treatments relative to standard and moderate N treatments. Data represents the mean performance across 7 spinach and 4 lettuce trials. Treatments

Spinach

Lettuce

Yield relative to Standard

Yield relative to Moderate

Yield relative to Standard

Yield relative to Moderate

Untreated

61.3

69.0

66.1

77.6

Standard

100.0

112.8

100.0

111.1

Moderate2

89.0

100.0

83.1

100.0

---

84.2

101.0

Polymer coated urea prill

95.0

107.4

89.1

95.6

DCD + urease inhibitor impregnated urea prill

93.4

103.7

---

Urea triazone

66.8

76.7

97.1

107.5

Nitrapyrin

93.5

103.8

94.4

104.8

DMPP

95.4

104.7

93.7

105.3

DCD + urease inhibitor fertilizer additive

1 – Used a typical rate to achieve maximum yield; 2 – 25-35% less than the standard rate (all nitrogen technologies were also applied at the moderate rate).

FEBRUARY 2016 | CAPCA ADVISER

release rate too slow for such a quick crop), and polymer coated urea in lettuce. While none of the nitrogen technology treatments quite matched the yield of the standard N treatment in either crop, some technology treatments showed minimal yield loss, given that their seasonal N rates were at least 25% lower than the standard treatment. The take home message from these studies is that with the observed exceptions, nitrogen technologies appear to provide a modest improvement in nitrogen use efficiency. Some of the materials work better on some crops than on others (e.g. urea triazone on lettuce vs spinach). The issue that we observed is that in any given field it may not be readily apparent that you obtained a benefit from the use of a specific nitrogen technology. This may be due to high residual levels of soil nitrate, but other factors such as the longevity of the material in warm summer soils may affect performance as well.

The ultimate goal of these materials is to be able to put on less than the standard amount of fertilizer and still achieve maximum yield. Nitrogen technologies may have specific benefits to growers who are cutting fertilizer application rates to the minimum by buffering the risk. In addition, they may also offer benefits to spinach (as well as baby lettuce) production where all irrigation water is applied by sprinklers and water management may be more challenging, especially on sandy soils. The cost of nitrogen fertilizer technologies is another factor that growers will weigh as they consider their use.

Photo 2. Romaine nitrogen technology trial (Photo: R. Smith)

CAPCA ADVISER | FEBRUARY 2016

The ultimate goal of these materials is to be able to put on less than the standard amount of fertilizer and still achieve maximum yield. These studies showed that overall, with the use of nitrogen technologies, cutting back on fertilizer would have to be modest to rely on these technologies to make up the difference. In addition, we did not include measurements of nitrate leaching in these studies, however, other researchers have examined the environmental benefit of nitrogen technologies and have shown benefits that parallel the modest improvements in yields. In summary, nitrogen fertilizer technologies are part of a long-term set of strategies to improve nitrogen use efficiency in vegetable operations. Careful irrigation management and use of fertilizer rates that account for residual nitrate levels are key nitrogen management practices. Nitrogen technologies enhance good basic agronomic practices. T

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FARM ADVISORS

Micro-sprinklers in Strawberry Production Surendra K. Dara, Strawberry and Vegetable Crops Advisor and Affiliated IPM Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties

trawberry is an important commercial crop in California primarily grown on the Central Coast in Watsonville, Santa Maria, and Oxnard production areas. Strawberries require 24-29” of irrigation water for a typical production season based on fall plantings. Irrigation is primarily administered through drip tapes installed under plastic mulch during bed preparation. In addition to the drip irrigation throughout the crop life, supplemental irrigation through overhead aluminum sprinklers is administered during the first few weeks after transplanting. Overhead irrigation is practiced to leach out salts from the root zone and to support the establishment of new transplants. Strawberries are sensitive to salinity and this supplemental irrigation is believed to reduce or prevent salt injury. In the Oxnard area, overhead aluminum sprinkler irrigation is considered very important to prevent dry conditions which could result from Santa Ana winds. However, overhead aluminum sprinkler irrigation requires a significant amount of water and can be an

