California Ag Network

Category: Non-Video

  • Annual Meeting Highlights Cow Comfort and Health

    NMC members from 15 countries, 32 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces gathered in Birmingham, Ala., USA, to focus on “What’s Best for Her. Keeping the cow’s well-being at the heart of milk quality.”

    The Jan. 26-29 event culminated with the group’s 65th annual meeting. NMC: The Global Milk Quality Organization attracts milk quality, mastitis and udder health researchers and graduate students, dairy producers and dairy industry partners. Meeting topics ranged from artificial intelligence to facility designs to cow comfort to milk harvest to small ruminant milk production.

    “NMC continues to expand its reach beyond mastitis prevention, treatment and control – realizing the importance of cow comfort, health monitoring, balanced nutrition and proper milk harvest preparation,” stated NMC First Vice President Roger Thomson, MQ-IQ Consulting and Michigan State University. That’s why we focused on ‘What’s Best for Her’ care during this year’s NMC Annual Meeting.”

    Additionally, NMC continues to add training programs throughout the year that foster higher milk quality and animal care standards.

    During this event, NMC honored Pamela Ruegg, Michigan State University (MSU), with the NMC Award of Excellence for Contribution to Mastitis Prevention and Control, which is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim. Besides MSU, Ruegg has worked for Kiel Veterinary Clinic, Kiel Wis.; Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada; Monsanto Company; and University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. With more than 40 years of experience working on mastitis and milk quality, Ruegg has dedicated herself to answering the toughest questions the dairy industry has faced. The 2010 NMC president, Ruegg is synonymous with milk quality worldwide.

    In the National Dairy Quality Awards program, NMC honored six dairy operations as Platinum winners. These top-quality milk producers included Gettyvue Farm LLC, Brian, Kevin and Terry Getty, Granville, N.Y.; Green Hill Dairy, Donald Janssen, Scipio Center, N.Y.; Larson Acres, Mike, Sandy, Ed and Barb Larson, and Jim, Luke, Dane and Brooke Trustem, Evansville, Wis.; Schultz Dairy, Dave Schultz, Sandusky, Mich.; Tollgate Holsteins, Jim and Karen Davenport, Ancramdale, N.Y.; and Walnut Ridge Dairy, Jacob and Steve Palladino, and Keith Chapin, Lansing, N.Y. Judges selected outstanding dairies to receive this honor based on quality milk production indicators, such as somatic cell count and bacteria count, along with milking routine, systems of monitoring udder health, treatment protocols and strategies for overall herd health and welfare. These herds ranged in size from 84 to 2,902 cows. Annual milk production (per cow) averaged from 24,190 pounds to 30,801 pounds. For average somatic cell count (June 1, 2024-May 31, 2025), these dairies varied from 31,000 to 85,000 cells/ml.

    NMC awarded scholarships to eight remarkable graduate students to attend the NMC Annual Meeting. This year’s NMC Scholars were Anna Acosta, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa.; Elizabeth Plunkett, Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio; Emily Leonard, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis; Lara Juliano, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich.; Maria Marin, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.; Delower Hossain, University of Milan, Lodi, Italy; Joanne Hanifin, Munster Technological University, Castlemaine, Ireland; and Karise Nogara, Federal University of Paraná, Paraná, Brazil. The NMC Scholars program fosters the development of mastitis research and milk quality professionals from around the world.

    NMC held a research poster competition for graduate students and selected Maria Marin, University of Florida, as the winner. She presented “Characterizing Milk Flow Patterns in Dairy Cows Using Machine Learning: Implications for Milk Yield.” Marin won a one-year NMC membership and free registration to attend next year’s NMC Annual Meeting.

