April 2019 ADVISER Magazine by CAPCA

ADVISER APRIL 2019 | VOL . XXII, NO. 2

California Association of Pest Control Advisers www.capca.com

PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Tucson, AZ Permit No. 271

UNTOUCHED THAT’S HOW CITRUS FEELS WITH MOVENTO.®

The same Movento® insecticide that manages red scale and nematodes also protects against Asian citrus psyllids, which can cause a devastating and fatal disease, Huanglongbing. With its unique two-way movement upward and downward, Movento provides allover protection for high-quality fruit and long-term tree health. For more information, contact your retailer or Bayer representative or visit www.Movento.us. © 2019 Bayer Group. Always read and follow label instructions. Bayer, the Bayer Cross, and Movento are registered trademarks of the Bayer Group. Not all products are registered for use in all states. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.CropScience.Bayer.us. Bayer CropScience LP, 800 North Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63167. CR0219MOVENTB036S00R0

Cover Photo: Fred Rehrman, Elysian Fields

Table of Contents LEADERSHIP 06

CAPCA Leadership Seeks to Enhance Local Engagement

Meet Your Directors

Rick Harrison

GOVERNMENT 14

CAPCA Legislative Days

AG COMMISSIONER PROFILE 22

San Joaquin County’s Agricultural Commissioner Tim Pelican

COMMUNICATIONS 24

The Disruptors: 6 trends shaping the future structure of U.S. agriculture

CAPCA Staff Finds Site Visits Enlightening

2019 CAPCA Chapter Support – Shifts to Enhance Engagement

Sara Wyant

Joyce Basan

UC IPM 38

Promoting conservational biocontrol by using insectary plants in organic lettuce Alejandro Del-Pozo and Gina B. Colfer

FARM ADVISORS 46

Controlling the western grapeleaf skeletonizer with biorational products and California isolates of entomopathogenic fungi Surendra K. Dara, Suchitra S. Dara, and Stefan Jaronski

Root-knot nematodes on bell peppers Antoon Ploeg and Jose Aguiar

DEPARTMENTS

05 From the Editor

Career Opportunities

20 Pathway to PCA

Events Calendar

Featured: Nutrients

Continuing Education

Featured: Organics

The two most welcome words in a vineyard: Proven performance. Those who know grapes know to trust Pristine fungicide. With two active ingredients and two modes of action, it delivers trusted and proven performance for control of powdery mildew and Botrytis in grapes. It also provides Plant Health benefits to help your crop withstand the rigors of the season. No wonder Pristine fungicide continues to be the leading fungicide for grapes. GrowSmartGrapes.com

AT THE CENTER OF PLANT HEALTH

From the Editor BeeWhere Launched and Gaining Momentum Reflecting on the status of the BeeWhere program as the industry launched into Almond bloom, I am reminded of the old African proverb “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” With input (and opinions) from across the industry – beekeepers, growers and applicators, and regulators - CACASA, DPR and CDFA, the pilot for BeeWhere launched in early February. The components for the pilot are not inclusive of the final platform, but because of the vision the community is cemented to take this project beyond our initial concepts. The professionalism of Agriculture will be showcased through the increased communication and cooperation between stakeholders in the field through the access of reliable notification information. BeeWhere, with the support of local County Ag Commissioners, revived the regulations around bee registration and notifications with a new technology layer – bringing us leaps forward from last season where pins on a cork board were the norm. T:11”

B:11.25”

S:10.5”

The outreach and education for this program has been driven by a grassroots energy. Stakeholders working with beekeepers and bee issues were the first wave, as registration of bees is the first priority, and the foundation of the program. Thank you to Fieldwatch, California State Beekeepers Association, Project Apis m., Pollinator Partnership, AgAlert and various other media outlets that featured BeeWhere as part of their educational outreach. Due to delays in technology, we may not see the integration of applicator and PCA tools in crop management software during Almond Season, but development is still underway! Through CalAgPermits (https://beewhere.calagpermits.org/#), crop management software will help streamline notification communication by providing real time reports of registered bees without the step of waiting for the Ag Commissioners office to open. You can expect to see “Check for Bees?” campaign running as an educational reminder to PCAs as they write recommendations for products with labels containing toxic to bees warnings and Applicators required to provide a 48 notification prior to that labels application. Nevertheless, we expect greater integration to support Applicators required to provide 48-hour notification will as the next phase of BeeWhere integration. As an association, we would like to thank Riverside County Ag Commissioner Ruben Arroyo, Tehama County Ag Commissioner Rick Gurrola and Butte County Ag Commissioner Louie Mendoza for advocating for the success of the program, being part of founding BeeWhere and contributing their leadership on behalf of CACASA. Thank you to San Diego Ag Commissioner Ha Dang as CACASA Nursery, Seed and Apiary Chair for making BeeWhere a priority for the committee. Without the collective energy of the industry and regulators, we could not go as far as we have together.

CAPCA EDITORIAL STAFF Ruthann Anderson - Editor Joyce Basan - Deputy Editor Dee Strowbridge - Membership/Conference Sylvia Stark - Advertising Sales Manager Rachel Taft - Executive Assistant Adam Barsanti - Outreach Relations Manager Ixchel Flannery - Office Administrator/ Membership Liaison 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. Non-member 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

Ruthann Anderson, Editor ruthann@capca.com APRIL 2019 | CAPCA ADVISER

LEADERSHIP

CAPCA Leadership Seeks to Enhance Local Engagement Rick Harrison, CAPCA Chairman On February 8, 2019 CAPCA held its Annual Presidents Summit, which provides leadership training to the presidents of each CAPCA Chapter. During the meeting George Soares and members of the Government Relations Committee identified strategies for local political outreach. George pointed out that CAPCA is a unique organization, as it has chapter representation throughout the state. This provides a great opportunity to exercise our voice with California legislators at the local level. To implement our voice, we asked Chapter Presidents to identify 2-3 individuals to become Chapter Champions. Ideally, our Champions will be proactive in developing trusting relationships and strive for reciprocity with local government leaders. They will work closely with our Government Relations Committee to understand CAPCA’s mission and receive the necessary tools to communicate effectively and provide accurate and knowledgeable feedback. Our intent is to encourage local officials to call upon CAPCA Champions for information regarding issues that affect our industry and open doors for future conversations. A great example transpired last year on April 14th, 2018, when we invited Monique Limon, California State Assembly Member and

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

Representative of the 37th District of Santa Barbara County and Ventura County to experience a typical day in Southern California Agriculture. Myself, George Soares (CAPCA’s lobbyist), Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonzales, along with Pyramid Flowers (a local grower), and Aspen Helicopters provided lunch and a tour in Pyramid’s greenhouses. Aspen demonstrated an aerial spray with water in an open field and also flew Representative Limon over her agricultural district. It was important to have as many diverse professionals from our industry present to provide information on all aspects of grower-to-market agriculture. At this event we consolidated our voice to provide positive feedback about our industry. Our Champions will be tasked with creating events like this for our local representatives in the future. In the past we have let our elected representatives speak for us with little to no knowledge of what we are collectively all about. Now is the time to enlighten them. Our elected officials have a civic duty to make well informed and balanced decisions that represent their constituents. If we don’t engage and enlighten them, we will be reactive not proactive. █

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Our recommendation is to use Altacor insect control for that key early hull split application, which is no more than 1 percent split. It is highly toxic to larvae

A spring insecticide spray in mid to late April may be

when ingested and has good

necessary to take out eggs and hatching larvae. The

activity against eggs and adults.

University of California recommends a reduced-risk, non-

— Joel Siegel

pyrethroid product to prevent secondary pest outbreaks. The most effective single spray is at the initiation of hull split, no later than 1 percent hull split.

If pressure continues through the third generation of NOW, use a non-Group 28 insecticide to avoid treating successive

Orchards with moderate to high numbers of NOW may require a second application approximately two weeks after the initiation of hull split.

generations with the same mode of action. Altacor insect control deploys a different mode of action than pyrethroids, organophosphates, insect growth regulators and spinosyns, making it an excellent rotation partner.

LEARN MORE. VISIT YOUR FMC RETAILER OR FMCAGUS.COM/ALTACOR TODAY. Always read and follow all label directions, precautions and restrictions for use. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states. FMC, FMC logo, Altacor and Rynaxypyr are trademarks of FMC Corporation or an affiliate. ©2019 FMC Corporation. All rights reserved. 18-FMC-2444 02/19

Looking Back: Transitions at CAPCA In our last issue, we took our historical look back on the beginnings of CAPCA. The following is from the CAPCA archives detailing some of the transitions experienced from the original formation in 1975 as the Council of California Agricultural Pest Control Advisers, Inc., to California Agricultural Production Consultants Association in 1980, and how the organization engaged as developments and changes in the regulatory arena – most notable the formation

of Cal EPA in 1991 - necessitated CAPCA’s ability to use their statewide organization to be relative and innovative in its actions. As the reader will see, the support and advocacy that CAPCA has maintained over the years has always focused on the professionalism and knowledge our members contribute to the industries that are vital both locally and nationally.

CAPCA Was Born in the Imperial Valley In the late 1960’s, Claude Finnell, Agricultural Commissioner of Imperial County, adopted a program to stop the “excessive use of pesticides” in his county. Resistance to some chlorinated hydrocarbons had developed to the point that even continuous applications failed to give control. Finnell’s purpose was to restrict the indiscriminate sale of pesticides and provide for more responsibility on the part of “chemical salesman.” As a follow-up to this effort, Andy Deal, UC Cooperative Extension Service, Martin Barnes, University of California at Riverside and Finnell drafted a licensing program for “Agricultural Pest Control Advisers” which became the basis for senate Bill 1021 passed in October 1971. Regulations were adopted by the Department of Food and Agriculture to establish qualifications, examination and education of PCAs. Local study groups were formed to prepare PCAs for the exams and to set up continuing education programs. Early in 1973 several groups proposed a “Council” to represent PCAs as rules and regulations were being promulgated. Agreement was reached and plans for a “Council” were formulated and the Council of California Agricultural Pest Control Advisers was incorporated in 1975. In the following years, several more local groups were formed and plans for merging all local groups into one strong organization were successfully merged in 1980 under a new name, California Agricultural Production Consultants Association (CAPCA). Shortly thereafter, a North Coast Chapter was formed and merged into the existing CAPCA. Today, 16 Chapters representing Ag Consultants from the Oregon border to the Mexican border have a total of approximately 3,200 members! CAPCA is financially strong, due in large part to the fund-raising activities of the Chapters that include scholarships, Political Action Committee, “Plant Doctor” and more recently the funding of the moving of the office to Sacramento. CAPCA is involved and contributes to the Alliance for Food and Fiber, Foodwatch and the California Education program all of which are vital public educational programs. We are learning how to inform the public of our activities and the vital need for a strong agriculture. CAPCA’s most important and highly successful “Plant Doctor” program has gained national recognition and is growing by “leaps and bounds.” The enthusiasm of the children who participate has been remarkable and is echoed by the teachers. CAPCA is hard-

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

pressed to supply enough presenters to fill the requests from schools. At the recent CAPCA Annual Conference approximately 100 members attended training courses. The interest of the members in becoming presenters indicates the recognized value of this program. The UC/CAPCA Pest Management Seminars continue to bring qualified speakers and quality information – up-to-date research activity and practical solutions to ever increasing problems. Attendance at these meetings continue to grow. Ornamentals, turf and landscaping has brought new members from public agencies who are now required to be licensed Ag Consultants to provide written recommendations covering the use of pest management materials. This new requirement ensures that qualified personnel will be responsible for pest management in public areas. The creation of the California Environmental Protection Agency, and the transfer of enforcement and licensing from the Department of Food and Agriculture to a new Department of Pesticide Regulation in CAL-EPA probably means stricter enforcement with environmental concerns of greatest importance. True, we will still be working with most of the same personnel, but we are assured of some different approaches – priorities may change. Presently, Ag Commissioners will continue to be the enforcement personnel that Ag Consultants will work with – even more closely! Lack of adequate funding places Ag Commissioners in an almost impossible position when faced with a demand for more rigorous enforcement. Ag Consultants can contribute greatly in ensuring the proper and efficient use of chemicals with an increased awareness of the environmental surroundings and application site. Work with the grower, the applicator and the dealer to make certain that everything is being done to guarantee a safe and effective program – a team approach. This is the professional way – going one step further to be of help to the other members of the team. It is only by maintaining the highest degree of professionalism that we can properly serve agriculture and protect the environment. CAPCA will play an increasingly important role in responsible pest management. The educational program will keep members abreast of new information, our working relationships with government agencies will be enhanced, the increased interest in public education – all point to an attitude of professionalism – a CAPCA commitment. █ From CAPCA Archives, October 1991

A DV E R TO R I A L

™

Our name has changed. Our core remains. We brought the Tremont Lyman Group, AgriSource, Agriform, Growers Ag Service, Harvey Lyman Company, AG Unlimited, and TSI brands together under the shared name, Grow West.