Fig. 1. Micro-sprinkler and grower standard sections at Manzanita Berry Farms, Santa Maria. Photo: S. Dara

Fig. 2. Micro-sprinklers were set up 16’ apart and had a 15’ spacing within a bed. Aluminum sprinkler pipes were set up 40’ apart. Photos: S. Dara

Conserving water through improved irrigation practices is a critical area for maintaining acreage of a lucrative commodity like strawberries.

inefficient system. Evaporation, limited surface area for water penetration due to plastic mulch on the beds, and potential run off are some of the disadvantages associated with this overhead sprinkler system. Water is an important resource for growing plants and it has become scarce due to epic drought conditions in California. Conserving water through improved irrigation practices is a critical area for maintaining acreage of a lucrative commodity like strawberries. Micro-sprinklers, which are commonly used in orchard systems could offer an efficient alternative to conventional aluminum sprinklers. Micro-sprinklers, established on strawberry beds, can deliver water in a more targeted manner with minimum or no run off. They could also help modify the microclimate in the strawberry canopy and create humid conditions that discourage spider mite pest populations and promote predatory mites which are sensitive to dry conditions. A study was conducted at Manzanita Berry Farms in Santa Maria during 2014-2015 production season to evaluate the potential of micro-sprinklers in strawberry production. Objectives of this study included i) conservation of irrigation resources without affecting strawberry plant growth and fruit yield, ii) impact on pest and predatory mite populations, and iii) impact on powdery mildew and botrytis fruit rot.

Fig. 3. Cumulative irrigation volume in micro-sprinkler and grower standard plots during November, 2014.

Fig. 4. Marketable yields at each harvest from February to June, 2015 in micro-sprinkler and grower standard plots.

Fig. 5. Total marketable and unmarketable berry yields in microsprinkler and grower standard plots.

Experimental design A block of strawberry (variety BG-6.3024 planted on November 6, 2014) was divided into two parts with beds aligned from south to north direction (Fig. 1). The west half of the block was assigned for microsprinklers and the east half for the grower standard with aluminum sprinklers. Each block had about 60 beds (about 306-365â&#x20AC;&#x2122; long) and aluminum sprinklers were established in furrows every 40â&#x20AC;&#x2122; (7-8 beds in between) while micro-sprinklers were established on every third

FEBRUARY 2016 | CAPCA ADVISER

bed. Micro-sprinklers were placed 16’ apart (on every fourth bed) and had a 15’ spacing within a bed (Fig. 2). Within each treatment section six 20’ long plots were marked to measure plant, pest, and disease parameters. Data collection and results Irrigation – Conventional sprinkler irrigation was made 14 times from November 6-29, 2015 at a rate of 125 gallons per minute while micro-sprinkler irrigation was made 1-3 day interval at a rate of 40 gallons per minute using 35 PSI pressure. During this period, aluminum sprinklers delivered 120,000 gallons of water over 16 hours of total irrigation while micro-sprinklers delivered 81,600 over 34 hours of total irrigation (Fig. 3). This translates to 32% of water saving in just 3 weeks and could be more in situations where overhead irrigation is administered for extended periods. Microsprinkler irrigation was continued for 15 min twice a week for the rest of the production period. Distribution uniformity could not be measured in grower standard treatment, but it was 74% in micro-sprinkler plot at 35 PSI when measured on January 16, 2015. When electrical conductivity was measured on January 1 and February 1, 2015, it varied between 0.47 and 0.49 dS/m in grower standard treatment and was at 0.54 dS/m in microsprinkler treatment. Yield – Total and marketable berry yield data were collected 2-3 times a week between February 7 and June 12, 2015 for a total of 34 sampling dates (Fig. 4). There was no significant difference in total or marketable berries (P > 0.05) when the seasonal averages for grower standard and micro-sprinkler plots were compared. During the observation period, 44,322 gr (97.7 lb) and 43,452 gr (95.8 lb) of marketable berries/plot were produced in grower standard and micro-sprinkler treatments, respectively (Fig. 5). Plant canopy and health – Growth was recorded by measuring the width of the plant canopy across and along the bed from 20 random plants per plot on the 6th of each month from January to March, 2015. Plant health was monitored at the same time by on a scale of 0 to 5 where 0 = dead, 1 = weak, 2 = moderate-low, 3 = moderate-high, 4 = good, and 5 = very good. Plants in micro-sprinkler treatment had significantly smaller canopy in January (P = 0.004) and February (P =0.0006), but caught up with the grower standard by March (P = 0.14) (Fig. 6A). Plant health rating during this period also followed a similar trend, but the differences were significant only in February (P = 0.02) (Fig. 6B). Twospotted spider mite and predatory mite – One mid-tier leaflet was sampled from each of the 10 random plants within each plot and the number of eggs, nymphs, adult pest and predatory mites were counted using a mite brushing machine. Sampling was made once a month from February to April, 2015, but due to sparse numbers and uneven distribution useful data could not be obtained.