    During the NMC Annual Business meeting, members elected Daniela Bruno, University of California Cooperative Extension, Fresno, Calif., to the NMC board of directors. Executive committee members are Roger Thomson, Michigan State University and MQ-IQ Consulting LLC, Battle Creek, Mich., president; Alfonso Lago, DairyExperts, Inc., Tulare, Calif., first vice president; Christy Dinsmoore, Michigan Milk Producers Association, Novi, Mich., second vice president; Pamela Adkins, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo., secretary-treasurer; and Justine Britten, Udder Health Systems, Meridian, Idaho, past president. Other board members include John Penry, Dairy Australia, Southbank, Victoria Cross, Australia; Rick Watters, AgroChem, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Amy Vasquez, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.; Stephen Jones, DeLaval, Trinity, Fla.; Ian Ohnstad, The Dairy Group, Dorchester, Somerset, England; Justin Graham, BrooksCo Dairy, Quitman, Ga.; Jessica Belsito, IBA Inc., Sutton, Mass.; Jeffrey Bewley, Holstein Association, USA, Elizabethtown, Ky.; and Carolina Pinzón-Sánchez, University of Wisconsin-Division of Extension, Madison, Wis. Keith Engel, GEA Farm Technologies, Hampshire, Ill., retired from the board.

    NMC thanks its annual meeting sponsors who contributed to the program’s success. The Diamond sponsors were Boehringer Ingelheim, DeLaval International and Zoetis. Platinum sponsors included AHV International, GEA Farm Technologies, Inc. and Merck Animal Health. The Gold sponsor was IBA Inc. Silver sponsors were AgroChem, Axiota and McLanahan Corporation. Bronze sponsors included ABS Global, Acepsis, Ecolab, Michigan Milk Producers Association, milc Group and Udder Health Systems. Dairy Partner sponsors included Christian Hill Dairy, Jones Family Farm, Luck-E Holsteins and Tollgate Holsteins.   

    The 66th NMC Annual Meeting is set for Jan. 25-28, 2027, in Jacksonville, Fla. For additional information, go to: www.nmconline.org.

    ABOUT THE NMC

    The Global Milk Quality Organization is a non-profit professional organization devoted to reducing mastitis and enhancing milk quality. NMC promotes research and provides science-based information to the dairy industry on udder health, milking management, milk quality, animal welfare and food safety. Founded in 1961, NMC has about 1,000 members in more than 40 countries throughout the world.

  • Fungicide Drenching to Combat Hazelnut Blight

    Eastern filbert blight is an ongoing and costly problem for hazelnut growers, but researchers at the Oregon State Extension are researching newer and more efficient ways to combat it. At the Nut Growers Society’s Winter Meeting, Jay Pscheidt spoke with Matthew Malcolm at Malcolm Media Ag Publishing and shared their findings on drenching. Watch this quick video and read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor George Packing Company for their industry support.

  • UCCE Hosting South Sacramento Valley Prune Meeting

    UC Ag and Natural Resources will host its annual South Sacramento Valley Prune Metting in Yuba City. The event is an opportunity for prune growers to learn the latest updates in prune orchard systems and grower regulation updates. Growers will also be able to learn about disease management and Johnson grass management in tree crops, as well as how to control sunburn in crops and more.

    The event counts for 2.5 continuing education credits. Registration for the Prune Meeting begins at 8 a.m. at Yuba City Veterans Hall and it run until 12:30 p.m., followed by a hosted lunch. Pre-registration can be found HERE.

    Schedule:

    8:00 AM Registration & Coffee and Refreshments

    8:15 AM California Prune Board Update

    Donn Zea, Executive Director, Prune Board of California

    Kiaran Locy, Director of Brand and Industry Communications, Prune Board of California

    8:30 AM New developments in prune orchard systems

    • New prune rootstock trial plans and goals

    Jaime Ott, UCCE Orchard Systems Advisor; Tehama, Glenn, and Butte Counties

    • High density prune orchards

    Charles Brannon, Director of Agronomy, Agromillora CA

    • New prune rootstocks and new orchard opportunities

    Chuck Fleck, Director of Horticulture Research, Sierra Gold Nurseries

    9:30 AM What can growers learn from Dormex® rest breaking trials in prune?

    Franz Niederholzer, UCCE Orchards Advisor, Colusa/Sutter/Yuba Counties

    10:00 AM Break

    10:15 AM Prune grower regulatory update.

    Sean Nelson, Sutter Co Ag Comm Office; Matt Bozzo, Yuba Co Ag Comm Office

    10:45 AM Disease management in prune

    Jim Adaskaveg, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, UC Riverside

    11:30 AM Developments in Johnson grass management in tree crops

    Ryan Hill, UCCE Agronomy and Weeds Advisor; Tehama, Shasta, and Glenn Counties

    12:00 PM A first look at sunburn control in prunes.