™

Grow West Key Differentiators With 15 retail, farm supply, and manufacturing locations, more than 5,000 customers and 250 employees throughout the state of California, Grow West is one of California’s leading marketers and distributors of agricultural products. We’re growing to meet our customers’ needs. We brought our businesses together so we can have a better partnership with professional crop advisors like you. The ones who are lending your expert advice to the progressive growers of California. The ones building businesses, while also taking care of our environment and communities. Together we will provide unmatched quality and personal attention to profitability. Our new platform allows us to operate more efficiently and powerfully—while providing an unmatched quality of service. That’s six decades of experience. All under one new name. The name may have changed, but our commitment to the industry remains. You will still find a forwardlooking focus on innovation and fierce commitment to supporting PCAs. A genuine desire to help you succeed. Six decades of local knowledge and experience. A thirst for win-win relationships where we all can prosper. And the unwavering dedication to improving and serving the communities where we live and work.

Our growth has come through working with quality people like you. Building strong business relationships and cultivating a unique entrepreneurial culture. We enhance our competitive position through consistent and sizable investment in people, infrastructure, technology, and a steadfast commitment to providing exceptional customer experience. Expand Your Potential With Grow West We take great pride in seeking out and employing the highest caliber and best employees. We strive for a high degree of local knowledge and expertise partnered with impeccable customer service. With less than 3 percent turnover and dozens of multi-year employees, we remain one of the most admired employers. This is so much more than a job. This is your chance to thrive. Learn more about how we can go further together at GrowWest.com.

™

APRIL 2019 | CAPCA ADVISER

Chapter: Central Coast Employer: Arysta Lifesciences Education: BS Crop Science, Cal Poly SLO Year of PCA License: 2009 Additional Licenses/Certificates: QAL, CCA Specialties: vegetables, berries

JENNIFER DE JONG

Chapter: Central Valley Employer: Miller Chemical & Fertilizer, LLC Education: BS Cal Poly SLO Year of PCA License: 2008

MICHAEL TERRY

Chapter: Desert Valleys Employer: Wilbur-Ellis Education: BS Agribusiness, Oregon State Year of PCA License: 2012 Additional Licenses/Certificates: QAL, CCA Specialties: vegetable crops, farm technology

ADAM TAVARES

Chapter: Fresno-Madera Employer: Bayer CropScience Education: BS Crop Science, CSU Fresno Year of PCA License: 2009 Additional Licenses/Certificates: QAL, Water Distribution #1 Specialties: permanent crops, row crops

MIKE ANSOLABEHERE Chapter: Kern County Employer: Arysta LifeScience Education: BS Cal Poly SLO Year of PCA License: 1985 Specialties: permanent crops

SEAN MORELOS

Chapter: Monterey Bay Employer: Crop Production Services Education: BS Cal Poly SLO Year of PCA License: 1997 Additional Licenses/Certificates: QAL Specialties: lettuce, grapes, strawberries, cole crops, other leafy veg crops

PETE BARTELS

Chapter: NorCal Employer: Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC Education: BS Ag Business, CSU Chico Year of PCA License: 1995 Additional Licenses/Certificates: QAL, CCA Specialties: tree crops

BRITTANY PEDERSON

Chapter: North Coast Employer: Renteria Vineyard Management Education: Crop Science, Wine and Viticulture, Cal Poly SLO Year of PCA License: 2011 Additional Licenses/Certificates: QAL Specialties: winegrapes

Photo by Steve Beckley

Meet Your Directors

NIC VANHERWEG

I’M LOYAL TO ASSAIL ®

MY FARM. BECAUSE I’M LOYAL TO

Richard Thompson Thompson Ranch Stockton, CA

Protect what’s important with the proven performance of Assail®. Every year, walnut growers across California choose Assail insecticide for husk fly and codling moth control. Growers know by choosing Assail, they will protect their crops, their livelihoods, and the traditions that have been nurtured for generations. Growers are loyal to Assail because Assail is loyal to growers. Just ask Richard Thompson of Thompson Ranch. To place your order, contact your UPL distributor.

Assail is a registered trademark of Nippon Soda Company. UPL logo is a trademark of UPL Corporation Limited or its related companies. Products manufactured for UPL NA Inc. 630 Freedom Business Center, King of Prussia, PA 19406. ©February, 2019. All rights reserved. www.upi-usa.com

Meet Your Directors

DAVID DRUCKER

Chapter: San Diego Employer: Nutrien Ag Solutions Education: Cal Poly SLO 1982, Ag Science Year of PCA License: 1983 Additional Licenses/Certificates: CCA Specialties: wine grapes, avocados, citrus, strawberries, landscape ornamentals

JEOFF DUNSTER

Chapter: San Francisco Bay Employer: S.P. McClenahan Inc Education: BS UC Davis Year of PCA License: 2002 Additional Licenses/Certificates: QAL, Certified Arborist Specialties: landscape, turf, trees

DAN WICKHAM

Chapter: SoCal Employer: Wilbur-Ellis Education: BS Cal Poly SLO Year of PCA License: 1975 Specialties: vegetation mgmt., turf, ornamental, landscape, aquatic, IPM

PAUL SQUIRES

Chapter: Sutter Buttes Employer: Squires Ag Consulting, Inc Education: BS CSU Chico Year of PCA License: 1994 Specialties: rice, tomatoes, alfalfa, corn, sunflowers, seed crops

COREY THOMPSON

Chapter: Tri-County Employer: Basin Fertilizer Education: BS CSU Chico Year of PCA License: 2009 Additional Licenses/Certificates: NW CCA, Oregon PCA, QAC Specialties: potatoes, alfalfa, Timothy hay, small grains, forage, range & pasture

DENNIS FULLER

Chapter: Tulare-Kings Employer: Adama Education: Cal Poly SLO Year of PCA License: 2013 Specialties: walnuts, almonds

PATRICIA DINGUS

Chapter: Ventura Employer: YARA Education: Cal Poly SLO Year of PCA License: 2009 Additional Licenses/Certificates: CCA, QAL Specialties: vegetables and berry production

PATRICK DOSIER

Chapter: Woodland Employer: QualiTech Education: BS Cal Poly Pomona Year of PCA License: 2009 Additional Licenses/Certificates: CCA, CPAg Specialties: almonds, pistachios, grapes, tomatoes, berries

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GOVERNMENT

CAPCA Legislative Days

L-to-R: Kem Cunningham, Ruthann Anderson, Paul Crout, Rick Harrison, Assemblyman Devon Mathis, Sandy Ellis (CACASA), Karen Overstreet (San Benito Agricultural Commissioner), John McClenahan.

Plant Doctors at the Capitol CAPCA Staff Building on the successes of the last two years of Government Relations Engagement, 12 CAPCA leaders attended the third annual Legislative Days at the State Capitol in March. The event opened with Tim Johnson, California Rice Commission President and CEO presenting how the rice industry rebranded to become the Environmental crop. The discussion sparked a number of new ideas that CAPCA members may see in future months as we continue to tell the story of the PCA in new ways. The group headed to the Capitol immediately after, meeting Bill Lyons, the newly appointed liaison to the Governor on Agriculture and water, on local issues from their Chapters. Lyons was engaged with members suggesting new pathways for solutions and inviting engagement in the field through upcoming Ag tours meant to educate key staff in the Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s circle. Although this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s program followed some of the meetings of previous years - CAPCA invited six County Ag Commissioners (Photo, right) L-to-R: Rick Wescott, Jeff Rasmussen, Assemblyman Vince Fong, Ruthann Anderson, Ruben Arroyo (Riverside County Agricultural Commissioner), Matt Siverling (CACASA), Dennis Fuller, Lisa Herbert (Sutter County Agricultural Commissioner) 14

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

Jeff Rasmussen providing Plant Doctor presentation to students and parents.

A DV ERTORI A L

NEW MD TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTS INTRODUCED IN 2018 – HOW DID THEY FARE? Nut growers today are increasingly finding that good winter sanitation and chemical applications alone are no longer enough to combat the growing spread of navel orangeworm. As a result, greater numbers of growers now are using mating disruption to increase their success in warding off the pest as part of an integrated pest management strategy. Two new mating disruption products have been developed and manufactured by Trécé, Inc., a leading pheromone-based insect monitoring and control company, – CIDETRAK® NOW MESO for almonds and pistachios, and CIDETRAK® CMDA+NOW MESO for walnuts – entered the market in 2018 and are already drawing positive reviews from nut growers and pest control advisers. Trécé developed the products in its own laboratory, then fine-tuned and field-tested the two solutions in collaboration with researchers from the University of California, Davis and USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, for maximum effectiveness. “We saw excellent results across the board,” said Brad Higbee, Trécé’s Director of Field Research. “Growers and PCAs were pleased with every aspect of the products, ease of application, and reduction in both trap capture and damage.” According to Higbee, CIDETRAK® NOW MESO for almonds and pistachios significantly increases the number of unmated NOW females and dramatically reduces the number of multiple-mated females by more than half. Correspondingly, the data shows a 50-80% reduction in damage compared to grower standard insecticide programs in trials where there was a difference. “More and more researchers are endorsing the benefits of mating disruption,” Higbee said. “Growers and PCAs are also praising the effectiveness of both products and now consider them an essential part of a complete pest management program.”

Brad Higbee, Director of Field Research for Trécé and Dirk Ulrich, almond grower/consultant

Dirk Ulrich, an almond grower, research PCA and CCA used CIDETRAK® NOW MESO on a test plot in 2018 and was surprised to discover he had higher pressure than he anticipated before trial initiation. “The navel orangeworm seems to be expanding its range and density in different areas,” Ulrich said. “I had an area on one ranch that I farm that has been pretty low pressure. I’ve never really had damage, and I’ve never really sprayed for NOW, but this year, I encountered much more pressure and I had more damage than ever before.” According to Ulrich, NOW damage has been climbing steadily, rising from less than 1 percent in 2015 to 1 percent in 2016 and then more than doubling to 2.2 percent in 2017. “In fact, I used CIDETRAK® NOW MESO with and without the grower standard insecticide program compared to the grower standard insecticide program alone. This consisted of three hull-split sprays timed appropriately. The damage

was 7.9% in the grower standard, 3.7% or about 53% less in the grower standard plus CIDETRAK® NOW MESO and 2.9% or about a 63% reduction in the CIDETRAK® NOW MESO alone.” “ Very impressive performance to say the least, even though, I had put it on later than I would normally, due to the late registration!” — Dirk Ulrich, almond grower/consultant

Source: Dirk Ulrich, 2018

“Moreover, I really liked the simplicity that Trécé built into the uniquely packaged/RTU application system that allowed for fast and accurate application at the very low rate of 20 per acre. My rate of application was around 4 acres per manhour. The packaging allowed me to open what I needed, which on a large scale will allow for greater inventory management and checking field utilization and labor use.” Ulrich will be using NOW MESO in 2019. “I’m planning on using it on larger acreage. Great product! I plan to recommend it to my growers this season!” Another Trécé product engineered for walnuts, CIDETRAK® CMDA + NOW MESO, is equally effective. A unique combination of codling moth (CM) pheromone and a patented male and female behavior modifying kairomone (DA) as well as NOW pheromone allows growers to disrupt codling moth males and females and NOW males, significantly reducing mating and walnut nut damage from codling moth and navel orangeworm. CIDETRAK® CMDA + NOW MESO, which uses two dispensers, one for each moth, are hung together on one hanger and placed 20 per acre at mid-canopy. The dispensers are easy to hang and labor efficient. Hanging them together has demonstrated more than 95 percent disruption and reduction in male moth capture in pheromone traps for codling moth and navel orangeworm. Monitoring continuously with pheromone/kairomone based traps, establishing and tracking degree days, checking canopies for damage and calculating the level of infestation is necessary season long for best results,” said Douglas Light, Ph.D., United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Retired. Rich French, distributer with Bear River Supply used CIDETRAK® CMDA + NOW MESO last year and said, “It’s a good tool in the toolbox, and we will be using it again this year.” Programs that have used CIDETRAK® CMDA + NOW MESO or CIDETRAK® NOW MESO alone or in combination with insecticide sprays have been found to be very effective.There is an immediate need to protect your harvest from NOW. Left un-treated, the economic damage on growers will be devastating. The time to act is now. The need is immediate. ®

INCORPORATED INSECT PHEROMONE & KAIROMONE SYSTEMS

Trécé Incorporated 7569 Highway 28 West Adair, Ok 74330 USA

Tel: 1-866-785-1313 Fax: 1-918-785-3063 custserv@trece.com www.trece.com

to join us for individual Legislative Visits to promote our collaboration with CACASA on the BeeWhere pilot program and ask for their support on AB450 – a CACASA sponsored bill to clean up bee notification language. Discussion about county issues continued over dinner, including Cannabis, Standing Water and Chlorpyriphos. The newly launched Agri-Pulse West team joined the group to hear more about local issues and gather leads to highlight topics of value for PCAs as CAPCA encourages membership to listen to daily Agri-Pulse podcasts and read weekly newsletter as part of their member benefits. Day two was filled with regulatory focused meetings with Doreen D’Adamo from the State Water Resource Control Board and Deputy Secretary for Legislation Rachael O’Brian and Science Advisers Dr. Amrith Gunasekara and John Steggall from California Department Food and Agriculture.