CAPCA ADVISER | FEBRUARY 2016

Fig. 6. Canopy size (A) and plant health condition in test plots from January to March, 2015.

Fig. 7. Powdery mildew severity in test plots in Aril and June, 2015.

Powdery mildew â&#x20AC;&#x201C; One trifoliate leaf from 20 random plants within each plot were collected and checked under microscope for mycelial growth and powdery mildew severity was rated on a 0 to 4 scale where 0 = absent, 1 = 1-25%, 2 = 26-50%, 3 = 51-75%, and 4 = 76-100% of leaf area with infection. Sampling was made on April 15 and June 16 and 24, 2015. Powdery mildew severity was significantly less in microsprinkler treatment on April 15 (P = 0.009) and June 24 (P = 0.01) (Fig. 7). Botrytis fruit rot â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Berries harvested from each plot were kept at room temperature in plastic clamshell boxes and disease severity was measured 3 and 5 days after harvest using the 0 to 4 scale used for powdery mildew. Observations were made on March 26, April 13, May 22, and June 16, 2015. In general, botrytis fruit was less severe in micro-sprinkler treatment, but significant differences were seen three days after harvest for samples collected on May 22 and June 16 (P = 0.02) (Fig. 8).

Fig. 8. Severity of botrytis on strawberries, three (A) and five days (B) after harvest.

Conclusions Micro-sprinkler system contributed to a significant reduction in overhead irrigation water without affecting the marketable berry yield. Due to the lack of sufficient mite infestations, its usefulness for spider mite management could not be determined. Data also suggest that powdery mildew and botrytis fruit rot could be reduced by micro-sprinklers, but additional studies are required to confirm these preliminary observations. An initial estimate by the vendor suggests that equipment and handling costs of the micro-sprinklers are more or less similar to those of the aluminum sprinklers. Acknowledgements: Thanks to Dave Peck, Manzanita Berry Farms for his collaboration, his field crew for planting, irrigation practices, and yield data collection, Danilu Ramirez, Fritz Light, and Tamas Zold for their technical assistance, and RDO Water and Netafim for partial funding of the study. T

Micro-sprinkler system contributed to a significant reduction in overhead irrigation water without affecting the marketable berry yield.

FEBRUARY 2016 | CAPCA ADVISER

CAPCA

Dedicated to Supporting PCAs

Mission & Purpose CAPCA’s mission is to facilitate the success of the PCA and to represent our 3,000 members who provide pest management consultation for the production of food, fiber and ornamental industries of California. CAPCA’s purpose is to serve as the leader in the evolution of the pest management industry through the communication of reliable information. CAPCA is dedicated to the professional development and enhancement of our members’ education and stewardship which includes legislative, regulatory, continuing education and public outreach. Photo: Fred Rehrman, Elysian Fields

STANDARD OF CONDUCT Adopted 1989

CAPCA members will conduct themselves in a professional manner according to their code of ethics by observing all laws and all regulations, broadening their abilities through continuing education, and respecting the needs of their clients, the environment and public safety at all times.