    Franz Niederholzer, UCCE Orchards Advisor, Colusa/Sutter/Yuba Counties

    12:30 PM Hosted lunch

    — By UC Ag and Natural Resources

  • Registration Open for UC Riverside Citrus Day

    Registration is now open for the upcoming UC Riverside Citrus Field Day, which will run from 9 AM. to 3 PM on Thursday, February 19.

    The Field Day will cover a number of subjects of interest to citrus growers. This includes the latest updates on pesticide regulations and pest control, weed control, rootstock applications, citrus scion breeding and evaluation program fruit displays and updates on UCR Research.

    Registration is $50 per person, with lunch included. Parking is available in Lot 30 (across Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. from the Ag Operations Office). The cost of parking is $11 and must be paid for through the ParkMobile app. There will be a shuttle available from the parking lot to the location.

    The Citrus Field Day is an outdoor field meeting. Attendees are advised to come with footwear appropriate for walking in citrus groves and on uneven ground, and to be prepared for potential changes in weather conditions.

    Agenda

    February 19, 2026

    8:45 AM     

    Registration and Parking

    9:00 AM     

    Welcome – Dr. Peggy Mauk and Dr. Tracy Kahn, University of California, Riverside

    9:15 AM     

    Updates on Changes in Pesticide Regulations, Fruit Fly Quarantine, ACP/HLB Regulations – Delia Cioc, Agricultural Commissioner and Chris Blake, Deputy Agricultural Commissioner, Riverside County

    10:00 AM

    First Rotation (30 minutes per speaker)

    Strategies for Controlling Phytophthora spp. in Citrus – Dr. Jim Adaskaveg, University of California, Riverside

    Role of the California Citrus Clonal Protection Program in Disease Prevention – Dr. Georgios Vidalakis, University of California, Riverside

    11:10 AM

    Second Rotation (30 minutes per speaker)

    Strategies for Controlling Asian Citrus Psyllid – Dr. Bodil Cass, University of California, Riverside

    Weed Control Strategies – Dr. Matt Fatino, University of California, Agricultural and Natural Resources San Diego/Riverside Co.

    12:15 PM

    Lunch and Tasting Selections

    Tables for Tasting Selections:

    • Long-term Solutions for Citrus Huanglongbing – Dr. Chandrika Ramadugu, University of California, Riverside
    • UCR Citrus Scion Breeding and Evaluation Program Fruit Display – Toni Siebert Wooldridge, Karen Trunnelle, Dr. Tracy Kahn, Dr. Mikeal Roose, Dr. Danelle Seymour, and Dr. Claire Federici, University of California, Riverside
    • Citrus Relatives Rootstock Trial Tasting: Determining if using relatives as rootstocks impacts the flavor of navel oranges– Zach Thomas and Dr. Mikeal Roose, University of California, Riverside

    1:30 PM

    Third Rotation (30 minutes per speaker)

    Research Update and Overview of the CRaFT Program – Dr. Melinda Klein and Dr. Ivan Milosavljević, Citrus Research Board

    Strategies for Nutritional Management – Dr. Ben Faber, University of California, Agricultural and Natural Resources Ventura

    2:30 PM

    Wrap Up

    3:00 PM

    Adjourn

    Continuing Education Units: This event is approved for 1.0 Laws & Regulations and 2.5 Other CEUs from the California Department of Pesticide Regulations.

    For more information, call UCR Ag Operations at (951) 827-5906 or email agops@ucr.edu

    — UC Riverside

  • USDA Completes Sterile Fly Dispersal Facility

    U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Governor of Texas Greg Abbott visited Moore Air Base to  celebrate a significant achievement in the fight against New World Screwworm (NWS) with the completion of a U.S.-based sterile fly dispersal facility in Edinburg, Texas. This facility expands USDA’s ability to disperse sterile flies along the border and into the United States, if necessary.

