UCCE San Diego

Last month UCCE San Diego held it's 3rd annual Climate Action & Agricultural Symposium. This year, the event focused on climate trends, likely extreme weather events, potential impacts to farm and ranch operations; and preparedness and mitigation strategies. For those who were not able to attend or if you did and would like to review the presentations, we've uploaded the Symposium webinar recordings to Youtube. Click on the link below to watch the video playlist. #climatesmart #climatechange #environment #agriculture #uccesd #sandiego #sustainability https://bit.ly/CAASVideoPlaylist

The UCCE Pollinator Project website is here! Researchers have studied local pollinators and their interactions with ornamental plants since 2017. Discover 20 common pollinators in the Southern California area, find out which native and non-native ornamentals are the best to plant to attract pollinators to your garden, and learn about what UCCE scientists are doing to help avoid pollinator exposure to pesticides. Find out more on the website! Click on the link below. #uccesd #sandiego #pollinatorproject #ucanr https://bit.ly/UCCESDPollinatorProjectWebsite

Did you know that San Diego County has the highest diversity of native bees anywhere in the continental United States? Scientists estimate that San Diego County is home to over 650 species of native bees! You may have heard of bumble bees, but they're just the beginningdigger bees, plasterer bees, sweat bees, leafcutter bees, cuckoo bees, and more, all call our county home. Keep an eye out for our new website coming soon with info on UCCE native pollinator research, which flowers they prefer in our area, and how to plant a pollinator garden to give native bees a hand! Photo credit: Patricia Simpson

It's National Pollinator Week! All week, UCCE will bring you science and information about these pollinating powerhouses and what you can do to help. Today: The magical migration of the western monarch butterfly is under threat. An estimated 4.5 million monarchs made the long journey to California and Baja, Mexico in the 1980s, but in 2020, the population of overwintering monarchs crashed to less than 0.01% of its historic population size. UCCE researchers are collaborating with the San Diego County Pollinator Alliance to develop best practices for planting native milkweed to create monarch habitat in your own garden. Find out more about how to help save Western Monarchs here! Link below. #pollinators #uccesd #sandiego https://bit.ly/XercesSocietyWesternMonarchs

Interested in Citrus Production? UCCE San Diego's Subtropical Horticulture Advisor, Sonia Rios, is offering a course August 24 to September 23rd. This class includes an in person field day. Topics include: physiology, nematodes, nutrition, weed management, pest management, irrigation, weather, harvest, diseases, and more. Register today! It's $175 for the entire course or $25 per class. The schedule is every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM via Zoom. CCA and PCA CEU units have been applied for. You can register through the link below. https://bit.ly/UCCE2021CitrusProductionCourse

This project was inspired by the idea of promoting hyperlocal food production in food deserts. The goal is to grow leafy greens in 50 days for (less than) 50 cents per lettuce head with a minimal initial investment cost. This series of how-to videos explains how to build a scaled-down version of the Kratky system (https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/vc-1.pdf) to grow hydroponic vegetables outdoors. This is a non-circulating system, so there are no moving parts (pumps, blowers, pipes). It’s also called the set-and-forget system, because you just have to prepare the nutrient solution, plant your seeds and come back after 50 days to harvest. Organic version coming soon! Video playlist link below. https://bit.ly/TheKratkySystemVideoPlaylist

How much should you irrigate containers in a nursery? If you irrigate too little, your plants may suffer and not achieve good quality; if you irrigate too much, you may exceed the substrate’s water retention capacity and waste water. UCCE San Diego's Horticulture Production Advisor, Gerry Spinelli, coordinated a series of videos showing a simple method to figure out the water retention capacity in 1-gal nursery containers. Only simple tools are required in this method, such as a commercial grade scale, a squirt bottle and a few buckets. To watch, click on the link below. For questions or comments, contact Gerry at: [email protected] #waterleaching #smallfarms #horticulture #nurseries #bestpractices http://bit.ly/UCCEWaterLeachingVideoSeries

Dying palm trees? You may be seeing palms on your property or around your community appearing diseased or dead. It could be damage caused by the South American Palm Weevil. Learn more and find resources about this invasive pest at https://ucanr.edu/sites/SAPW/ or read this recent article by the San Diego County Master Gardeners. http://bit.ly/mgasdcpalmweevil #sandiego #mastergardeners #uccesd #palmweevil