CODE OF ETHICS Adopted 1992

INTRODUCTION

The California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA) recognizes the unique ethical and professional responsibility of the licensed pest control adviser (PCA). PCAs have the responsibility to support and promote the highest standards of conduct in the performance of their duties to the public, the environment and their clients. CAPCA members will observe and obey all laws and regulations pertaining to our industry, and will voluntarily assume the obligations of self-discipline, honor, and environmental respect set forth in the CAPCA ‘Code of Ethics’.

ARTICLE I: Obligation of the PCA to the Public and Environment

• Prescribe environmentally sound pest management methods which do not jeopardize the public health and welfare. • Ensure that alternative measures for pest management situations have been reviewed, as provided by law. • Maintain an awareness of public concerns and be willing to address those concerns in a sound, scientifically-based manner. • Serve as a leading advocate of safe and effective pest management technologies. • Participate in the advancement of pest management and professional knowledge.

ARTICLE II: Obligation of the PCA to the Client

• PCAs have an affirmative ethical obligation not to conceal their source of compensation when asked. • Help the client keep abreast of relevant regulatory and technological changes which could impact the client’s business. • Provide the client with pest management advice which meets the following criteria: - environmentally, economically, and ethically sound - legal uses that are objective and are research-based

ARTICLE III: Obligation of PCA to the Profession

• Refrain from making false or misleading statements about the work of other PCAs. • Recognize the duty to report illegal practices to the proper authorities. • Maintain state-of-the-art knowledge of pest management through conscientious pursuit of continuing education. • Participate in industry affiliated organizations and activities which encourage the betterment of the profession. • Foster and support research and education for the advancement of pest management

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES NOTE: The following job opportunities are abbreviated postings. To view the complete posting, please see the MEMBERS ONLY section of our website and click on the JOBS tile. http://capca.com/members/ Territory Sales Representative Amvac Chemical Corporation

Job Summary: Manage product sales and service activities involving external customers within the California central and south coastal geographic area that will achieve budgeted sales and profit objectives in alignment with company objectives. Primary counties of focus: Ventura, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda. The amount of overnight travel required will depend on residence location, but should not exceed 30-40% of time on the job. Required Education and Experience: B.S. college degree required with a preferred focus in Agricultural Science or Business. A strong background in the Agricultural Chemical or related agriculture industry is required. Knowledge of vegetable production and experience in the soil fumigation market is desired but is not a mandatory requirement. A valid California Pest Control Adviser (PCA) license is required. For consideration please email your resume to: Kim Bohlander, KimB@amvac-chemical.com

Technical Sales Executive - California Growers Secret

Job Description: The Technical Sales Executive will generate, solicit, and prioritize market opportunities for the Grower’s Secret product line. Working in conjunction with dealer/distributor personnel, the TSE will formulate and execute a strategic market plan with the singular purpose of increasing market share in the assigned territory while servicing and supporting existing business. The TSE will utilize the existing support of the dealer/distributor network, grower meetings, demonstration trials, research data, and other formal and informal educational, service, and support needs/opportunities to grow our business, market share, and profitability in the assigned territory. The TSE will also serve as a technical resource for our dealer/distributor’s staff by providing training in a variety of settings including one-on-one meetings as well as formal presentations, responding to customer complaints, and generally being an ambassador representing Grower’s Secret. Essential Skills and Functions: Must have 3-5 years sales experience, and a track record for success. Must have quantified examples of success in sales- New Sales/ % increase/ # of new accounts. Demonstrates a thorough and detailed knowledge of our products. Has the ability to communicate and relate our product information to farmers, distributor/dealer accounts, agronomists and specialists in formal and informal settings. Has established working relationships with growers AND the dealer/distributor network. Has detailed knowledge of crops common to the assigned territory and their timing. Demonstrates cooperative and professional behavior with supervisor, colleagues, and customers. Must have strong experience using CRM/ERP - Sales Force/NetSuite, SAP or other. Education: BS degree in Life Sciences highly preferred To apply: Please send resume to jobs@growerssecret.com