    “The Trump Administration continues to bring the full force of the federal government to fight New World Screwworm,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “This sterile fly dispersal facility was a high priority project, and our team delivered it in record time. This new facility is a monumental achievement for our domestic preparedness efforts, but we are also diligently working to stop the spread of screwworm in Mexico, conduct extensive trapping and surveillance along the border, increase U.S. response capacity, and encourage innovative solutions. We will never stop fighting to protect American agriculture. USDA, through a whole-of-government approach, will continue to hold Mexico accountable to mitigating the spread of this dangerous pest.”

    “America is going to take care of ourselves, including dealing with the approach of screwworm as it gets closer to our border,” said Governor Abbott. “We put together the resources necessary for Texas to provide a Texas-size response to this. We thank Secretary Rollins and President Trump for stepping forward to provide the stop gap effort essential to protecting our ranchers and our wildlife.”

    Trump Administration NWS Response

    In June 2025, Secretary Rollins announced a sweeping five-pronged plan(PDF, 1005 KB) to enhance USDA’s already robust ability to detect, control, and eliminate NWS. As part of that announcement, she also shared plans to build this sterile NWS fly dispersal facility in South Texas. The completion of the facility further expands the network of dispersal facilities through Central America and Mexico and solidifies the increased preparedness offered by having a U.S.-based facility.

    On January 30, USDA announced a shift in its 100 million per week sterile fly dispersal efforts to reinforce coverage along the U.S.-Mexico border. While the sterile flies for this effort will initially be dispersed from the Tampico, Mexico facility, USDA is prepared to quickly and strategically shift operations to the new Texas facility should there be a change in the location or new concentration of NWS cases in northern Mexico.

    About Sterile Fly

    Sterile insect technique, when paired with surveillance, animal movement restrictions, and education and outreach, is a proven and effective tool for controlling and eradicating NWS. Female NWS flies only mate once in their lives, so if they mate with a sterile male, they lay unfertilized eggs that don’t hatch. Releasing sterile flies just outside of affected areas helps ensure flies traveling to new areas will only encounter sterile mates and will not be able to reproduce.

    Sterile insects are dispersed through aerial dispersal or ground release. Aerial operations are preferred because they allow for dispersal at a steady rate through a large area and also because sterile insects may be dispersed in areas that are unreachable from the ground. Ground release is used when there is a need to quickly deploy sterile insects outside of the dispersal facility range. Mass production and targeted dispersal of sterile flies remain critical components of an effective response.

    USDA currently produces sterile flies for dispersal at the COPEG facility in Panama. USDA is also investing $21 million to support Mexico’s renovation of an existing fruit fly facility in Metapa—which will double NWS production capacity once complete. With ongoing support from technical experts in USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Mexico anticipates this sterile fly production to begin as soon as summer 2026.

    To continue to expand USDA’s domestic response capacity, the Department is building a sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas, with a targeted maximum capacity of 300 million sterile flies per week. USDA expects to break ground on that facility later this spring. With existing and planned production facilities fully operational, USDA will have up to 500 million sterile files per week in its arsenal to fight this pest all the way back to the Darién Gap. The international network of facilities will produce 100 million sterile flies per week at COPEG in Panama, 100 million at Metapa in Mexico, and 300 million at Moore Air Base.

    What You Can Do

    Even though there have been no detections of NWS inside the U.S. and the northernmost active case of NWS is still about 200 miles away from the border, USDA is asking Americans to continue to remain vigilant by checking their livestock and pets for signs of NWS. Look for draining or enlarging wounds and signs of discomfort. Also look for NWS larvae (maggots) and eggs in or around body openings, such as the nose, ears, and genitalia or the navel of newborn animals. If you suspect your animal is infested with NWS, immediately report it to your state animal health official or USDA area veterinarian in charge.

    NWS maggots can infest livestock and other warm-blooded animals, including people. They most often enter an animal through an open wound and feed on the animal’s living flesh. While not common in people, if you notice a suspicious lesion on your body or suspect you may have contracted NWS, seek immediate medical attention. — USDA

  • USDA Accepting Applications for Turkey Agribusiness Mission

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is now accepting applications for its agribusiness trade mission to Istanbul, Turkey, scheduled for May 11–14. U.S. exporters interested in exploring trade opportunities in Turkey, the Caucasus and Central Asia must apply by Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.

