The USDA has designated April 2025 as Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month to highlight the importance of citizen-driven strategies in protecting crops. The campaign emphasizes four key actions: …
The Growing Edge: Wet Weather Impact on Central Valley Crops
Todd Burkdoll, a field market development specialist with Valent USA, discusses the impact of recent and expected wet weather on Central Valley crops, particularly almonds, cherries, plums, and nectarines. He …
Almond Growers Advised to Stay Vigilant Against Alternaria This Summer
As California’s almond orchards transition from bloom to petal fall, growers are being advised to shift their focus to managing leaf diseases, particularly Alternaria. According to Katie Driver, UPL Technical …
APHIS Modifying Strategy to Combat the New World Screw Worm
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is modifying its strategy to combat the new world screw worm (NWS) by shifting sterile fly dispersal efforts to the northernmost outbreak …
Almond Growers Face Challenges with Botrytis and Hull Rot
As almond growers in California navigate the season, they continue to battle two major fungal diseases: botrytis and hull rot. According to Cassandra Rieser, Technical Service Manager for UPL, these …
UPL Highlights Benefits of Axios Fungicide for Almond Growers
Almond growers seeking effective disease control solutions have a new option to consider. Axios 20SC, a fungicide powered by quinoprol, offers flexibility, low use rates, and the benefits of an …
APHIS and CDFA Expand Sweet Orange Scab Quarantine
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) are expanding the quarantine for sweet orange scab (SOS) in Orange County, …
Citrus Greening Quarantine Expansion in Los Angeles County
Effective immediately, the USA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), is expanding the area’s quarantine for citrus greening. …
USDA on Screwworm Control
If you’ve been a cattle producer for a long time, you may remember the last time that the New World screwworm harmed livestock here in the U.S. C.J. Miller reports …
More Funding for Screwworm Management
The Agriculture Department has allocated additional resources to respond to recent cases of New World screwworm in livestock in southern Mexico and Central America. Rusty Halvorson has more. What to …
ROAR Grant Supports Research to Protect California’s Strawberry Crop
California, responsible for about 90% of the nation’s fresh strawberries, faces a significant threat from a new strain of the Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae (Fof) fungus. The pathogen endangers …
California Farm Linked to Onions in E. Coli Outbreak
The FDA, USDA FSIS, CDC, and state partners are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157 tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, with preliminary findings suggesting contaminated onions may be the …
CDFA Seeks Applicants for Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has announced four open positions on the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee. The Committee advises the CDFA secretary on efforts related …
New Oat Germplasm Lines Developed to Combat Crown Rust
A team of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and university scientists has released two new oat germplasm lines, CDL-111 and CDL-167, to strengthen defenses against crown rust, the most damaging fungal …