As CAPCA continues to explore ways to tell their story to Legislators, CAPCA Member Kem Cunningham and Government Relations Co-Chair Jeff Rasmussen revived the old Plant Doctor program slides. Presenting to a group of 25 Students and Parent Chaperones – Rasmussen discussed the tools of the “Plant Doctor” including passing around loops and magnifying glasses before pulling out the umbrella of pesticides with prescribed tools Plant Doctors use to help keep plants healthy. The analogy of the Plant Doctor resonated well with students and parents as they interacted with plants and insect specimens after the presentation. The event closed through a discussion with California Farm Bureau Federation President Jamie Johansson on crossover issues between the two organizations. CAPCA is grateful for attendees, Legislators, Regulators and County Ag Commissioners who contributed and participated in this successful event. █

L-to-R: Nick Lupien, Milton O’Haire (Stanislaus County Agricultural Commissioner), Henry Buckwalter, Gary Silveria, Rick Gurrola (Tehama County Agricultural Commissioner), Patrick Dosier. Bill Lyons, Agriculture Liaison with the Office of Governor Newsom

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

Jeff Rasmussen engages students in the Plant Doctor presentation

IS IT POSSIBLE THIS FUNGICIDE

MAKES EVEN MORE SENSE TODAY THAN THE DAY IT WAS INTRODUCED?

A group 21 designation with no resistance issues puts RANMAN® in a class of its own. Fungicide resistance is a growing problem. It’s also making a fungicide that’s been trusted for years more important than ever for protecting your cucurbit vegetables.

Cucurbits

RANMAN® 400 SC fungicide’s combination of zero resistance issues with proven protection against Downy mildew and Phytophthora blight, along with a 0-day PHI in cucurbits, make it the perfect choice for your disease control program. And, RANMAN is an ideal fit for onions, brassicas and leafy greens, potatoes, and other important crops.

Carrots

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CAPCA Mini-Conference

CAPCA

pring April 16-17, 2019 ummit Pechanga Resort

This mini conference will feature: • In-Class Continuing Education • Hands-on Ag Tour • Exhibit Hall • Welcome Reception • Networking Opportunities

Temecula, California

Begins April 16, 2019 at 1:00pm Ends April 17, 2019 at 5:00 pm

ACCREDITED FOR 10.5 CDPR HOURS

This years tour will include stops at Avocado & Olive Groves

EXHIBITORS & SPONSORS AGQ Labs Agrian Agroplasma Inc Albion Plant Nutrition Amvac Arborjet BASF Baicor Biosafe Systems Bridgewell Agribusiness California Safe Soil LLC Certis USA CPDPP Converted Organics LLC

Earthsol LLC EcoStadt Technologies LLC Gowan USA HELM Agro Us Jet Harvest Solutions Marrone Bio Miller Chemical Company Neudorff NA Nichino America NovaSource Nutrien Ag Solutions Ocean Organics Oro Agri Progressive Crop Consultant

SQM Symborg Syngenta Taminoco US LLC TKI-Crop Vitality Trece True Organics UPL NA Valent Westbridge Ag Products Western Region CCA Wilbur Ellis Company Wonderful Nurseries Yara North America Sponsors in bold type

Reservations can be made at the Pechanga Resort by calling 888-732-4264. Identify yourself with the CAPCA Spring Summit booking code # 3488895

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

We are excited to be gearing up for the 3rd annual spring summit! Save the date for April 16-17th if you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t already. The conference will be full of the latest industry information. This conference will include field tours, industry updates and educational break out sessions. Check out the Capca website to get registered! Heather Palmer - Chairman

CAPCA

pring ummit

2019 Program Schedule Program Subject to Change

Tuesday, APRIL 16, 2019 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Registration General Session - Key Issues for the Southern CA Region Mr. Ruben Arroyo - Riverside Ag Commissioner Ms. Ha Dang - San Diego Ag Commissioner Mr. Kurt Floren - Los Angeles Ag Commissioner Mr. Harvard Fong - Closed Transfer Systems Label Update Presentations Welcome Reception

Wednesday, APRIL 17, 2019 7:00 am - 8:00 am 7:30 am - 8:30 am 8:30 am - 12:00 pm

Continental Breakfast Mr. Lance Anderson - Mission RCD Workshop or Temecula Agriculture Tour Workshop Topics

Olives - Dr. Dani Lightle Avocados - Ms. Carol Lovatt Nursery/Greenhouses - Ms. Pat Nolan New Technology for Insect Mgmt - Mr. John Palumbo Glyphosate 101 - Mr. Adam Tavares Tree Injection - Ms. Dawn Fluharty

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Luncheon Temecula Agriculture Tour or Workshop*

* Workshop presentations are repeated for those who took the Tour in the morning.

Accreditation:

CDPR - 10.5

CCA - 10.5

AZ PCA - 10.0

ISA - 4.5

GCSSA - 0.6

www.capca.com/events APRIL 2019 | CAPCA ADVISER

PATHWAY TO PCA

Central Coast CAPCA 2nd Annual Evening with PCAs event Danilu Ramirez, President Central Coast Chapter The Central Coast CAPCA Chapter held their 2nd annual Evening with PCAs event in February 2019. Guest PCAs and CCAs participating represented a wide range of the pest management industry. About 40 students were in attendance at the Crops Club meeting, with CAPCA Central Coast sponsored the BBQ dinner. The PCAs spent 5 minutes at each station with about 3-5 students seated at each station. When 5 minutes were up, all the PCAs rotated around to a new station. There was a total of 10 Stations and 10 PCAs. Although time did not provide the opportunity for all the PCAs to make it full circle around all the stations, the students did get a very diverse interaction. It was a really great event! The students asked the PCAs about how they got their jobs, the main traits employers look for, what each of the PCAs wished they wouldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve studied more while at Cal Poly SLO, and how each got into their specific area of expertise! â&#x2013;&#x2C6;

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

AG COMMISSIONER PROFILE

San Joaquin County’s Agricultural Commissioner Tim Pelican By CAPCA Staff Tim Pelican is San Joaquin County’s Agricultural Commissioner / Sealer of Weights and Measures and has served in the role for the last four and half years. He was appointed in 2014 and re-appointed in 2018. Prior to this role he served as the Deputy Commissioner/ Sealer for Stanislaus County for six years, and the nine years previous to that as an Agricultural Biologist for Tuolumne County. He attended South Dakota State University, graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture and Biological Sciences. Pelican describes his background in the industry as varied, starting in the nursery business in Iowa and South Dakota, just out of college. “I moved to California in 1998, I figured making a living in the nursery business would be more lucrative in California being as the ground isn’t frozen 4 months out of the year. The irony is I never did get back into the field.” Instead, he started his career in the Commissioner system in 2000 as a Biologist I in Tuolumne County, working his way up to Biologist III before becoming Deputy Commissioner of Stanislaus County. There he managed a variety of programs including Pest Detection, Standardization, Exclusion, Nursery/Seed, Pest Abatement and the Egg Inspection program. Asked what his current position as San Joaquin County Ag Commissioner entails, Pelican highlighted several issues that significantly shape it but stated, “My main job is to keep our County leaders informed of what is going on with the County’s number one industry. Oftentimes when there are questions about our local agricultural industry the first person our local officials call upon is the Commissioner.” Within that context he balances many responsibilities and roles. “As you are well aware, the San Joaquin Delta has been in the limelight of continued legal controversy over the struggle to restore the ecosystem while maintaining its role as the hub of the state’s water supply. So of course, everyone expects you to know all about water related issues.” Other regulations affecting agriculture in the county are the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), and the Water Board’s ruling on non-impaired flows. Pelican says, “We are also somewhat unique in that the San Joaquin County’s Delta Region contributes nearly half a billion dollars per year in produce and if the Twin Tunnels project is approved, we will have a major impact.” The size and diversity of agricultural production in the county also impact his role: “San Joaquin is a fairly large agricultural county; we rank number 7 in the State with last year’s receipts equaling around $2.5 billion. We are also one of the most diverse, so I work with many different types of growers.” Some of the county’s major crops 22

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

include row crops like melons, squash, and sweet corn, and forage for dairies; they lead the State in wine grapes (volume), cherries and walnuts. The variety of crops means a variety of disease and insect threats: Fusarium in tomatoes, band cankers in almonds, as well as powdery mildew in grapes. Insects problems include navel orange worm, spotted winged drosophila, army worm, and walnut husk fly; vine mealy bug is of concern to grape growers. And as many Californians move into the county from the Bay Area, the ag-urban interface issues continue to rise as more housing developments and schools are built. “We have seen an uptick in pesticide related complaints in these quickly expanding areas,” Pelican said. Maintaining a relationship with industry is another key aspect of the job for the ag commissioner. “Keeping industry informed of regulatory changes is a large part of the job as well. I often find myself at meetings being a spokesperson for Industry, County Administration and our State partners, all at the same time. It can be a very delicate balancing act at times. As an arm of USDA and APHIS, we help our growers maintain the ability to ship goods overseas. I know here in San Joaquin County during cherry harvest we have staff working in packing sheds 16-17 hours a day, writing phytosanitary certificates for exports to Asia. This takes total dedication by our team and industry appreciates what we do for them.” In talking about his relationship with the industry, Pelican says, “One of the unusual things about this job is that even though we are regulators, we are also often tasked with being the voice of local industry when it comes to things like crafting new rulemaking packages.”

Some of the challenges of the job that he acknowledges are the day-to-day politics and the ongoing balancing act. “We as commissioners are put in the unusual position of being the lead regulatory arm of state/federal programs overseen by our partner agencies (CDFA, DPR, APHIS, and USDA) but are employees of counties; we ultimately answer to our County Boards of Supervisors… At times, we are the Agency that brings the local point of view to the table when it comes to the rule writing process. We are charged with bringing the concerns of our local industry to light yet balancing that with our requirement to regulate them. Often, we are tasked to educate both sides of the aisle.” Asked how the industry can communicate and collaborate better, Pelican responded, “We can work together in educating consumers on how the industry has been implementing environmentally friendly tools and what farmers are doing to modernize the art of agriculture. I believe one of the biggest weaknesses of the agricultural industry is getting the word out about the progress agriculture has made in everything we do, from planting to harvest. Everything from water and pesticide use to how crops are harvested and the education of our field workers and protecting their health. Too often, interest groups gain control of the narrative and do a very good job of promoting it, whether it is correct or not. We as an industry are not good at promoting ourselves on what we do. If you ask most people where their food comes from, I would guess they would say the grocery store. That has to change.” In a recent two-day event Pelican’s department and multiple local environmental justice representatives met along with DPR, Cal EPA Region 9, local growers, UCCE, PCAs and PCOs to educate one another about their roles and what each do. “As I stated before, I do not always think industry does a very good job of educating

people about what actually happens in the field. It was a great way for everyone to show that growers do not just jump on a tractor and spray away just because they can, but there is a process that needs to take place. It gave our growers a chance to talk about the pride they have in being stewards of the land and the care they take in every decision they make on their farms. Overall, I believe it was a positive experience for all involved; we were able to talk to each other, not at each other.” Pelican is very aware of the changes in agriculture and that more are likely on the horizon. He acknowledges that labor shortages and cheap imports have nearly wiped out what was once the State’s largest asparagus production area, reducing production in the county down to a few growers and roughly 300 acres. With the new legislative cycle underway and a new administration in place, he is anticipating new regulations but what and when is the unknown. Recently, he has received questions regarding production of industrial hemp. “Right now, even though new laws were passed by the State and the recent passing of the 2018 Farm Bill legalized production of industrial hemp, there are still no regulations in place that allow it to be grown in California. The Farm Bill now makes hemp an agricultural commodity, however there are still no pesticides available that are specifically labeled for use on hemp. I would expect that to change in the future, but these things always take some time.” Whatever the future advances, challenges or changes, Pelican is prepared to continue keeping County leaders informed, representing agriculture and serving his community. █

APRIL 2019 | CAPCA ADVISER

COMMUNICATIONS

The Disruptors: Six trends that will shape the future structure of U.S. agriculture Sara Wyant, Editor/Publisher, Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc. Farmers and ranchers have long been known for adapting and innovating, but new research challenges whether they are looking deep enough over the horizon to really win in the future.

“More lenders are thinking about their risks and more farmers are going to find it difficult to repay what they’ve already borrowed,” Sciotto says.

“There are six forces of change in the industry that are pretty compelling,” says Brett Sciotto, CEO of Aimpoint Research, a global marketing research firm that has done extensive work analyzing current agricultural trends and identifying the “Farmer of the Future.”

Compounding the situation is the transition of farmland and succession planning. USDA estimated between 2015 and 2019 that 10 percent of the farmland would change owners.