Agronomist J.G. Boswell

Position based in Bakersfield. We are currently seeking an Agronomist to assist in raising high quality pistachios, tomatoes, onions, cotton, and safflower, by providing a level of support and understanding of crop production methods, plant development, pest control and environmental safety. Scope of Work: Manage all aspects of agronomy including crop handling practices, nutrient program, Integrated Pest Management, spray program and soil sampling in the assigned District. Coordinate and oversee all chemical applications and recommendations of all fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide, and fungicide by communicating with chemical vendors and applicators. Monitors growth of crops, weeds and growth of insects on crops, analyze soil moisture by collecting samples from the field by utilizing GIS and GPS technology. Education, Experience and Skills Required: Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences, Biological Sciences, or Pest Management; Ability to comprehend principles and concepts of modern algebra, advanced statistical theory, quadratic and differential equations, and proofs of theorems; Excellent interpersonal, supervisory, leadership, verbal, and written skills; Possess or be able to obtain a Pest Control Adviser and Pest Control Operator license in the near future; Must have a valid California driver license. Apply: Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by sending a cover letter and resume to: jobs@jgboswell.com

Agriculture Technical Sales - Technical Sales Representative Hortau

Responsibilities: Develop new customer accounts; Sales follow-up; Build and maintain constructive customer relationships; Meet sales objectives; Schedule, plan and budget for various tradeshows/meetings. Requirements: 3-5 years experience of Ag sales in the territory; Pertinent degree in agriculture, sales, marketing, business management; Good technical sales communication capabilities; Excellent time management and organization capabilities; Autonomous, entrepreneurial and enthusiastic by nature; Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, PowerPoint & Excel; Bilingual- Spanish (Conversational). Apply: Please mail a cover letter & resume to jotto@hortau.com

CAPCA ADVISER | FEBRUARY 2016

Pest Control Adviser AG Unlimited

The ideal candidate for this position must have a combination of technical and interpersonal skills, and a strong work ethic. Professionalism is essential, since our customer base consists of highly sophisticated and progressive growers. Industry or related work experience is a plus, but not required. This position will be located in the North Coast of CA. Territories will include Lake and Mendocino Counties. The ideal candidate will have the following: Solid academic record with a BS degree (or degree candidate) in an Ag related course of study. This position will focus primarily on pome fruit production (pears primarily) with some wine grapes. The educational requirements and ability to pass the required written tests to become a licensed California PCA, Pest Control Operator and Certified Crop Adviser. Strong interpersonal skills. Candidate must be able to get along well with co-workers and also gain the trust of a sophisticated customer base. Technical background and the ability to understand and explain complex technical issues in areas such as fertigation, pest control, plant nutrition, irrigation, etc. For more information please contact: Devin W. Gordon, (707) 489-0261, devin@pacific.net or send resume to: AG Unlimited, A Division of the Lyman Group, 4550 El Roble Rd., Ukiah, CA 95482

Pest Control Adviser AG Unlimited

The ideal candidate for this position must have a combination of technical and interpersonal skills, and a strong work ethic. Professionalism is essential, since our customer base consists of highly sophisticated and progressive growers. Industry or related work experience is a plus, but not required. This position will be located in the North Coast of CA. Territories may include Napa, Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino Counties. The ideal candidate will have the following: Solid academic record with a BS degree (or degree candidate) in an Ag related course of study. Viticulture and/or tree experience is a plus, but not required. A demonstrated interest in plant nutrition is also a plus. The educational requirements and ability to pass the required written tests to become a licensed California PCA, Pest Control Operator and Certified Crop Adviser. Strong interpersonal skills. Candidate must be able to get along well with co-workers and also gain the trust of a sophisticated customer base. Technical background and the ability to understand and explain complex technical issues in areas such as fertigation, pest control, plant nutrition, irrigation, etc. For more information please contact: Devin W. Gordon, (707) 489-0261, devin@pacific.net or send resume to: AG Unlimited, A Division of the Lyman Group, 4550 El Roble Rd., Ukiah, CA 95482