#BigDigDay! We stand together, with you and other supporters, creating a safer, more resillient California. Your #BigDigDay gift helps put UC research into action. By donating today, you are investing in a better tomorrow. Active link in the bio #giveback ucanr.edu/bigdig

Planning ahead may help relieve mealtime stress. Follow these steps to plan for and prepare nutritious and delicious meals that fit your taste and lifestyle: https://buff.ly/3a3wRMC Active link in the bio. The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program is federally-funded and operates from the San Diego Cooperative Extension serving low-income families and children. It is a community-based, relationship-driven, hands-on educational approach which has directly impacted economic, obesity, and food insecurity challenges that hinder nutritional health and well-being in our community. To learn more about nutrition and health you can visit the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) website. https://bit.ly/EFNEPHomepage

One week from today, UC ANR is hosting Big Dig Day, 24-hours to give where your heart is. Join us and recognize the power of our local communities, the resiliency of our local foodsystems, and focus on the heroes who make it possible for food to end up on our plates. Join us and #giveback to support the future of agriculture in California. Active link in the bio. ucanr.edu/bigdig #ucanr #uccesd #4h #ipm #horticulture #efnep #smallfarms

Have you heard of PAM? PAM is Polyacrylamide. It's a powder that growers can apply to sedimentation ponds collected through water runoff. Normally, sediment will remain in suspension and make the water look cloudy. What PAM does is binds sediment together so that it becomes heavy and allows it to settle. It's important because when growers discharge the water into a storm drain the water will be clear and the environment will not be impacted. Contaminants such as phosphorous ...and insoluble pesticides find their way to aquatic ecosystems through sediment. Gerry Spinelli, UCCE San Diego's, Production Horticulture Advisor demonstrates a control study of how PAM works, whether it's effective, and if it's more useful with the additive calcium chloride. Watch Gerry's video to learn more about PAM and to view the results of his experiment. Click on the video link below. #waterquality #horticulture #sandiego #environment http://bit.ly/TruthAboutPAMvideo

Save the date! Join us for #BigDigDay! Held on June 4, in observance of World Environment Day, we aim to deepen the awareness of the need to preserve and enhance the environment that sustains us. Donate to UCCE and make a difference in California! #giveback! *active link in bio (ucanr.edu/bigdig) #ucanr #sandiego #uccesd #ucipm #4h #ucmastergardeners #agriculture #floriculture #climate

Establishing a hedgerow on your farm or property can improve soil stability and increase carbon storage in soil. Potential co-benefits include providing habitat for pollinators and screening dust and other particulate matter in the air. Recent studies by the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (UC SAREP) indicate that producing elderberry in native hedgerows provides the potential for revenue, too. A new website provides information from these studies including elderberry cultivation, harvest and post-harvest handling, marketing, nutritional and flavor composition, and California native tribe perspectives. Learn more, click the active link in our bio. #uccesd #elderberry #agriculture #production http://bit.ly/CaliforniaElderberries

Ever wondered what's buzzing in your backyard? UCANR's Pollinator Project is in its final year, and the results are coming in! We studied common ornamental annuals and perennials at three research sites to see what types of pollinators visit and collect nectar from their flowers. Our researchers found that California native plants, perennials, and densely flowering plants were especially popular, but results are still being analyzed. Thanks to our awesome team of students, field workers, and Master Gardeners for their contribution to this multi-year research project! #uccesd #pollinatorresearch #plants #ucanr

Drought has brought more challenges to growers that are trying to water their orchards. Some growers are forced to water very little causing their avocado trees to remain stressed, which reduces fuel moisture and results in an increased fire risk. A large sector of the agriculture industry in southern California is supplied by the Metropolitan Water District and receives water through the Interim Agricultural Water Program in a deal that secures slightly reduced rates in return for concessions during periods when supplies are short. There are other ways we can manage fire such as vegetation weed management. For a list of the top 7 preventative measures, you can take, check out the San Diego and Riverside Subtropical Newsletter. Click on the active link in our bio. #uccesd #agriculture #citrus http://bit.ly/UCCESubtropicalNewsletter