    “With stable economic growth and proven demand for high-quality U.S. food in Turkey and the surrounding region, now is the time for U.S. agribusinesses and producers to take advantage of the momentum that President Trump has been building in trade worldwide,” said USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke J. Lindberg. “This trade mission hopes to follow in the successes we’ve had so far under this administration and I’m looking forward to connecting U.S. exporters with key buyers to forge partnerships and tap into these dynamic markets.”

    The U.S. was Turkey fifth-largest supplier of agricultural products in 2024, while Turkey ranked as the 16th-largest market for U.S. agricultural exports – a figure that has grown roughly 45% since 2020. Total U.S. agricultural product exports to Turkey exceed $1.7 billion, including more than $590 million in retail-ready goods like snack and pet foods, fruits, meats and dairy products.

    USDA sees strong opportunities for continuing growth in Turkey and the surrounding region, reflecting increasing consumer demand and expanding supply chains for the product groups including:

    • Tree nuts
    • Soybeans
    • Pulses
    • Dried distiller grains and solubles
    • Seafood
    • Poultry
    • Beef and pork
    • Prepared foods, sauces, condiments, sweets and snacks
    • Live animals, livestock genetics, hides and skins
    • Alcoholic beverages, distilled spirits and wine

    Participants will join buyers from Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan for targeted business-to-business meetings to discuss market opportunities. FAS staff and regional experts will be on hand to host market briefings, site visits and networking events.

    Visit the application page for more information. The application deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 24. — USDA Foreign Ag Service

    The agribusiness trade mission to Türkiye is one of several USDA-led export promotion initiatives in 2026. USDA will announce application details for planned missions to Australia and Saudia Arabia soon. An additional trade mission to Vietnam will follow later in 2026. To learn more about FAS agribusiness trade missions, visit https://www.fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions.

  • Phytophthora Sampling in the Stockton East Water District

    This work was partially funded by the Stockton East Water District — Crown rot and root rot caused by Phytophthora species are diseases of great concern for almond growers. Many people believe that irrigating with surface water puts your trees at risk of Phytophthora, and that irrigating with groundwater is the best way to prevent these diseases. However, a recent study of Phytophthora in irrigation water and orchard soils tells a different story.

    The Bottom Line:

    Irrigation management is Phytophthora management. This study showed that Phytophthora is common in orchard soils. Regardless of whether they are irrigated with surface water or groundwater, over 30% of tested orchard soils were positive for Phytophthora. Since water (either standing water or saturated soil) allows Phytophthora to cause disease, good irrigation management is crucial to prevention, no matter what your water source.

    — Reduce ponding: irrigation application rate should not exceed soil infiltration rate.

    —Reduce length of soil saturation: run shorter sets (24 hrs max) more frequently.

    — Avoid water on the trunk of the tree and avoid soil saturation at the trunk: plant on berms, use stream splitters, choose microsprinkler wetting patterns that avoid the trunk, move drip emitters away from the trunk.

    Using a resistant rootstock is an excellent tool to help limit Phytophthora disease if you are planting a new orchard (see this chart for rootstock info) or putting in replants. Even with a resistant rootstock, good irrigation management is crucial because no rootstock is immune.

    The Details:

    Phytophthora is a genus of fungus-like organisms which contains over 200 different species. Many of these species are important pathogens of orchards, causing root rot or crown rot (for example Phytophthora cinnamomi, Phytophthora cactorum, and Phytophthora mediterranea) or pruning wound cankers (mainly Phytophthora syringae). Many previous studies have shown that Phytophthora species are common in surface sources of irrigation water, such as rivers, canals, and sloughs. Phytophthorahas not been found in groundwater from wells, unless that well has been contaminated with surface water. From this, people have assumed that irrigating with surface water puts an orchard at risk of Phytophthora root or crown rot, and that irrigating with groundwater is ”safe.” However, biology is rarely that simple: in my experience, orchards irrigated with groundwater can struggle with Phytophthora, and many orchards irrigated with surface water do not show symptoms of Phytophthora disease.