“If you look at them collectively, it’s pretty indicative that we are going through a transformative period that’s only accelerating.” Consider these six trends: Consolidation: Since the 1930s, the number of farms has declined, the average size has increased, and the amount of farmland in agriculture has remained generally flat. Of the 2.1 million farms in the last Census of Agriculture, only about 15 percent are at-scale production farms, and they control 80 percent of the acres. “We think by 2040, there will be fewer than 100,000 production farms, and 5 percent of farms will produce more than 75 percent of the agricultural output,” Sciotto says. “Mid-size farms are under the most financial pressure and are declining the quickest as they get bought up by larger operations.” “However, there’s more to the story, and the ‘big get bigger’ statement is oversimplified. There are two classes of farms emerging - production agriculture and direct-to-consumer. According to USDA, the U.S. has seen a 61% increase in small farms from 1992 to 2012. Not every farmer will fit into today’s definition of production agriculture, and ag institutions will have to consider how they will serve both classes of farmers,” explains Sciotto. Farmer psychology: Data suggest that more farmers may be unwilling or unable to stay in business if current economic conditions continue. US ag debt totaled $410 billion in 2019, a level that’s not been witnessed since the 1980s. Farm operations have been “largely propped up by low interest rates and higher than average land values. We are starting to see the operating profitability of these farms declining and it’s making it harder and harder to pay back loans,” Sciotto says. Last fall, research conducted by Aimpoint Research found that nearly 60 percent of farmers were concerned about their ability to repay operating loans. 24

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

“In 2017, farmers told us 28 percent of the acres would transfer to a new owner in the next five years and 22 percent will have someone other than the current decisionmaker making decisions on cropping practices, inputs, and harvest. So, many farmers are perceiving a faster rate of change than what USDA estimated,” he adds. “Sixty-five percent say they have a succession plan, but for many, that’s often a hope that a family member will come back to farm,” Sciotto says, “When you dig deeper, it’s likely less than half of farmers have a succession plan. “There’s a correlation between whether producers have a family member coming back or not and how driven they are. For example, if you have a family member coming back to the farm, you tend to continue to invest in the operation. You find new efficiencies and expand and grow. If you don’t have someone coming back to the farm, you tend to pull your foot off the gas pedal earlier.” Technology: A lot of young people are interested in agriculture, and when Aimpoint Research asked what excites them most, new technology came up loudest. USDA says nearly 69 percent of young farmers will have college degrees. “Those who are coming back to the farm are going to be more educated than their parents and grandparents before them. They intend to do things differently. They grew up in a disruptive era. They don’t necessarily have the same appreciation for the lifestyle that their parents and grandparents did. They don’t want to wake up one morning, work on the farm all day, eat dinner and do it again the next day. They want to run a very efficient operation, they want to make money. They want to have other interests and do other things,” he adds. Seventy-five percent of farmers 35 and under said, “As soon as I’m in charge, I’m going to integrate new technology,” according to Aimpoint Research. At the same time, 71 percent plan to increase efficiency, 63 percent plan to improve marketing and 48 percent plan to expand acreage.

D CONTROL.

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COMMUNICATIONS, CONT., Six trends that will shape the future of U.S. agriculture

Technology is having a different effect on ag than it has in the past, says Sciotto. “Like with marathons, when the gun goes off, there is a huge gaggle trying not to trip over each other. But that group of runners is largely spreading out. We see that farmers who are willing and able to adopt new technology are getting further ahead and those unable or unwilling to do so are falling further and further behind. That’s impacting who is likely to be successful in the future.”

“We will see the retailer asserting more and more pressure on how farms are run. When you ask consumers who they trust more – food companies or farmers, 58 percent say the farmer. But the farmer seems to be losing more and more control,” Sciotto adds. Markets: Commodity prices have been relatively low, but that hasn’t stopped farmers in many parts of the world from increasing production. As the global population continues to grow, analysts estimate that we’ll need a 70 percent increase in the food supply.

Consumers: Food consumers are the center of gravity that’s “South America is likely to become the breadbasket of the future. propelling a lot of the change in agriculture, and about twoAmerican farmers are in a tougher competitive environment as thirds said they are thinking about where their food comes from, markets shift and new players emerge stronger to meet global according to a recent Aimpoint Research survey. “What really demand,” says Sciotto. drives consumer decision-making is price, healthiness and freshness,” says Sciotto. Government: The farm bill has historically As you may have seen “And what consumers perceive is largely played an important role in providing highlighted in the February what retailers are adapting to. Consumers support for many farmers and rural edition of the Adviser, CAPCA perceive that non-GMO is better than areas through commodity programs, GMO and that organic is better than noncrop insurance, conservation, and rural is partnering with Agri-Pulse, organic. They also perceive that local is development. The Congressional Budget the most trusted source better even though the definition of local Office projects the 2018 Farm Bill will cost for farm and rural policy varies from a ‘farm in my community’ to a $428B over the next 5 years. information, to provide you ‘farm in the U.S.’ We, in ag, know that a lot with daily and weekly updates of those belief systems may be unfounded However, other aspects of government or unrealistic but, nonetheless, retailers are policy, like trade and monetary policy, regarding a wide variety of responding. can also put operations at risk. As a result issues that affect your license of the trade war, the value of total U.S. and business. This additional “Organic continues to grow and we see the agricultural exports in 2019 is expected to Member benefit is available emergence of new innovations in protein like fall to $141.5 billion, down $1.9 billion from to all active 2018 and 2019 the Impossible Burger and Memphis Meats. 2018, according to the Department of Many traditional protein companies are Agriculture’s (USDA) latest projections. members and will come via your investing because – even though lab-based email and will include links to protein sources could still be 5-10 years off, In addition to ongoing concerns about trade, articles and podcasts. they could be significant disruptors and put labor and regulatory reform continue to pressure on corn and soybean markets in be top issues. Most growers believe federal Watch for the weekly Agrithe U.S. if some of the livestock production regulations have generally been harmful Pulse content in your inbox, as shifts.” to agriculture, according to Aimpoint Research. well as additional information Consumer interest in electric vehicles could on how to manage your be another disruptor, Sciotto says. Sciotto says all six of these trends are subscription from CAPCA! converging and the speed is accelerating. “By 2040, it’s very likely we could see “It’s putting a lot of pressure on farmers and a significant decline in the number of on traditional institutions of agriculture.” combustion engines. If you lose ethanol – which consumes about 40 percent of the U.S. corn crop today – it will lead to significant “We have to acknowledge as an industry that we are going to serve changes,” he adds. a bifurcated market. We are going to have large, sophisticated vertically-integrated operations run by high business IQ farmers “Between alternative proteins, the regulatory pressures on animal and we are also going to have small, direct-to-consumer operations agriculture, shifting consumer patterns and the potential loss of serving their niche.” ethanol, I think there could be a significant amount of acres under some level of risk,” Sciotto says. Sciotto says agribusinesses who serve traditional agriculture will have to move faster and add value. Sciotto expects more food companies and retailers to cater to what their consumers believe they want – whether it’s founded in good “The concept of one-size-fits-all is fading in farm channels. The science or insights, or not. And those decisions end up down on the farms of the future will be diverse, have different needs and will look farm. to their vendors and suppliers to provide tailored solutions and to be constantly innovating.” █ 26

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

IT’S WATERPROOF

• New waterproof formula—rain, mold and water resistant • Broadcast application in citrus for maximum snail control and easy compliance • Kills fast—dead snails observed within 24 hours

BAIT IRRIGATE ELIMINATE

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Bait Back!

• Unique mode of action = superior activity in wet and cool weather • Easy to see blue pellets Neudorff North America 250-652-5888 • NeudorffPro.com

2300 River Plaza Drive, Suite 120 - Sacramento CA 95833 (916) 928-1625 - Fax (916) 928-0705 dee@capca.com - capca.com Please enclose check payable to: CAPCA (A $25 FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR RETURNED CHECKS) License Number:

Email:

Name:

Cell Phone:

Mailing Address:

Daytime Phone:

Employer:

City, State, Zip:

Additional Chapters you wish to join:

ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP

Licensed PCAs must join as Active Members

*2019 = $160.00 2020 = $160.00 2018 = $195.00

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP Non-PCAs - printout not provided

STUDENT MEMBERSHIP

Must provide proof of full-time student status. May not hold a DPR license.

2019 = $45.00 2020 = $45.00

2019 = (no fee)

* A late fee of $50.00 will be charged for any 2019 Active Membership paid after October 31, 2019

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 I DO NOT WANT $7.00 OF MY DUES TO GO TO CAPCA PAC** (Political Action Committee) Update your email communication preferences through the CAPCA website https://capca.com/manage-my-communications/ You can now define which crop team, chapter and event notifications you want to receive. Which of the following categories are important to 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, Landscape Tree Nuts Vegetables Vegetation Mgmt Organics

Go to CAPCA.com and submit your membership form online to pay by Credit Card 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 $143/$35 for dues of $160/$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 $150/$42 for dues of $160/$45.

**The CAPCA PAC Contribution is a voluntary non-tax contribution 28

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

For CAPCA Use Only Check#___________________ Amount__________________

ADVERTORIAL

Season-long Insect Management Yields Quality Nuts Your goal is simple – produce quality nuts and lots of them. Damage from insects such as navel orangeworm (NOW), peach twig borers (PTB) and spider mites can be detrimental to new growth and compromise yields. Mid-spring to the end of hullsplit is prime time to control damaging insects, and Syngenta offers a broad portfolio including Minecto® Pro and Besiege® insecticides to protect from insects and preserve nut set and yields.

STEP 1:

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Peach twig borers burrow into growing shoots causing them to wilt, while spider mites feed on leaves, causing leaf stippling and yellowing, and can ultimately lead to defoliation.

Navel orangeworms not only bore into nutmeat and produce webbing, but their damage can also serve as an entry point for fungal infections such as hull rot and aflatoxin.

Minecto Pro insecticide, when applied at May spray timing, has been shown to reduce the average number of shoot strikes per tree by as much as or more than competitor products. Harnessing the power of two complementary active ingredients, Minecto Pro controls multiple pests that overlap or occur at the same time, such as NOW, PTB and spider mites, to give you peace of mind.

Besiege insecticide, when applied at hullsplit, greatly reduces the percentage of nuts damaged by NOW. This convenient pre-mix formulation provides dual-action protection, fast knockdown and long-lasting residual insect control.

INSECT CONTROL IMPROVES NUT SET Untreated nut cut open to show insect damage

Source: Syngenta Almond Trial June 21, 2018

Treated in a three-pass approach with Minecto Pro, Besiege and a rotational insecticide

For more information about Besiege and Minecto Pro, visit www.Syngenta-US.com.

Performance assessments are based upon results or analysis of public information, field observations and/or internal Syngenta evaluations. All photos are either the property of Syngenta or are used with permission. ©2018 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration status. Besiege and Minecto Pro are Restricted Use Pesticides. Besiege and Minecto Pro are highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment on blooming crops and weeds. Do not apply this product or allow it to drift onto blooming plants while bees are foraging adjacent to the treatment area. Besiege®, Minecto®, the Alliance Frame, the Purpose icon and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.

APRIL 2019 | CAPCA ADVISER

COMMUNICATIONS

CAPCA Staff Finds Site Visits Enlightening Joyce A Basan, Programs/Communications Director, CAPCA On February 20th, the CAPCA staff ventured out of the office for a couple of informational visits. The first stop was to visit the office of Butte County Agricultural Commissioner, Louie Mendoza Jr. in Oroville, CA. Meeting with Ag Commissioner Mendoza and Katherine Quist, Deputy Director, staff were provided an overview of the Commissioner’s office and the variety of its functions in the county, as well as the activities performed by the Department of Weights & Measurers. The CAPCA team was able to view the County’s Annual Crop Report and ask questions about how the County obtains and compiles the data and the challenges they encounter in maintaining their goal to ensure safe and healthy agricultural production.

L-to-R: CAPCA Staff Joyce Basan, Rachel Taft, Sylvia Stark, Adam Barsanti, Ixchel Flannery, Dee Strowbridge.

The second stop that day was at the Yuba City location of Grow West (formally Tremont/Lyman) to tour their production and service operations. On hand to help CAPCA staff appreciate the various components in the day-to-day operations were Hans Heckert, Tyson Heusser, Josh Dodd, and Leanne Becker, manufacture rep for Valent. After a visit to the main office, the group toured the warehouse, processing and distributing grounds. The exchange provided staff with a better understanding of the importance of the relationships that take place between manufacture-distributor-grower and the team effort that is involved in servicing production agriculture. █ L-to-R: Leanne Becker, Hans Herkert, Tyson Heusser, Josh Dodd

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

they won’t see it coming

Butte County Ag Commissioner Louie Mendoza Jr

Spear® -Lep is Vestaron’s new biopesticide for fruits, vegetables and high-value crops in the field and greenhouse. Spear®-Lep targets immature Lepidoteran pests such as loopers, worms and caterpillars. Field trials of Spear®-Lep demonstrate that results are equivalent or superior to conventional insecticides.

Power of synthetics, safety of biologicals.

THE POWER OF PEPTIDES

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COMMUNICATIONS

2019 CAPCA Chapter Support – Shifts to Enhance Engagement

The Board recognized that there was an opportunity to revise the current support structure to provide the Chapter’s with more ability to define their own outreach for their local areas. Based on Board discussions and direct feedback from the Chapters, it was decided that rather than holding partnered events, the Chapters would move forward with increasing their engagement by tailoring their regional CE seminars or other Chapter events for their members, utilizing the allocated funds in the CRB program to support them. The Board also

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

agreed that any unused portions of Chapter Resource Budget funds would be directed to the SWS Trust fund to assist with student outreach and leadership education at the end of 2019. For 2019, the Board allocated an annual amount of $2,000/Chapter to utilizes for event planning and execution, ranging from State office staff support to promotional/collateral materials. A menu of costs that a Chapter may incur were identified in the CRB with various levels (bundles) of support down to single service items, allowing each Chapter to customize what they use to meet their own needs. For details or questions regarding support, Chapters can contact CAPCA’s Outreach Relations Manager, Adam Barsanti at: adam@capca.com phone (916) 928-1625 x6

Photo: Fred Rehrman, Elysian Fields

In the fall of 2018 the CAPCA Board of Directors approved a plan to implement some changes in the way the State office will support the Chapters beginning in 2019. Besides reducing the number of CAPCA Ed/ State office continuing education (CE) meetings, the Board initiated a Chapter Resource Budget (CRB) program with the intention to support the unique priorities of each chapter.