In recent news, state agricultural inspectors have detected bacteria which can cause a disease deadly to citrus trees known as Huanglongbing (HLB). The disease is passed on through an invasive insect called the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). A group of 4 adult HLB positive ACP's were found on a residential property in the Fallbrook area. This is the first time the disease has been confirmed on an ACP in the County. Samples from trees on that property and the surrounding area in which these positive psyllids were found are undergoing tests for the disease. While ACPs are frequently found in mitigation efforts, the bacteria have never been found locally in a citrus tree (residential or commercial). For information regarding HLB and ACP in California, please visit: http://bit.ly/UCCESanDiegoACP

Growers considering producing avocados in San Diego with high-density planting now have help to determine economic feasibility. A new study on the cost and returns of establishing and producing avocados has been released by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), UC Agricultural Issues Center and the UC Davis Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics. Findings indicate that high-density planting increases profitability when weighed against conventional planting (145 trees per acre) in a cost analysis that describes production operations for avocados planted at 430 trees per acre, with a life expectancy of 40 years. Link to the full study available below. #avocadoproduction #citrus #profitability #sandiegocounty http://bit.ly/HighDensityPlantingStudy

Celebrate Binational Health week with UCCE San Diego! UCANR EFNEP Nutrition Educator Margarita Ramirez Schwarz will be hosting a no-cost Spanish speaking Nutrition series beginning Monday, October 26, 2020. ¡Taller de nutrición UCCE se conecta contigo! Please join us to learn more about MyPlate key messages, Nutrition Facts, Label Reading and much more! Active link to class information in the bio. To learn more about Binational Health Week events visit the Expanded Food and Nutrition (EFNEP) homepage. https://ucanr.edu/sites/SD-NFCS/ #uccesd #efnep #health #nutrition #community #education

Attention Landscapers! Please join us for the Annual Integrated Pest Management Training for Landscape Professionals. The University of California Cooperative Extension-San Diego County, In partnership with the Port of San Diego District Authority, is hosting the IPM for Landscape Professionals webinar series. The series include 3 separate webinars focused on commercial landscape topics such as, weed management, pesticide laws & regulations, turf and trees, pesticides and wat...er, vertebrate pest management and more. Early registration is $50 for all three webinars. Continuing education units have been approved by DPR (1.5 hours of Laws & Regs and 1 hour of Other) for Seminar #1 and approval is pending for CE units for Webinars 2 and 3. For more information including how to register click on the active link below. http://bit.ly/IPM2020WebinarSeries #uccsd #ucipm #landscaping

CORRECTION: Are you growing food on property impacted by wildfire? Fire introduces new considerations for growing produce and raising backyard poultry. Learn from scientists who have studied urban wildfires in California - what questions to ask, how to improve soil health and make informed decisions about food safety, which agencies might have information, and what remains unknown in this burgeoning field of study. Attend a free virtual webinar on this subject Saturday, October 17, 9:30AM - 11:30AM. This event is free but registration is required. Visit the link below. If you have questions regarding this meeting please reach out to Julia E Van Soelen, [email protected] ucanr.edu/PostFireSoilSafety

What does opportunity mean to you? This #National4HWeek, we are lifting up youth voices and helping kids get equal access to the resources they need to thrive. Share what opportunity means to you using #Opportunity4All. ¿Qué significa una Oportunidad para usted? En esta #National4HWeek, levantamos las voces de los jóvenes y ayudamos a los niños a obtener acceso igualitario a los recursos que necesitan para salir adelante. Comparta lo que significa una Oportunidad para usted utilizando el hashtag #Opportunity4All. #TrueLeaders, #4HGrowsHere #uccesd #4Hprogram

Avocado trees are sensitive to heat. We know that avocado stomates (pores within the leaves) close when temperatures reach 90F. When stomates close, we break the process of water transport within the plant and water vapor is not released, thereby stopping the process of cooling. When cooling stops the tree heats up. During hot summer or fall days avocado trees can have difficulty taking in sufficient water to support the trees canopy which may lead to leaf scorch, fruit drop,... and branch dieback. So what can we do? 1. Check the soil moisture level to verify irrigation needs. It's important to hydrate the tree prior to predicted heat events to reduce heat stress. 2. Resist pruning for several weeks. Dried leaves on the tree can provide sunburn protection. 3. Whitewash immediately (same day) against sunburn. For more on avocado tree management visit the link below. #avocadotrees #treemanagement #sandiego #avocadoproduction #uccesd https://bit.ly/HeatandTreesBlogpost