Sales Account Manager AgroLiquid

Responsibilities: Recruit Retail Partners to sell AgroLiquid products; Identify our fit with the entity; Position our product for sustainable growth; Identify geographic areas that need representation; Structure an area to maximize our market share; Promote programs to enhance market position in area; Field visits to train RPs to work independently; Balance time between account maintenance and recruitment. Agronomist: Be proficient with recommendations on soils, crops and cultural practices of the area, Be able to interpret soil test results; Utilize agronomy skills to recognize opportunities for growth; Ensure proper positioning for long-term success; Be capable of presenting on products; Properly trouble-shoot issues in the field; Train Retail Partners; ensure proper presenters, relevant materials and training methods are utilized; Understand competitive products and how to separate ours. Job Requirements: 4-year degree in related field or equivalent experience in either sales or agriculture; Communication skills â&#x20AC;&#x201C; written, verbal and presentation; Financial management â&#x20AC;&#x201C; budgets, expenses and sales projections; Customer service & relationship management experience; Time management & self-motivation; Microsoft Office skills; Located or willing to relocate to area of responsibility â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Southern California; Available for travel up to 75% of the time. To apply: Submit cover letter/resume to humanresources@agroliquid.com

Sales Person

Baicor LC & Water Right Technologies

Description: Baicor is seeking a qualified sales person with a background in agronomy. We have many different fertilizers and programs that are utilized across all crops. This is a full time position. Competitive salary based on experience. Location: Based in the Central Valley of California but requires travel throughout the State. Contact: Sara Witzke, wrt.sara@gmail.com, (530) 304-4082.

Temporary Agricultural Field Technician Hortau

Requirements: A detail-oriented person who is independent and self-driven; Willingness to work outdoors in all types of weather and to travel; Computer competency, and problem solving skills are all a must; Spanish speaking is a plus but not required. Agricultural backgrounds are also a plus but strong technical and computer knowledge comes first. This is a temporary position with the possibility to move into permanent. We are looking for strong candidates who want to earn the permanent spot and help our company grow. Apply: Please mail a cover letter & resume to jotto@hortau.com. T

FEBRUARY 2016 | CAPCA ADVISER

CAPCA UPDATES

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

Kern County Chapter January 28, 2016

Tulare-Kings Chapter February 3, 2016

Label Update Meeting 8:00 a.m. – 3:40 p.m. Hodel’s Country Dining 5917 Knudsen Dr., Bakersfield, CA Contact: Roger Williams (661) 221-3840

Label Update Meeting 8:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. International Agri-Center 4500 S. Laspina St., Tulare, CA Contact: Dave McEuen (559) 992-5011

For more information visit the CAPCA ED website at www.capcaed.com

• CAPCA Chapter Board Meetings • (Contact Chapter President for more information)

San Francisco: Central Valley: Fresno-Madera: Kern County: Desert Valleys: Tulare-Kings: Monterey Bay: Ventura: San Diego: Sutter Buttes: Woodland: Central Coast: NorCal: North Coast: SoCal: Tri-County:

3rd Tuesday of each month, 11:00 a.m., Sunol Golf Course Grill, Sunol Contact: Bill Charlson (408) 529-8506 2nd Friday of every month, 7:00 a.m., Denny’s in the Flying J Station, Ripon Contact: Larry Fisk (209) 814-4406 3rd Tuesday of every month. 6:30 a.m.,Yosemite Falls Cafe, Fresno Contact: Allen Haynes (559) 824-0873 to confirm location 2nd Tuesday of each month, Milt’s Cafe, Bakersfield. 7:00 a.m. winter; 6:30 a.m. daylight savings time Contact: Jason Haught (661) 332-9656 Meetings held monthly, times and locations vary. Contact: Chris Denning (928) 366-0182 2nd Thursday of every month, 7:00 a.m., Valhalla’s Restaurant,Visalia Contact: Dino Simoni (559) 639-7156 3rd Thursday of each month. Contact: Greg Mirassou (831) 262-3827 to confirm location. 2nd Wednesday of every month, Lure Fish House, Camarillo Contact: Susan MacDonald (805) 701-9019 1st Monday of every other month – January 4, March 7, May 2, July 11, September 12 and November 7. Contact: Jan Hall (760) 579-3097 1st Thursday of each month, 7:00 a.m. or 7:30 a.m., Dancing Tomato,Yuba City Contact: Leanne Becker (530) 868-7040 3rd Friday of each month, 7:00 a.m., Carol’s Restaurant, West Sacramento Contact: Renee Rianda (530) 304-7065 2nd Tuesday of each month, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., McClintock’s, Arroyo Grande Contact: Nic Vanherweg (805) 868-8265 Last Wednesday of the month, 7:00 a.m., Cozy Diner, Chico Contact: Doug Elrich (530) 682-2267 Meetings held quarterly, times and locations vary. Contact: Hector Bedolla (707) 478-9555 1st or 2nd Friday of every other month, Citrus Cafe, Tustin. Contact: Fred Eckert (310) 220-9159 1st Tuesday of each month except April, May & June, 12:00 p.m., Pappy Ganders, Merrill, OR Contact: Corey Thompson (541) 205-1262