• STAY INFORMED • Increase your knowledge of the news, actions and proposed regulatory changes from the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) that may affect your PCA license and the pest control industry.

DPR Electronic Subscription Lists DPR’s web site includes a subscription page for their electronic mailing lists. You can sign up to receive free, automatic delivery of: ➢➢DPR News Releases. ➢➢Licensing, Certification and Continuing Education Information. ➢➢Notices on Regulatory Actions or Proposed Regulatory Changes that may affect your license and/or business operations. ➢➢Updates on over 20 regulatory issues and programs. Subscribe at: http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/dept/ listserv/listdesc.htm

APRIL 2019 | CAPCA ADVISER

2019 Stanley W. Strew Educational Fund, Inc.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY interested in careers in the pest management industry. The scholarship is sponsored by the California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA) and is administered by the Stanley W. Strew Educational Fund, Inc.

Nominees should submit a completed application form and copies of their transcripts. Applications must be postmarked no later than May 3, 2019 and submitted with required letters of recommendation so that the committee can make final selections. The student selected will be notified in the second week of July.

The CAPCA Scholarship will provide $3,000 to a selected college student actively engaged in a PCA career pathway. The scholarship recipient will be selected by the SWS Board of Directors.

For application information please contact CAPCA at (916) 928-1625 or email rachel@capca.com

A scholarship opportunity is available for students

Applications are available for students who are currently attending college in an agricultural/horticultural related field or who are entering or returning to college in an agricultural/horticultural related field in the fall and will have a junior level status.

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

https://capca.com/scholarships-awards/

i c d i t e i Presen M r e t n ts Ba ®

“Mite Banter”

- Quick knock down, long residual control. Got any other “happy” news, Agnes?

- Did I mention my mother’s moving in?

Quiet crop-damaging mites with Banter® miticide from UPL. When it comes to the two-spotted spider mite, Pacific mite or Willamette mite, Banter provides not only quick knockdown, it controls all mite stages. Plus, with its long residual control, Banter keeps your grape crops healthy and your yields strong. You see, when it comes to controlling mites, we’re not just a bunch of talk. Contact your local PCA, UPL distributor or UPL sales representative.

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Special to the Adviser

Potassium in Vegetables and Almonds Carlos Palavicini, AgroLiquid Sales Account Manager Potassium (K) is a primary plant nutrient. It’s classified as a macronutrient because plants take up large quantities of K during their life cycle. It is essential for the transport of sugars and the formation of starches and oils. Potassium helps regulate the opening and closing of leaf stoma which are important for the efficient use of water by a crop. It is also involved with enzyme activation within the plant, which affects protein, starch and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. The production of ATP can regulate the rate of photosynthesis. If potassium is deficient or not supplied in adequate amounts, it stunts plant growth and reduces yield. Potassium promotes root growth, and increases a plant’s resistance to disease and cold temperatures. It improves the size and quality of fruits, nuts, grains and is essential for high quality forage. Crops that produce large amounts of carbohydrates (sugars) require large amounts of potassium; i.e. almonds, alfalfa, grapes, cherries, cotton, etc. While supplies of total potassium in soils is often quite large, relatively small amounts are available to the plant at any one time. That’s because nearly all of this K is in the structural component of soil minerals and isn’t available for plant growth. The amount of available potassium in the soil varies due in part to differences in soil parent materials and weathering. Therefore, like all crop nutrients, the need for potassium varies by crop and by region. Depending on soil type, approximately 90 to 98 percent of total soil K is unavailable to the plant. The minerals feldspars and micas contain most of the K. Over time, these minerals do break down, and K is released. As these minerals weather, some K becomes available, but typically not enough to supply the full K needs of the crop.

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

Some soil K is trapped between layers of clay minerals and is frequently referred to as being ‘fixed’. Again, this type of potassium will vary by region and depends on the dominating type of clay in the soil. Fixed potassium is not measured by most soil tests, and plants cannot use much of it during the growing season. Potassium that’s readily available for plant growth is dissolved in soil water. This is the type of potassium measured on a routing soil test analysis. Several factors affect potassium uptake by plants. As readily available potassium is dissolved in soil water, higher soil moisture usually means greater K availability. However, as always, there can be too much of a good thing. If soil moisture content increases to saturation, root activity and K uptake decrease, because air is necessary for root respiration and K uptake by the plant. Oxygen levels are very low in saturated soils. The optimum soil temperature for potassium uptake is 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This is because plant functions and physiological processes increase as soil temperature increases. Potassium in Vegetables High levels of potassium provide high yields in vegetable crops. Tomatoes, peppers and chiles have a relatively high potassium requirement. For instance: a general guide could be that 5.2 to 7.2 pounds of K are taken in the plant for each ton of tomato harvested. In addition to potassium’s role in developing sugars in fruit, it also helps determine ripening and storage characteristics. An inadequate supply of potassium can lead to uneven ripening. As in other crops, potassium can increase vegetable plants’ resistance to disease. Studies have shown low levels of potassium can result in

higher incidence of yellow shoulder, while higher levels increase the acidity of the fruit and the resultant tomato juice. When there is an inbalance between potassium, calcium and nitrogen, there is higher risk of stip disorder in peppers. Tomatoes and peppers have a relatively high potassium requirement compared to nitrogen with over 250-300 lb/ac of potassium typically being utilized. Potassium is needed throughout the season and is a major component of the fruit at around 250mg K per 100g of a tomato fruit. Maintaining a proper balance of nutrients in the soil is critical to making the plant has the nutrition available when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needed during the growing season. For instance, too much potassium will restrict uptake of magnesium and calcium cations. Also, excess sodium reduces the uptake and transfer of potassium through the plant. Potassium levels need to be increased under saline conditions in order to maintain plant growth.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, almond kernels contain 0.75% K, and potassium represents more than 2% of the dry weight of almond hulls (Calixto, 1982). We also know that of soil-derived nutrients, almond trees remove potassium and nitrogen in the greatest quantities. Removing almond hulls and kernels during harvest removes significant amounts of potassium from almond orchards. Depletion can be avoided by supplying potassium to the trees regularly throughout the season. When first leafing out, trees displaying K deficiency symptoms appear pale in color and have small leaves with little new growth. Later, trees show rolled leaves with marginal leaf burning. This symptom is classic when it occurs in the tree top on leaves in the middle of new shoot growth. The Butte variety is a good indicator of this deficiency because it is likely to exhibit leaf scorching before other varieties show symptoms. K is deficient if July leaf analysis is below 1.0%. â&#x2013;&#x2C6;

Potassium in Almonds Potassium, with nitrogen, boosts growth and enables better water utilization in the tree. It is particularly important and needed in large quantities for nut-fill and the highest yields. Calcium and potassium help improve nut fill and disease tolerance, reducing molds and storage rots.

APRIL 2019 | CAPCA ADVISER

UC IPM

Promoting conservational biocontrol by using insectary plants in organic lettuce Alejandro Del-Pozo, Area IPM Advisor, University of California Statewide IPM Program, Salinas, CA Gina B. Colfer, Key Account Manager â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Organics, Wilbur-Ellis Co., Salinas, CA Introduction Conservational biocontrol (CB) is one of the most widely used tactics to manage pests in several crop systems (Naranjo et al. 2015), including organic lettuce production in the California Central Coast. Basically, CBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ultimate goal is to protect and enhance naturally occurring beneficial insects (such predators and parasitoids), by changing or modifying existing production practices (Pedigo and Rice 2006). Some examples of promoting CB are changing planting dates to avoid critical pest periods, spraying selective pesticides with less risk of harm to beneficials, and establishing insectary plants to attract beneficials. Insectary plants are flowering plant species intentionally planted as a secondary plant in agricultural settings (Parolin et al. 2012, UC IPM 2019). These flowers are considered secondary since they are not harvested and sold as produce. However, just having pretty and colorful flowers is not enough to establish CB. As their name implies, these flowering plants will harbor a plethora of different insects, serving as in-field nurseries or insectaries for beneficials. The main goal of planting these flowers is to provide alternative habitats (shelter) and food sources (nectar and pollen) for both naturally occurring predators and parasitic wasps. Ideally, the

a) Strip

selected insectary plant will have an extended flowering period, maximizing benefits to the main crop. It would be our responsibility, as IPM practitioners, to know when the flowering period of these plants begin, so we could synchronize their blooming to happen during the most susceptible period of the main crop to pests. There have been several studies on the effects of insectary plants in different crop systems around the world (for example, Chaney 2004). Locally, previous research conducted in Salinas, CA indicated that sweet alyssum, chervil, cilantro, layia, and nemophilia attracted the highest number of predatory hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) across 19 different insectary plant species tested (Chaney 1998). Additional research and field observations indicated that planting sweet alyssum attracted hoverflies in commercial lettuce fields. Due to this attraction effect, several organic lettuce growers adopted planting sweet alyssum and other insectary plant species as part of their regular pest management program (Fig. 1). Information on hoverfly biology indicates that they are the most efficient predators to reduce aphid infestations in lettuce. Hoverfly adults (Fig. 2a) feed on nectar and pollen from insectary plants and lay eggs (Fig. 2b) on lettuce plants. As soon as the maggot (Fig. 2c) hatches out, it will prey upon aphids inside the lettuce head.

b) Scatter

Figure 1. Commercial in-field sweet alyssum insectary plant spatial arrangements in Salinas Valley organic Romaine lettuce in CA: a) strips, where alyssum is planted in one bed for every 20 to 40 beds of lettuce, and b) scatter, where alyssum transplants are randomly planted throughout the field. Photos: a) A. Del-Pozo, UC IPM; b) G. Colfer, Wilbur-Ellis. 38

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

Hoverfly maggots are so voracious that they could eat several dozens of aphids during one day. However, bringing these flies into the lettuce fields is not a simple task. The attraction of hoverflies to insectary plants is influenced by several characteristics of the flowers, including color, shape, odor, and age (Ambrosino et al. 2006). The main goal of this study was to compare the effect of having insectary plants on in-field aphid and hoverfly populations in organic lettuce. We hypothesized that planting at least one species of insectary plants will attract hoverflies. Hoverfly maggots can prey upon aphids, and therefore have the possibility of reducing aphid densities. On the contrary, fields without the flowering insectary plants might have a reduced hoverfly population, limiting the predation services on aphids, and resulting in higher densities of this pest. We also wanted to investigate the effect of planting two or more species of insectary plants on aphid and hoverfly population densities. Methodology Three treatments were selected for this project: 1) control fields with no insectary plants, 2) fields with only one species of insectary plant [sweet alyssum], and 3) fields with two or more insectary plant species [alyssum + other species]. We had a total of 12 organic Romaine lettuce fields located from Nashua to Soledad in Monterey County, CA for this research project. Participant fields had lettuce planted from the last week of July to the first week of August 2018 on 80-inch beds, and with five seedlines per bed.

Within each field, we located two transects spaced at least 150 ft apart from each other. Transects run parallel to the directions of the beds. Within each transect, we placed either five sampling points or five yellow sticky cards, equally spaced. We visited fields weekly to collect lettuce heads and sticky cards, for a total of six consecutive weeks. We processed collected samples at the University of California Cooperative Extension Entomology laboratory in Salinas, CA. We documented: 1) number of aphids (sum of all species) per lettuce plant, 2) number of hoverfly maggots per lettuce plant, 3) number of hoverfly adults per sticky card, and 4) number of winged aphids captured per sticky card. Density data was statistically analyzed and subjected to an analysis of variance. Results More winged aphids were captured by sticky cards when located at both control fields, without any insectary plant, and in fields with two or more species of insectary plants (Fig. 3, gray bars). Lower numbers of winged aphids were captured at fields planted with only one species of insectary plant (Fig. 3, gray bars). Captures of hoverfly adults were similar across control fields and fields with insectary plants (Fig. 3, black bars). Additionally, there were fewer aphids in lettuce heads collected from fields with only one species of insectary plant (Fig. 4, gray bars). Higher aphid densities were found per lettuce plant from fields with no insectary plants and from fields with two or more insectary plant species (Fig. 4, black bars). Similar to sticky card captures, numbers of hoverfly maggots on lettuce plants were not different among treatments (Fig. 4, black bars).