    In 2021 and 2022, collaborators and I conducted a study to look at the effects of Phytophthora in irrigation water from a broader perspective. This study took place in the Stockton East Water District (SEWD), a local water agency that manages both groundwater and surface water use by agricultural producers east of Stockton, CA. The study had three objectives:

    — Test SEWD surface water for Phytophthora during the irrigation season.

    — Test for live Phytophthora coming through irrigation emitters.

    — Test orchard soils for Phytophthora, comparing orchards irrigated with surface water vs groundwater.

    Objective 1. Test SEWD surface water for Phytophthora during the irrigation season

    During the 2021 irrigation season, we sampled water from surface water irrigation sources throughout the SEWD. Some locations (core sites) were sampled monthly from June through October, and some locations (additional sites) were sampled twice during the season, in July and October. Samples were taken back to the lab and tested for Phytophthora using DNA sequencing.

    Overview of the Stockton East Water District (SEWD) with water sampling sites marked.

    We found that Phytophthora species were common in SEWD waterways. Over the course of sampling, we found 39 Phytophthora species, 10 of which are known pathogens of orchards crops grown in the SEWD. Many of these species were found throughout the irrigation season. We did find that different waterways had different Phytophthora species, and some waterways had more orchard pathogens than others. However, every waterway, and nearly every site, had at least one Phytophthora species of concern to orchards. These results are consistent with many previous studies, which have determined that Phytophthora species are common in surface sources of irrigation water.

    Phytophthora species detected in Stockton East Water District waterways throughout the irrigation season.

    The Phytophthora species listed in this table are reported to cause disease on walnut (W), cherry (C), almond (A), or pistachio (P). If the crop is bold, the Phytophthora species is particularly aggressive on that crop. A plus (+) indicates that the Phytophthora species was detected at least once in that waterway. A period (.) indicates that the species was not detected in that waterway. Nineteen other Phytophthora species (not listed) were detected, but these are not known to cause disease on orchard crops.

    Objective 2. Test for live Phytophthora coming through irrigation emitters

    In objective 1 we determined that Phytophthora is common in the SEWD waterways. However, very few studies have looked at whether Phytophthora in a waterway can get into an orchard through the irrigation system. This is especially true of drip irrigation systems, which require substantial filtration of surface water to keep emitters from plugging.

    During the 2021 and 2022 irrigation seasons, we collected water directly from irrigation emitters during a normal irrigation and tested this water for the presence of live Phytophthora. This was done in three surface-water-irrigated orchards, two with drip emitters and one with sprinklers, as well as two groundwater-irrigated orchards, one with drip emitters and one with sprinklers.

    Orchard sampling stations used to detect live Phytophthora in water from A, sprinklers and B,

    drip emitters.

    We found that Phytophthora commonly survives the journey from surface water sources into the orchard, and that the irrigation system type did not seem to matter. Also, the presence of a sand media filter did not seem to affect how regularly we detected live Phytophthora coming through irrigation emitters.

    Summary of Phytophthora detections in water collected from irrigation emitters

    Objective 3. Test orchard soils for Phytophthora, compare orchards irrigated with surface water vs groundwater

    In objectives 1 and 2 we determined that Phytophthora is common in SEWD waterways and that it can survive the trip through an irrigation system and into the orchard. However, in most cases Phytophthora must survive in the soil to infect the orchard when conditions are right. Even though we knew that irrigation with surface water is bringing Phytophthora into orchards, we didn’t know if this affects the incidence of Phytophthora in orchard soils.

    In 2021, we collected soil from 20 SEWD orchards exclusively irrigated with groundwater for at least 60 years and from 20 SEWD orchards mainly or exclusively irrigated with surface water over the same timeframe. This soil was tested for the presence of Phytophthora species using both the DNA sequencing from objective 1 and the live detection methods from objective 2.

    We found that Phytophthora is common in orchard soils, with 32.5% of sampled orchards (13 out of 40) testing positive. We also found that the source of irrigation water did not affect the chances of finding Phytophthora in the soil: groundwater irrigated orchards were as likely to have Phytophthora as orchards irrigated with surface water. This indicates that irrigation with surface water was not the main factor determining whether Phytophthora was present in orchard soils and that irrigation with surface water may not increase risk of Phytophthora disease in orchards.