There are considerable concerns for Southern California forests and landscapes due to multiple invasive pests. These pests have attacked and killed hundreds of thousands of trees in Southern California, making it important that land managers, tree-care professionals, and pesticide applicators stay up to date with the latest findings and recommendations. Join us every Tuesday in October from 3:00PM to 4:15PM for FREE webinars covering South American Palm Weevil, Goldspotted Oak Borer, and Invasive Shot Hole Borers-Fusarium Dieback. Topics covered for each insect include pest history, biology, impacts, current infestations, and management strategies. Stay tuned for a follow-up, socially distanced field day! Register at: http://ucanr.edu/itpwebinar

Show your @4-H pride and share what opportunity means to you by wearing green or the 4-H clover on Wednesday, October 7 for #National4HWeek spirit day! Decorate an Opportunity4All sign and share your pictures on social media using the hashtag #Opportunity4All.

UCCE San Diego celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month. As an equal opportunity employer UC Cooperative Extension recognizes the contributions Hispanics and Latinos make in our community. We are proud to live and work in a state that observes cultural richness and diversity. This month our Area Subtropical Horticulture Advisor, Sonia Rios, receives honors from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) for her academic excellence, honesty, integrity, and community service. She has served with UC Cooperative Extension San Diego and Riverside County offices since 2014 and continues to do great work for our organization. Congratulations Sonia! To learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month visit the UCCE homepage. Click on the link below. http://cesandiego.ucanr.edu/

Coyotes have been increasing encroaching urban areas as they adapt to living nearby cities. As a result encounters with these animals has become more common place. Is it dangerous? It has the potential to be; particularly for small children and pets. UC ANR and UCCE Cooperative Extension Human-Wildlife Interactions Advisor Niamh Quinn (pictured below) is conducting a study on hazing. Hazing is a humane way to drive #coyotes away, without using lethal means, but is it effective? This is the question our #wildlife experts seek to answer. Read the full article here. Visit: https://bit.ly/UCCESDTrappingCoyotesArticle

Do you love Pitahaya? Many people do, this rare exotic fruit is not only packed with flavor but is rich with antioxidants. San Diego actually has the perfect weather to grow many types of Pitahaya, also known as Dragonfruit. It can be a profitable alternative for Southern California growers. Ramiro Lobo, UCCE Small Farms Advisor created a series of videos in both English and Spanish to train you on taking these plants from propagation to harvest. UCCE's Small Farms website also has a new Pitahaya Viewer where you can find individual information, including pictures, on more then 20 different varieties. Click on the active link below. https://bit.ly/UCCEPitahayaViewer

One of the best things about the summer is finally getting to enjoy the warm weather outside, backyard barbecues and picnics for you and your household can be a great way to get outside while staying safe. But rising temperatures can also bring food safety risks. During warm weather it’s even more important to make sure your food is safe by keeping it cool for the summer. San Diego's Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) recommends the following tips as provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for keeping your summer food safe. Visit the active link in our bio or click below. https://www.usda.gov//keep-food-cool-summer-avoid-foodborn

UCCE/UCANR announces a new brochure titled Plant Safely in Drought-Tolerant Landscapes that talks about toxic plants like Fire Sticks (Euphorbia tirucalli) and Sago Palms (Cycas revoluta) and offers tips on how to stay safe while enjoying these plants. While the office is closed, you can download a copy of the brochure from our website! Visit: https://ucanr.edu/sites/PlantSafely/Resources/ #plantsafety #toxicplants #planting #gardening #uccesd

Looking for at-home #STEM learning activities for your kids? The #4HSTEMChallenge Mars Base Camp family-sized kits are designed for one to four kids, ages 8 14, to participate at the same time, making it a perfect summer learning activity for the whole family! For a limited time only, receive $5 off each kit (limit 20 discounted kits per transaction) thanks to the generous support of the #4HSTEMChallenge national partner, TOYOTA. Buy your Mars Base Camp kit now at https://bit.ly/3goxGDo #4HatHome #InspireKidsToDo #uccesd #4hsandiego #youthactivities #4hprogram