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APRIL 2019 | CAPCA ADVISER

UC IPM, CONT, Promoting conservational biocontrol by using insectary plants in organic lettuce

Figure 2. Life stages for a hoverfly (Diptera: Syrphidae): a) conspicuous adult with yellow and black stripes on the abdomen, b) tiny elongated and white hoverfly egg, and c) late-instar (mature) hoverfly maggot, from the genus Syrphus. Maggots are the only stage that preys upon aphids. Photos: A. Del-Pozo, UC IPM. Discussion Currently, having insectary plants is the most used practice in CB by Central Coast organic vegetable growers. Basically, these insectary plants promote the presence of beneficial insects in those commercial fields, ultimately enhancing predation services. Our research project aligns with previously shown data indicating that fields with insectary plants will usually have lower aphid populations when compared to fields with no insectary plants at all. We did not see a clear trend on hoverfly populations recorded in our treatment fields. We expected to see a higher number of these flies in fields with insectary plants. We also anticipated to have difference on hoverfly adult densities between fields with just alyssum compared with ones with two or more insectary plant species. On the contrary, we observed that hoverfly densities were statistically similar among fields with and without insectary plants. There are several factors influencing population dynamics of both aphids and hoverflies in organic Romaine lettuce fields with and without insectary plants. The geographic location of the fields could have influenced our counts. We controlled this issue by having all the treatments in fields grouped together within the same area. The number of organic-certified insecticide applications per field might have caused some variation in insect populations. We are aware of this potential issue, but we have not analyzed that data yet. We will include pesticide use data in a future analysis. We also understand that a correlation does not necessarily mean causation. In our case, lower aphid numbers may not be solely attributed to the presence of insectary plants. There is also some attraction of beneficials to the hedgerow areas surrounding commercial fields. We noticed that two of our control fields had some sort of natural habitat in the surrounding areas. Hoverfly adults might be attracted to flowering plants in these habitats, potentially increasing their numbers at those nearby lettuce fields. We are interested in replicating this project during 2019 to corroborate our findings. 40

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

It is still unclear why there was no difference on hoverfly densities among our treatment fields. However, there was a tendency to find more hoverflies in fields with higher aphid infestations. We could speculate that higher numbers of aphids as prey translated into more hoverflies. From our data, we could conclude that hoverflies were actively present across the Salinas Valley. We might have witnessed a sort of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;system effectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; where control fields with no insectary plants are benefiting indirectly from nearby fields that do have the insectary plants. The authors of this project firmly believe that insectary plants could be taken as an area-wide effort to enhance the presence of beneficial insects, not only in organic fields, but also in conventional. Looking ahead, insectary plants could be considered a critical tactic within an IPM program in lettuce. Developing information on the correct mix of insectary plant species could increase the attraction of beneficials into the system. Insectary plants could also be the areas in the field to release beneficials into, since they offer the shelter, alternate food sources such as nectar, and prey for these beneficials to first establish under outdoor conditions. If interested, please, do not hesitate to contact your local UC IPM advisor on how to implement insectary plants in your system. Acknowledgments We thank our collaborators who made this research project possible. Thanks to Andrew McHaney, Christine Domingos-Luna, Elyse Cargo, Jonathan Ramirez, Kristin Iverson, Kyle Pollock, Carlos Rodriguez, Dominic Frantangelo, Costa Farms, Earthbound Farms, JV Organics Farms, Merrill Farms, Sea Mist Farms, and Wilbur-Ellis Co. Thanks to Richard Smith and Tunyalee Martin for revising a previous version of this manuscript.

CAPCA Ventura Chapter

37th Annual Golf Classic and Bar-B-Q Elkins Ranch Golf Course - Fillmore, CA Wednesday May 8, 2019

Texas Scramble with Shotgun Start, 10:30 a.m. Entry Fee $145 - Includes Green Fee, Cart, Lunch, and BBQ Ted Swartzbaugh Phone: (805) 914-4185 / Email: ted@tritechag.com For more details: https://www.capca.com/chapters/ventura

Haifa offers a range of premium fertilizers for foliar application, all designed for safe use and complete consumption by the crops, consist of pure plant nutrients, and free of chloride. Haifaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s portfolio of foliar feeding products covers the entire range of essential plant nutrients.

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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.

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

Photo: Fred Rehrman, Elysian Fields

Winged aphids Hoverfly adults

Winged aphids df = 2,6 F = 13.45 P = 0.0061

Figure 3. Weekly average count of winged adult aphids (gray bars) and hoverfly adults (black bars) captured on yellow sticky cards placed in organic Romaine experimental fields in the Salinas Valley, CA during summer 2018. Upper- and lower-case letters indicate separate and independent analysis. Within each analysis, different letters represent statistical differences among treatments. On the X-axis, ‘Control’ = fields without any insectary plants, ‘One_species’ = fields with just sweet alyssum, and ‘Two_species’ = fields with sweet alyssum + a different insectary plant species.

Hoverfly df = 2,6 F = 3.70 P = 0.0898

Aphids Hoverfly maggots

Aphids df = 2,6 F = 14.58 P = 0.0050

Figure 4. Weekly average count of aphids (gray bars) and hoverfly maggots (black bars) recorded per plant from organic Romaine experimental fields in the Salinas Valley, CA during summer 2018. Upper- and lower-case letters indicate separate and independent analysis. Within each analysis, different letters represent statistical differences among treatments. On the X-axis, ‘Control’ = fields without any insectary plants, ‘One_species’ = fields with just sweet alyssum, and ‘Two_species’ = fields with sweet alyssum + a different insectary plant species.

Hoverfly maggots df = 2,6 F = 2.01 P = 0.2151

References Ambrosino MD, Luna JM, Jepson PC, Wratten SD. 2006. Relative frequencies of visits to selected insectary plants by predatory hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae), other beneficial insects, and herbivores. Environ. Entomol. 35: 394–400. Chaney WE. 1998. Biological control of aphids in lettuce using in-field insectaries. In Enhancing biological control: habitat management to promote natural enemies of agricultural pests. Univ. Calif. Press. Berkley, CA. pp. 73–84. Chaney WE. 2004. Insectary plants for vegetable crops. In IV California Conference on Biological Control. Berkley, CA. pp 53–54. Naranjo SE, Ellsworth PC, Frisvold GB. 2015. Economic value of biological control in integrated pest management of managed plant systems. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 60: 621–645. Pedigo LP, Rice M. 2006. Entomology and Pest Management. 5th Edition. Pearson Education Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. 749p. Parolin P, Bresch C, Desneux N, Brun R, Bout A, Boll R, Poncet C. 2012. Secondary plants used in biological control: a review. Inter. J. Pest. Mgmt. 58: 91–100. UC IPM. 2019. Insectary Plants. University of California Statewide IPM Program. [Accessed: February 14, 2019] http://ipm.ucanr.edu/ mitigation/insectary_plants.html █

APRIL 2019 | CAPCA ADVISER

They may be unseen, but they shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Nematodes are the invisible threat to almond orchards. Protect your crops from nematode damage with Velum® One. Protection from wide-spectrum nematode damage.

58% average increase in canopy diameter in newly-planted trees.2

Can increase yield 8.3% with an average of $475/bearing acre.1

Convenient in-season application via chemigation.

For more information, visit www.VelumOne.com. 1

Profit increase based on 2017 almond price/lb. and average yield/bearing acres with 8.3% increase in yield versus untreated over three-year trial, per trial data of five locations with a single application of Velum One at 6.5 or 6.85 fl. oz./A.

Velum One applied at 6.5 oz./A, spring 2017, via drip irrigation. Trees planted in January 2017. Increase in green canopy pixels based on an average of two rows of untreated trees compared to an average of two rows of Velum One-treated trees.

© 2018 Bayer CropScience LP, 800 North Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63167. Always read and follow label instructions. Bayer, the Bayer Cross, and Velum are registered trademarks of Bayer. Not all products are registered for use in all states. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.CropScience.Bayer.us.

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ROOT HEALTH IN ALMOND ORCHARDS

Orchard Success and Why It Pays to Focus on Root Health Root health is a basic necessity impacting orchard health for many years. Sustainability, production and growth are all compromised by poor root health.

Sampling and Monitoring With permanent crops like almonds, the biggest threats to tree root systems are destructive nematode species that feed on them, leaving trees struggling to take up sufficient nutrients and water. Whether the orchard is a new re-plant or mature, growers should consider soil sampling for nematode levels and continue to monitor for diseases that can also erode soil health. According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, nematodes reduce vigor and yield in tree nuts, causing 15 to 20 percent yield loss on average but sometimes as much as 50 percent.1

Nematode populations can

rebuild over two or three years, threatening the health of maturing trees.

Nematodes reduce vigor and yield in tree nuts, causing

15 to 20 percent yield loss on average but sometimes as much as

50 percent.1

and has been shown to protect root health and help establish the crop. Trials conducted in California showed that young almond orchards treated with Velum One saw improved canopy diameter by more than half (58%) as well as improvement in yield. Movento® insecticide can be applied as an in-season foliar spray. It moves through the leaves, down to the roots, protecting the roots from the effects of nematode feeding.

Velum® One Helps Establish Young Almond Orchards Velum One-treated trees show 58% increase in canopy diameter (green canopy pixels).

North

Below the surface of the soil, where plant roots are meant to thrive and provide a healthy support system, is the place to start your orchard health program.

Velum® One

Restrictions on soil fumigant use due to air quality concerns make pre-plant soil fumigation less likely to be a permanent nematode management solution. In addition, nematode populations in soil can rebuild over two or three years, threatening the health of maturing trees, and additional applications to suppress nematodes after fumigations are necessary. Nematicides and insecticides are reliable post-plant protection against nematodes. “Research shows annual applications, as trees establish root systems, can add to crop yields,” says Rob Kiss, Bayer Customer Business Advisor in central California.

Nematicide and Insecticide Solutions Velum ® One is a new nematicide that can be easily applied via drip and microjet chemigation. It suppresses a wide range of nematodes 1

South

Fumigation Untreated

Velum One applied at 6.5 oz. per acre, spring 2017, via drip irrigation. Trees planted in January 2017.

Fungicide Solutions Serenade® ASO applied through chemigation colonizes the roots, helping to protect them from damage caused by soil-borne diseases. Healthier roots improve soil health and plant nutrient and water uptake.

Summary Growers looking for an optimal start for their newly planted orchards and maturing trees should continue to be vigilant in managing soil pests and diseases in order to extract the maximum production and value from their orchards. Making sure the root systems are protected from soil diseases and pests will give trees every chance to produce up to their full potential and ensure the long-term vigor and health of your orchard.

Learn more at: www.CropScience.Bayer.us

California Department of Food and Agriculture 2015 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Project Abstracts.

IMPORTANT: This bulletin is not intended to provide adequate information for use of these products. Read the label before using these products. Observe all label directions and precautions while using these products. © 2018 Bayer CropScience LP, 800 North Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63167. Always read and follow label instructions. Bayer, the Bayer Cross, Movento, Serenade, and Velum are registered trademarks of Bayer. Not all products are registered for use in all states. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.CropScience.Bayer.us. CR1018VELONEB025S00R0

APRIL 2019 | CAPCA ADVISER

FARM ADVISORS

Controlling the western grapeleaf skeletonizer with biorational products and California isolates of entomopathogenic fungi Surendra K. Dara, Cooperative Extension Advisor-Entomology and Biologicals, San Luis Obispo, CA; Suchitra S. Dara, Global Agricultural Solutions, Bakersfield, CA; Stefan Jaronski, USDA-ARS (Retired), Sidney, MT The western Grapeleaf skeletonizer (WGLS), Harrisina metallica Stretch (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae), previously known to cause severe defoliation to vineyards and backyard grapevines appears to be re-emerging in California. Since its first detection in San Diego in 1941, WGLS spread through commercial vineyards and backyard grapes becoming a serious problem for grapes. Although two biological control agents from Arizona and Mexico were introduced in California for WGLS control, a naturally occurring granulovirus (Harrisina brillians granulovirus) nearly eradicated WGLS populations and kept them under control. WGLS has not been a problem especially in conventional vineyards. However, based on personal observations and feedback from some colleagues, growers,

WGLS life stages

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

and PCAs WGLS populations are emerging in organic vineyards and backyard grapevines in San Diego, Riverside, Kern, Tulare and some other counties in California. Organic vineyards are especially at risk and uncontrolled populations can destroy vineyards resulting in significant losses. Uncontrolled populations in backyard vines could also be a source of re-emerging infestations. WGLS is a destructive pest skeletonizing and defoliating grape leaves. Metallic bluish or greenish black moths lay barrel shaped yellowish eggs on the lower side of the leaves. There are five larval instars. Early instars are cream colored and develop black and purple bands in later stages. Pupation occurs in a whitish cocoon. Upon hatching, larvae start feeding side by side in a row on the lower side of leaf.

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Benefits include: • Increased yield potential • Reduced insect and disease pressure • More efficient water and nutrient uptake • Improved harvestability in tree nuts

“It’s important to maintain control of weeds in an orchard throughout the growing season,” Wilson says. “If weeds go untreated through the growing season, they can potentially rob the orchard of valuable nutrients and water, which can put unnecessary stress on the crop. At harvest time, weeds can compromise the harvest process.” Ryan Garcia, of Hughson, California, a PCA/CCA with Salida Ag Chem, sees the weed population diminishing in the orchards he helps manage.

“Herbicides are important in almond orchards,” says Pest Control Advisor/ “Alion does a really good job, “I continue to use Alion in a pre-emergent Certified Crop Advisor (PCA/CCA) has long residual weed control rotation because it’s a good product and David Vermeulen, Modesto, California. and it takes care of a lot of it works really well. We can see Alion “Weeds compete for nutrients. They broad-spectrum weeds…” reducing the weed population overall as compete for water. Those are probably soon as we start using it,” Garcia states. your bigger two issues in the almond “I think it’s one of the top – if not the top – pre-emergent product orchard, especially early on, so by keeping them down you have out in the market right now. Alion does a really good job, has long more water and more nutrients getting to the plant to get a better residual weed control and it takes care of a lot of broad-spectrum crop. Weeds also harbor insects – take morning glory, when you weeds that are giving us issues here in the Central Valley.” control it, you have a little less mite pressure in the orchard.”