    Hytophthora species in bold are particularly aggressive on orchard crops

    The results from this study confirm that Phytophthora is common in surface water but show that irrigating with surface water was not the main factor determining whether Phytophthora was present in an orchard. Where is the Phytophthora coming from? It is hard to know, but historical flooding may play a role. We also know that Phytophthora can be moved into an orchard on planting material and in soil on equipment. Where does this leave us in terms of management? This study shows that Phytophthora is very common in orchard soils, regardless of the source of irrigation water. Since over 30% of tested orchards were positive for Phytophthora, it would be prudent to assume you have Phytophthora in your orchard. Saturated soil allows Phytophthora to infect and cause disease, so good irrigation management is crucial to prevention. By “good irrigation management”, I mean that you want to reduce the length of time that orchard soils are fully saturated and avoid having standing water. This can be done by using irrigation emitters with output volumes suited for your soil infiltration rate and by irrigating more frequently for a shorter duration (24 hrs maximum). In addition, you want to apply irrigation water in the root zone but away from the trunk to reduce the opportunity for infection of the trunk or major roots. This can be done using stream splitters with sprinklers to protect the trunk, choosing a microsprinker wetting pattern that avoids the tree trunk, or moving drip emitters away from the trunk of the tree. At planting, consider using a resistant rootstock, and plant on berms. Note that even if you are using a resistant rootstock, good irrigation management is crucial because no rootstock is immune.

    I want to leave you with this thought: irrigating well is much more important for preventing Phytophthora than the source of your irrigation water. I have been to many surface-water-irrigated orchards with no symptoms of Phytophthora. Some of the worst orchards I have seen, in terms of Phytophthora disease, were irrigated with groundwater with the driplines right against the trunk on 3rdleaf trees. Irrigation management is Phytophthora management.

    Thank you to my collaborators on this project, Greg Browne (USDA-ARS) and Mohamed Nouri (UCCE San Joaquin County). Special thanks to Justin Hopkins with the SEWD for his help planning and executing this project. Thank you also to the SEWD growers who welcomed me into their orchards for sampling. This work was partially funded by the Stockton East Water District. — By Jaime Ott, UC Extension Tehama, Shasta, Glenn, and Butte Counties

  • Meat Institute Updates Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Forms

    The Meat Institute today published updated versions of the Animal Welfare Audit and the Meat Industry Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines, reinforcing the industry’s commitment to humane animal handling, employee safety, and continuous improvement.

    “Humane animal handling is a core responsibility of meat packers and a foundational element of a safe and ethical food system,” said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the Meat Institute. “These updated Guidelines and Audit reflect the latest science and best practices, giving companies the tools they need to protect animal welfare, support their workforce, and deliver wholesome food to consumers around the world.”

    The Guidelines and Audit were authored by the Meat Institute’s Animal Welfare Committee, working with Colorado State University Professor of Animal Behavior Dr. Temple Grandin.

    The Audit is certified by the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO).

    Packer/processor members that complete the Animal Welfare Audit actively align with the Meat Institute’s Protein PACT goal that by 2030, 100% of Meat Institute members who handle live animals will pass third party animal transport and slaughter audits.

    For the new Animal Handling Guidelines, Audit forms and additional resources, go here.

    The primary changes to the updated Audit and Guidelines include:

    • Points for each criterion allowing users to set goals for each element of the Audit for continuous improvement.
    • Transportation and slaughter audit for bison.
    • Vocalization of cattle in the slaughter Audit will now be scored similarly to swine vocalization to maintain consistency across species.

    The Meat Institute will host a webinar – open to the public – on Feb. 19 at 12 p.m. ET to detail the recent updates made to the Audit and Guidelines. Register here.

    The Meat Institute will also highlight these changes at this year’s Animal Care and Handling Conference May 12 – 13 in Kansas City, MO. The conference will focus on improving animal welfare throughout the supply chain, the latest academic research, and applying best practices.

    The Audit was originally developed by the Meat Institute’s Animal Welfare Committee and Grandin in 1997, and its adoption by meat companies helped transform how livestock are handled and processed in meat plants.  By measuring objective criteria like animal vocalizations, falls, the movement of animals, and effective stunning, facilities evaluate their animal handling practices, identify problems and drive continuous improvement.

