All Issues

A major source of gastrointestinal worm infestation of grazing heifers is larvae that have survived the winter on pasture grass. When these larvae are swallowed and mature inside the heifer, they produce eggs that are shed in the feces, resulting in a higher pasture contamination later in the grazing season. To break this recycling of pasture worm infestations, multiple deworming is needed. This adds labor and other costs, since the heifers are on pasture and may not be easily accessible.

Modoc Countv's 4-H re-enrollment began declining inihe early 1980s from a 20-year average of 70 percent to 59 percent in 1983. Since the percentage of return membership reflects the degree to which the 4-H program is meeting clientele needs, re-enrollment is the major indicator of the program's quality. To learn why youth remain in, or leave, 4-H in Modoc County, I conducted a study over a three-year period, 1984-86.

Fresh market tomatoes are susceptible but yields don't seem to be affected

In greenhouse marigolds grown for seed, a parasitic wasp suppressed leafminers for two months after establishment

A job-sample test showed high correlation with work performance

The rules may have changed, but California producers of specialty crops seem to have reason for cautious optimism, at least for the near term. The longer term outlook is uncertain and may depend on new marketing techniques and new technology.

The practice may reduce rather than increase cheese yield

Researchers in several western states have found that, under arid conditions, water tables can supply as much as 60 to 70 percent of a crop's water requirement. Use of high water tables reduces irrigation needs, lowers production costs, reduces deep seepage losses, and decreases the volume of drainage water requiring disposal. Successful use of the water table also depends on the soil's water retention and transmitting properties, evapotranspiration (ET) demand, distribution of the plant root system, and salinity and toxic ion effects on crop growth. Under field conditions, many of these factors are part of the overall crop response to the saline.

Cylindrocladium root and crown rot, once established, is difficult to control

Early summer flights are generally the largest, and likely to cause the most damage

Phosphorus and zinc fertilizers are rarely required. Only moderate amounts of nitrogen are needed for top yields.

A new psyllid pest of California pepper trees was first discovered in Long Beach, California, in July 1984. Since then, the insect has spread rapidly, particularly in coastal areas, and now occurs from San Diego County to the San Francisco Bay region. There are scattered records of its occurrence inland in San Bernardino and Kern counties.