“Alion works well and it works perfectly for switching chemistries around,” Vermeulen states.

Alion Provides Long-Lasting Weed and Grass Control The effective, long-lasting weed control extends across a broad spectrum of broadleaf weeds and grasses. With low use rates in an easy-to-use liquid SC formulation, Alion also offers excellent crop safety. Bayer Sales Representative Matthew Wilson, PCA, recommends Alion for pre-emergent weed control in mature almonds, walnuts and grapes during dormancy from November through January.

Outstanding Weed Control Compared to Other Premium Herbicides Percent of weed control at 121 days after application replicated at two locations in California tree nuts. Percent of Weed Control (121 Days after Application)

Vermeulen uses Alion® two ways, depending on crop needs: a single application in a tankmix with a second mode of action in the fall or Alion alone in a split application with treatments in November and February. As a Group 29 herbicide, Alion offers a unique mode of action, which Vermeulen particularly appreciates for the resistance management opportunity.

100 80

97.5

100

92.5

85 72.5

60 40 20 0

Roundup® + Rely ® Overall

Alion® at 3.5 oz./A + Roundup + Rely Jungle rice

Mission® at 2.15 oz./A + Roundup + Rely Fluvellin

Source: Brad Hanson, UC Davis, 2017.

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© 2019 Bayer Group. Always read and follow label instructions. Bayer, the Bayer Cross, Alion, and Roundup are registered trademarks of the Bayer Group. Not all products are registered for use in all states. Rely is a registered trademark of BASF Corporation. Mission is a registered trademark of Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.CropScience.Bayer.us. Bayer CropScience LP, 800 North Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63167. CR0918ALIONNB016S00R0

FARM ADVISORS, CONT, Controlling western grapeleaf skeletonizer

Damage by younger larvae appears as whitish leaf area containing veins and the upper cuticle, which eventually turn brown. Older larvae skeletonize leaves leaving larger veins. Larvae may also feed on fruit leading to bunch rot. Severe damage can cause defoliation and sunburn of the exposed fruit. Methodology A study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of six non-chemical control options. Treatments included i) untreated control, ii) spinosad (5 fl oz in 100 gal), iii) Beaveria bassiana (California isolate SfBb1, 1.0E+8 viable conidia/ml), iv) Metarhizium anisopliae s.l. (California isolate GmMa1, 1.0E+8 viable conidia/ml), v) Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai (1 lb in 100 gal), vi) B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (1 lb in 100 gal), and vii) azadirachtin (10 fl oz in 100 gal). Except for the entomopathogenic fungi, the rest of the materials were formulated commercial products. Larvae were collected from an infested, untreated backyard grapevine and maintained in one-gallon plastic tubs with screened lids on infested leaves. Fresh, untreated grape leaves from uninfested vines were provided daily for 3 days before starting the assay. For each treatment, five 4-5 instar larvae were placed on a grape leaf disc (rinsed in water and dried) in a Petri plate (100 mm dia) with a moist filter paper. Larvae were treated by spraying 1 ml of the treatment solution (containing a non-ionic surfactant at 0.125% vol/vol). Application rates for commercial formulations were determined based on label recommendations for 100 gallons of spray volume. Entomopathogenic fungal concentrations were also determined based on the label rates for similar commercial products. Treatments were replicated four times and the assay was conducted twice. Larval mortality was observed daily, and dead larvae were removed and incubated separately. Fresh leaf discs were provided as needed to the remaining larvae. Actual and corrected (for control mortality) total mortality were calculated.Data were arcsine-transformed for statistical analysis and significant means were separated using Tukeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s HSD test.

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

Results Both cumulative daily mortality and total mortality significantly (P < 0.0001) differed among treatments. Spinosad and M. anisopliae resulted in the highest mortality followed by B. bassiana, azadirachtin, and B. thuringiensis subsp. aizawai. In general, feeding reduced or ceased in all larvae following treatment and could have contributed to a lower mortality in B. thuringiensis treatments. Entomopathogenic fungi emerged from all the cadavers from respective treatments. Microbial and botanical options provided good control of WGLS. These non-chemical alternatives can be effectively used in both organic and conventional vineyards. California isolates of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae demonstrated good control efficacy and the potential to be developed as microbial pesticides. References Federici, B. A. and V. M. Stern. 1990. Replication and occlusion of a granulosis virus in larval and adult midgut epithlium of the western grapeleaf skeletonizer, Harrisina brillians. J. Invertebr. Pathol. 56: 401-414. Stern, V. M. and B. A. Federici. 1990. Granulosis virus: biological control for western grapeleaf skeletonizer. California Ag. 44: 21-22.

ADVERTORIAL

Stress or no stress - regular applications of Acadian® are proven to boost the health and yield of pistachio orchards.

•

In 2016 Acadian conducted a split-block pistachio water stress trial near Tranquility, California. Here trees were subject to deficient irrigation early in the season, before full irrigation was restored. The 2016 Tranquility trial showed that the addition of 2 quarts/acre each month for the growing months (April – September) resulted in less negative stem water potential (more water in the trees, less water stress) and decreased leaf tissue levels of sodium and chloride (known to impair photosynthesis and thus likely to impact plant health and yield). In 2017 a replicated trial on pistachios was conducted in Kerman, California. These trees were grown and irrigated with the grower standard. There was no reduction of irrigation. The 2017 Kerman trial, the treated tress in the Kerman site showed a statistically significant increase in trunk circumference (7.7% vs. 3.9%) as well as an increase in yield and net revenue.

Under stress conditions wherein trees were deficit irrigated, the plots treated

0.000

-20% b

Control

Acadian®

TISSUE ANALYSIS

0.2 0.15 0.10

-15% b

Control

Acadian®

0.05 0.00

p=0.04

0.005

p=0.003

0.010

Percent Cl in leaf tissue

0.015

TISSUE ANALYSIS

Applications of Acadian® resulted in significant reductions in both sodium and chloride in the leaf tissue.

RESULTS - ROI 7,000

YIELD PER ACRE

6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0

+239 Control

Acadian®

12,000

Net Return/Acre (USD)

•

RESULTS 2016 Percent Na in leaf tissue

tress is inherent to agriculture. If it isn’t the weather, it’s the pests and if it isn’t the pests it’s the policy or pricing. That said, we often find that Acadian® performs well in times of stress and as well as a part of a long-term program where stress is not present.

Yield (pounds/acre)

NET RETURN PER ACRE

10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000

+361 /acre

2,000 0

Control

Acadian®

Applications of Acadian resulted in numerically increased yields by 239 lbs/acre. Assuming a cost of $35/gallon for Acadian®, and a price to the grower of $1.80/lb, this results in a net increase in return to the grower of $361/ acre (5:1 ROI) ®

with Acadian® had increased water status, reduced sodium and chloride levels in the leaves and increased tree growth. And, under regular conditions, Acadian® treatments increased tree growth and yield, resulting in a net revenue increase of $361/ acre for the grower. Based on pricing at the time – this was a 5:1 return on investment. In good times or in times of stress – Acadian® delivers significant return on investment in both healthier plants as well as higher net revenues. Independent

research confirms that 2 quarts per acre per month of Acadian® during the season delivers consistently valuable results. Years of field trials have shown similar results across other key California crops including table and wine grapes, strawberries, lettuce, almonds and tomatoes. Integrating Acadian® into your total crop health program provides plants with ongoing support, optimizing plant health year-round and improving consistency of yield quality and quantity.

To learn more about Acadian® and the benefits for pistachios and other crops, contact your local crop input retailer or visit www.acadianplanthealth.com.

Tel: +1 902 428 2840 • info@acadian.ca 30 Brown Avenue, Dartmouth Nova Scotia, Canada

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Effective Plant Nutrients and Biopesticides Approved for Certified Organic Crop Production

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APRIL 2019 | CAPCA ADVISER

FARM ADVISORS

Root-knot nematodes on bell peppers Antoon Ploeg, Nematology Specialist, Dept. Nematology, UC Riverside; Jose Aguiar, UCCE Farm Advisor, Riverside County

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) is an important fruiting vegetable crop in the USA representing a value of $642 million in 2013 (USDA, 2014). With approximately 21,000 acres, California is the number one producing state in the US. In the Coachella Valley about 5,000 acres of bell peppers are grown, on raised beds, covered with black plastic mulch on sandy soils. Growers in this area have two pepper crops per year, with a spring planting under black plastic mulch in early February and harvested in June followed by a non-mulched fall planting in August/September and harvested into December or to the first frost. Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne species) are economically important nematode pests of bell pepper. Although within this group of nematodes, there are many different species, the southern root-knot nematode (M. incognita) is by far the most prevalent species infesting bell pepper in California. Another species: the Javanese root-knot nematode M. javanica, that is often found in California infecting other vegetable crops appears uncommon in bell peppers. In some other countries however this certain populations of species have been reported as pathogens of bell pepper. Although all root-knot nematodes share a common lifecycle, and generally have a wide host range, different species may have different preferences as far as preferred host plants and soil temperature optimum. The second-stage juveniles (J2) hatch from the eggs and are worm-shaped. They move through the soil and enter into the roots of a host plant. Once inside the roots,

they stop moving, modify the root cells of the host, while the host roots typically react to the infestation with the formation of galls. While the presence of galls is indicative of a root-knot nematode infection, the size and shape of the galls differs in different crops. The galls on pepper roots are generally not as obvious and large as in some other vegetable crops such as tomato or cucurbits. Still, an infected pepper root system may still carry several million root-knot nematode eggs. Inside these galls, the nematodes develop into adult females. Each female can produce up to 400 eggs which are contained in a gelatinous material. The eggs are generally deposited on the outside of the roots. From these eggs new J2 can emerge again. The soil temperature mostly determines how fast a life cycle (from J2 to J2) can be completed, but under warm conditions (about 82F) the life cycle can be completed in less than four weeks, and during one cropping season several life cycles can be completed. Thus, low nematode levels at planting can quickly increase to high populations when conditions are favorable. In the Coachella Valley, the relatively warm soil temperatures in combination with the predominant light soil types, sufficient soil moisture, and the frequent cropping of excellent host crops provides an ideal scenario for root-knot nematodes to increase to damaging population levels. In bell peppers, root-knot nematodes can cause direct yield reduction (i.e. fewer/smaller fruits), but because of wilting and stunting of infested plants, fruits are also more susceptible to sun-burn leading to considerable loss in marketable yields.

Close-up of nematode infested pepper roots. Galling is moderate (left), but a large number of nematode egg masses (red arrows) are present, and can easily be seen after staining the egg masses on the same root system (right).

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

Advertorial

Infiltration The Road to Nutritional Availability and Plant Vitality In agronomy, we put a lot of emphasis on creating nutritional availability by reducing bicarbonate through acid suppression. Initially sulfurous or weak acids tend to show amazing signs of success however continued use leads to disappointment by year three applying even more product year over year, then forcing the need for calcium sulfate, all the while watching costs elevate and vitality becoming more challenging with noticeably less infiltration, more nutrition bound up in our soils and less micronutrients in our tissue analyses.

bacteria > leading to the production of hydrogen sulfide gas (toxicity) > leading the bacteria formation of polysaccharide which further repels infiltration and which is impervious to strong acids > and where calcium sulfate is applied as an available source of calcium, a desiccant competing for the H2O molecules. And so, vitality, growth rate, volume and quality are all hindered due to the lack of infiltration providing consistent hydration, nutritional availability, dissolved oxygen along with sodium and bio toxicity.

Neither pure H2O nor will rain dissolve scale once it is formed > sodium remains attached, usually bonded with everything and readily solubilizes in many grades of both good and bad water, thereby toxic to our vegetation > aerification and tilling are opening up the soils physically but they are not suppressing the colony forming bacteria or We see the more soluble nutrients and minerals remain readily on a path of overcoming the bound-up soil and nutrition. Peeled back available and transpire through our vegetation including nitrogen, zinc layer by layer, scale crystals form by the absorption of carbonate as H2O evaporates. When you dissolve scale into solution, you release and unfortunately at times salt. gasses – carbon dioxide allowing the minerals to go back into solution. HCT research shows many consistencies across all aspects of agronomy, Letting the solute evaporate to dryness again, denser scale formation supported by reproducible empirical results over varying waters, soils, occurs requiring more acid to resolubilize, if possible. By ion exchanging environmental conditions and vegetation – varying crops, nurseries, the carbonate with a strong acid and converting the mineral to an turfs, ornamental and even water wells - throughout the western USA. amino, acetate, glycolate, +++, the mineral will not take on carbonate, The consistencies encompass carbonate bound scale, toxicity of sodium and becomes a re-hydratable nutrition in a chemical and ionic form (usually bound with chloride), and a matrix of excess sulfur/sulfate and almost immediately available for plant uptake. Plant roots do not have bacteria propagating anoxic (non-aerobic) soil profiles, accompanied to exude so many acids to consume the nutrition. It takes a strong acid with sulfate reducing bacteria colonies, H2S and polysaccharide (a bio- to disassociate the carbonate from a strong acid crystal and it takes film impervious to acids, oxidizers) which all hinder infiltration, unique chemistry to keep the reaction from re-crystalizing, from nutritional transport and vegetation vitality, far beyond what we forming surfactants hindering infiltration and converting carbonate minerals into desirable nutrition. perceive. Sodium and chloride readily present themselves, damaging leaf cells. We push sodium out of the root zone with organic matter, fulvic, humic acid, heavy weak acids, striving to keep the matric of toxicity away from the roots.