CAPCA ADVISER | FEBRUARY 2016

Date

Title

Location

Sponsor

Contact

Phone

Hrs

01/10/16

Winter Turfgrass Sym - Day 1

Truckee

Target Specialty

Gonzalez, Jennifer

(800) 352-3870

3.0

01/11/16

Winter Turfgrass Sym - Day 2

Truckee

Target Specialty

Gonzalez, Jennifer

(800) 352-3870

4.0

01/13/16

Outbreak Of Pierce’s Disease

Napa

UCCE

Cooper, Monica

(707) 253-4221

2.0

01/19/16

STMA Conference

San Diego

STMA

Althouse, Kristen

(785) 542-9243

4.0

01/21/16

Pesticide Regs Update

Vacaville

Solano Co Ag

Quan, Andrina

(707) 784-1310

3.0

01/27/16

CAPCA ED Seminar

Yuba City

CAPCA ED

Tabarez, Jackie

(916) 928-1625

4.0

02/03/16

Label Update

Tulare

Tulare-Kings CAPCA

McEuen, Dave

(559) 992-5011

6.0

02/04/16

Spray Safe

Woodland

Yolo Co Ag

King, Jenni

(530) 666-8140

3.0

02/18/16

IPM Tool Box For 2016

San Francisco

SF Prof Gardeners

Scudder, Robert

(415) 317-5493

2.0

03/02/16

CCA Nutrient Management

Exeter

CAPCA ED

DeRohan, Mindy

(916) 928-1625

5.5

03/03/16

CAPCA ED Seminar

Santa Ana

CAPCA ED

Zamora, Ariana

(805) 704-3255

6.5

04/28/16

Recertificiation Seminar

Staunton, VA

Degesch America

Nichols, Susan

(540) 234-9281

8.0

• Learn about the latest advances and techniques in biocontrol

March 3-4, 2016 Monterey, California USA

• Network with your peers and industry experts • Earn continuing education credits • Participate in an optional hands-on workshop or tour leading grower operations using biocontrols • Connect with top suppliers and learn about the latest biocontrol products

SPECIAL CAPCA RATE: As a CAPCA member, register by January 31st at the special rate of $200 – a savings of $75 off the on-site Grower/PCA registration rate. Use promo code: CAPCA200

BiocontrolsConference.com FEBRUARY 2016 | CAPCA ADVISER

NUTRITION CROP PROTECTION ADJUVANTS

The Leader In Sustainable Crop Inputs Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growers face more challenges than ever. Like how to produce more food using less water and fertilizer. Finding new ways to control pests and disease more sustainably. Getting higher yields from every acre while preserving the land for future generations. Proud Sponsor of the NASCAR #51 Ag Car

Recognizing these challenges and the need for sustainable farming inputs, BRANDT introduced its first bio-pesticide over 30 years ago. Today, BRANDT carries over 50 products that have been approved for use in organic production. From OMRI Listed plant nutrition to crop protection and adjuvants, BRANDT has your sustainable farming needs covered. To locate a BRANDT dealer, call 599 499 2100 or email info@brandt.co

Brandt Consolidated Inc. 3654 South Willow Avenue Fresno, California 93725 USA www.brandt.co 559 499 2100