Research by UC Davis; Solubility of Salts/Solubility Equilibria - reports where “Salts of weak acids are soluble by strong acids, … but where salts of strong acids will NOT dissolve salts of strong acids.”

Because of this, what we are observing over a span of about three years use of sulfurous acids is what we refer to as a trickle-down effect. Sulfurous acid treated water lowers pH > increases nutrient availability while in solution > as water evaporates, minerals and nutrients concentrate, nucleate and form scale (like water spots on dishware and windows but at a magnitude 1,152 times more on 6 A/ft. of water) > as this occurs more water use, more scale is formed and salt loaded > infiltration becomes increasingly compromised resulting in less infiltration, less hydration and less available nutrition at the root zones > the buildup of unavailable nutrition in the soil > the application of calcium in one form or another > the harboring of sodium > the potential buildup of sulfur and sulfate combined with water bacteria leading to food source for the development of anoxic sulfate reducing

Sodium is yet another challenge, where challenged infiltration harbors toxic salt (Na+). Through the chemical reaction of proton donation, sodium releases and becomes inert, readily flushed and or processed through plant respiration without damage. Chloride is released as a gas. Sulfur or sulfate in excess (>120 ppm sulfate), plus bacteria at levels of 1,000 or more CFU’s/ml have been found empirically to sustaining sulfate reducing bacteria. Managing bacteria can deter the anaerobic colonies they form in the soil profile that exude H2S, form polysaccharide and have been observed colonizing root bases stifling growth and vitality. Degradation products of effective organic peroxides become dissolved oxygen and pure H2O, referred to as continuous chemical aerification. The benefits of WaterSOLV™ solutions are numerous; 1/10th the amount of acid at an equivalent cost > less hazard acid > conversion of water and soil hardness to nutrition > spectacular soil curation / infiltration / nutritional transportation > plant hydration on demand > visual vitality / heat stress tolerance / improved product grade, uniformity and yields / no more desiccant / reduced sulfur and sulfate loading / salt release and detoxification / an aerobic soil profile / 1015% water demand reduction and associated nutritional demand.

©HCT, LLC – Scottsdale, AZ 85254. Always read and follow label instructions. Well-Klean©, WaterSOLV™ and Water Treatment for Agronomy™ are trade names of HCT, LLC. Select formulas registered with California Department of Food and Agriculture, as well as NSF 60, Standards Council of Canada, and ANSI for offline use on potable water systems. WaterSOLV™ Solutions contain no nutrient value and are classified as Auxiliary Soil and Plant Substance by CDFA.

APRIL 2019 | CAPCA ADVISER

Bell pepper field with patches of yellow and stunted plants.

To control nematodes and avoid damage, soil fumigants can be applied prior to transplanting. Because of the negative impact of fumigants on air quality and human health, soil fumigation in California is subject to ever stricter regulations with respect to required buffer zones, air quality monitoring, sealing, posting etc. Thus, to manage root-knot nematodes, it is necessary that alternative management strategies are tested and developed. In the initial stage of this study, we visited a number of spring season pepper fields in the Coachella Valley where plants showed symptoms (wilting, stunting, yellowing) that could indicate a nematode infestation. A first sampling in April yielded very few positives, but a in second sampling during late May several fields tested positive for root-knot nematodes, with sometimes very high populations levels in the soil samples taken from the pepper beds. All nematodes were identified as M. incognita. One method to control nematode damage is to use resistant varieties. Although

nematode-resistant varieties are not commercially grown in the Coachella Valley, two open-pollinated bell pepper cultivars: ‘Carolina Wonder’ and ‘Charleston Belle’ with resistance to M. incognita have been developed. In repeated greenhouse tests, we exposed these resistant varieties to the nematodes that came from Coachella Valley pepper fields. The variety ‘Carolina Wonder’ showed a high degree of resistance, and the roots remained virtually free of galls. The variety ‘Charleston Belle’ still allowed some nematode multiplication, and also had some root galling, although much less than the susceptible variety ‘Baron’ which was included as a control. In a field trial in 2018, the resistant ‘Carolina Wonder’ and the susceptible ‘Baron’ were tested at two locations, each infected with root-knot nematodes. In one location at the Coachella Valley Agricultural Research Station (CVARS), the initial nematode levels were low, and both varieties had similar yields. However, the final numbers of nematodes per 100 g soil

Table 1. Pre-plant and at-harvest soil nematode counts (per 100 g soil), root infestation levels (eggs/g root) and root galling on susceptible ‘Baron’ (S) and resistant ‘Carolina Wonder’ (R) pepper at two root-knot nematode infested field sites. Initial nematode Final nematode eggs/g root galling Pepper Variety: R S R S R S R S CVARS-site 8 8 1 3,010 2 12,247 0.0 4.6 SCREC-site 40 41 106 869 137 7,811 0.4 6.4

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

at harvest, the number of eggs on the pepper roots, and the root galling were much lower on the resistant pepper. At the other location at the South Coast Research and Extension Center (SCREC) at Irvine, the initial nematode numbers were higher. At this site, the results were very similar with much lower nematode levels and galling on the resistant pepper. At the SCREC field, the resistant pepper also yielded about 40% more than the susceptible variety. Therefor, the use of nematoderesistant varieties looks promising as it leaves a lower nematode infestation level, and the plants may yield more under high initial nematode pressure. The suitability of such pepper varieties under commercial growing practices remains to be tested.

In the last few years, we have been evaluating several new nonfumigant nematicides in different vegetable crops and in different field trials. Several are consistently showing good efficacy and have the advantage that they are environmentally more friendly, are more specific with respect to targeting plant-parasitic nematodes, are much less toxic, do not require long re-entry intervals, and can be used closer to transplanting or seeding. First field trials with these compounds on pepper also showed promise, and they may eventually provide an alternative to pre-plant fumigation. The authors wish to thank the California Pepper Commission for financial support. █

Although bell pepper in general appears more tolerant to rootknot nematodes than some other vegetable crops, the relationship between pre-plant soil nematode levels and the growth, yield, and at-harvest nematode levels has not been determined for root-knot nematodes and bell pepper under California growing conditions and pepper varieties. Therefore, it is difficult to predict risks on crop damage and decide on nematode management strategies based on the results from pre-plant soil samples. We are currently planning experiments to provide such data for California pepper varieties and root-knot nematodes occurring in California pepper fields.

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APRIL 2019 | CAPCA ADVISER

Special to the Adviser

Biopesticides as tools in resistance management Resistance management requires access to alternative modes of action. Today’s biopesticides deliver advisors and growers more options than ever before. Michael Dimock, PhD, Vice President of Field Development and Scott Ockey, Field Development Manager, Certis USA By some estimates, at least 1,000 species of pests, weeds, or disease-causing microbes have developed resistance to at least one pesticide. The single-most contributing factor to pesticide resistance is repeated exposure to the same or related ingredients, or modes of action. When populations of insects, mites, disease-causing fungi and bacteria are continuously exposed to pesticide active ingredients (AI) targeting the same or very similar metabolic target sites, there is a high probability that resistance will develop to that type of product. Natural populations of pests or pathogens include a few individuals that, through natural mutation carry genes that confer some capability of tolerating the effects of a particular AI or mode of action (MoA). Repeated exposure to that AI exerts an artificial selection pressure that favors survival and reproduction of these individuals. Under continuous selection, resistance becomes more and more prevalent in each generation, and can eventually result in complete control failure. Depending on the number and timing of applications, the target pest’s reproductive cycle can develop resistance as quickly as between generations or in a single season. Often, resistance is due to biochemical changes in the metabolic target site of the pesticide MoA which may confer cross-resistance to other AI’s targeting the same or very similar target sites. Thus, resistance to one AI may place an entire class of pesticides at risk of failure due to resistance. 56

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

Resistance management in IPM One of the underlying principles of integrated pest management (IPM) is to avoid over-reliance on a single tactic, including chemical pesticides. IPM tactics such as crop timing, rotation and cultural practices, use of pest-resistant varieties, preserving biological controls, and the use of thresholds to guide pesticide applications are an essential part of the foundation upon which effective resistance management strategies are built. The risk of resistance is lower in IPM programs that rely on judicious use of pesticides as one of many tactics within this framework. The most commonly recommended practice to reduce the risk of resistance is to avoid reliance on a single Mode of Action (MoA), switching between different MoAs within a growing season or between generations of a pest. To this end, the Fungicide (www. frac.info/) and Insecticide (www.irac-online.org) Resistance Action Committees publish classification of pesticides by MoA categories for guidance in choice of AI’s for resistance management. Multiple modes of action fit into IPM and resistance management Unlike most chemical pesticides, many biopesticides incorporate multiple MoA, often with no single biochemical target site such as a fungal enzyme pathway or insect neurotransmitter that could make them highly vulnerable to resistance development.

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metabolic responses that limit infection and disease development. LifeGard’s activation of a crop’s immune response is known as induced resistance (IR). LifeGard is ideal for resistance management programs for conventional or

organic crops. It’s the only fungicide in the FRAC P6 category, has 4-hour REI, zero PHI and is residue exempt. Activate your crops to resist disease.

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CONT: Biopesticides as tools in resistance management

Such nonspecific MoA, ranging from contact degradation of cuticular waxes and cell membranes to infection of plant pests or competition with pathogenic microbes, also makes crossresistance with chemical pesticides unlikely to occur. For these reasons, biopesticides can usually be incorporated into existing pest management programs as a means of managing pesticide resistance without creating new resistance problems. An example of such a biopesticide is the naturally-occurring fungus Beauveria bassiana, which infects and kills insects and mites. Spores of this fungus act as a contact mycoinsecticide with a MoA unlike many other chemical or botanical insecticide. After spores germinate upon contact with a host, the fungus penetrates the exoskeleton through a combination of enzymatic action, hydrostatic pressure and other biochemical mechanisms. The fungus proliferates within the body of the host, causing a fatal infection that kills the host within a few days. Because its MoA is based on an infection process (a case of microbial control) rather than targeting a single biochemical process, Beauveria bassiana is able to control insects resistant to chemical insecticides with little or no risk of cross-resistance. In some cases, fungus and chemical insecticide may actually act synergistically as insects weakened by one become more susceptible to the other.

Some microbial control agents are known to act as “plant activators,” stimulating a plant to increase its own natural defenses against disease in a process known as induced resistance. These defenses include elevated levels of enzymes and antimicrobial proteins with nonspecific effects on basic functions such as growth and cell wall formation of pathogenic fungi and bacteria. Fungicides can be more effective when the crop to which they are applied has some level of resistance to infection, whether due to selective breeding or inducible defenses. Research at Montana State University has shown that the microbial plant activator Bacillus mycoides isolate J applied to sugar beets boosts plant resistance to Cercospora leaf spot in a way that also renders the pathogenic fungus more easily controlled by triazole fungicides to which it has developed resistance. Two very different modes of action deliver a “one-two punch” that slows further development of pathogen resistance to a single target site MoA. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) remains a stalwart microbial insecticide, with more than 60 years of commercial use in the USA for control of larvae of Lepidoptera (caterpillars), mosquitoes, blackflies, and several other types of insect pests. In this time, Bts have not shown cross-resistance with synthetic insecticides and are frequently used in programs with these products as a resistance management tactic. Bt has a more specific biochemical MoA compared to many other microbial biopesticides, producing insecticidal proteins that, upon ingestion, bind to and destroy the cellular lining of the larval digestive tract. This puts Bts at some risk of resistance development with indiscriminate use, but the MoA is sufficiently unique that no cross-resistance between Bt and chemical insecticides has been documented. Because biopesticides rely on multiple, unique, and nonspecific modes of action rather than the single target sites common to synthetic pesticides, they should be considered as important components of effective resistance management programs. █

The single-most contributing factor to pesticide resistance is repeated exposure to the same or related ingredients, or modes of action.

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

One of the underlying principles of integrated pest management (IPM) is to avoid over-reliance on a single tactic, including chemical pesticides.

The most commonly recommended practice to reduce the risk of resistance is to avoid reliance on a single MoA.

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SAVE THE DATE! PATHWAY TO PCA

STUDENT NETWORK EVENT Facilitating Conversation, Investing in the Future

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2019

GRAND SIERRA RESORT | RENO, NV

CAPCA ADVISER | APRIL 2019

Photo: Fred Rehrman, Elysian Fields

For more information about the Student Network Event, visit capca.com/pca/events/

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Control worms without disrupting beneficial insects. Why take chances with your tree nuts? Add Zylo® insecticide to your insect control program. Zylo is the ideal partner to deliver broad-spectrum control of lepidopteran insects, including navel orangeworm and peach tree borer. With its strong residual control, Zylo gives you great protection, without disrupting pollinators and other beneficial insects. Which means with Zylo, everyone comes out a winner. Except worms. To place your order, contact your area pest control advisor or UPL distributor. Zylo is a bee-friendly insecticide. Zylo and the UPL logo are trademarks of UPL Corporation Limited or its related companies. Products manufactured for UPL NA Inc. 630 Freedom Business Center, King of Prussia, PA 19406. ©February, 2019. All rights reserved. www.upi-usa.com

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