    For audio/video of the Meat Institute’s Director of Animal Health and Welfare, Jesse Fulton, M.S. discussing the Guidelines and Audit, go here.

    Additional Meat Institute resources related to animal handling are available here.

    The Meat Institute represents the full community of people and companies who make the majority of meat American families rely on every day. The Meat Institute’s hands-on regulatory and technical expertise, proactive advocacy, unique convening power, collaboration within and beyond animal agriculture, and sector-leading continuous improvement initiatives drive relationships and resources that ensure meat continues to be a vital, trusted pillar of healthy diets and thriving communities for generations to come. To learn more, visit: MeatInstitute.org.

  • The Wonderful Company Announces Over $1.5 Million in Funding for Central Valley Nonprofits and Schools

    The Wonderful Company, one of the largest and most philanthropic privately held companies in the United States, announced today the latest recipients of its Central Valley Community Grants program.

    Grounded in a place-based approach to philanthropy, the Wonderful Community Grants Program supports local nonprofit organizations and schools across California’s Central Valley, where more than 3,000 Wonderful employees live and work. This year, more than $1.5 million in grant funding has been awarded to 43 organizations, supporting initiatives focused on health and wellness, education, recreation, community beautification, art, and social services.

    Serving as a flagship initiative, Wonderful Community Grants is part of The Wonderful Company’s comprehensive commitment to the Central Valley. For more than 10 years, the company and its co-owners, Lynda and Stewart Resnick, along with their foundations, have invested more than $850 million in the region, driving long-term social, educational, and economic progress.

    “As rising healthcare costs, food insecurity, and reductions in public funding continue to strain the nonprofit sector, local organizations are being asked to do more with fewer resources,” shared Andy Anzaldo, chief operating officer of corporate social responsibility at The Wonderful Company. “The Wonderful Community Grants program reflects a longstanding commitment to place-based giving by supporting the organizations that form the backbone of healthy, resilient communities, ensuring the Central Valley continues to be a place of opportunity for generations to come.”

    The program serves organizations based in Avenal, Delano, Del Rey, Firebaugh, Lost Hills, Mendota, Sanger, Shafter, and Wasco, California.

    “Thanks to The Wonderful Company’s generous support, we have been able to open doors for our youth to learn, grow, and thrive,” said Rudy Matcham, club unit director of the Del Rey Boys & Girls Club of Fresno County. “Wonderful’s support has been instrumental in expanding programs like Triple Play: Daily Challenges and Healthy Habits, and in ensuring the successful launch of the Alebrijes program, where youth are encouraged to explore physical activity, nutrition, and cultural storytelling through hands-on learning, from the kitchen to the classroom.”

    Some of the 2025 recipients include:

    Delano

    • The Open Door Network: Funds will ensure the domestic violence center in Delano remains open and accessible to survivors of domestic violence

    • United Way of Central Eastern California: Funds the VITA program offering free tax return support and filings to the communities of Delano, Lost Hills, Shafter, and Wasco

    Del Rey

    • Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County: Provides after-school programming including mentoring, healthy habits/nutrition, physical activity, cultural arts, field trips, and leadership opportunities to underserved youth

    Firebaugh

    • Central California Food Bank: Distributes free, fresh produce and essential boxes to individuals and families in Delano, Firebaugh, and Avenal

    • Regents of the University of Southern California: Funds their Promotoras initiative to help increase health equity in the community

    Lost Hills

    • Links for Life: Funds a mobile mammogram clinic in the communities of Delano, Lost Hills, Shafter, and Wasco

    • Shoes That Fit: Provides low-income students in Delano, Shafter, Lost Hills, and Wasco with new shoes on a referral basis

    Mendota

    • Central California Food Bank: Supports the expansion of food distribution programs among families and residents facing food insecurity in Mendota and Del Rey Sanger

    • Aquarius Aquarium Institute: Funds the Teaching Tidepools program, bringing hands-on aquarium experiences and environmental lessons into classrooms

    • Valley PBS: Provides workshops on mechanical, chemical, electrical, and civil engineering to children in kindergarten through sixth grade in Firebaugh, Sanger, Mendota, and Wasco

    Shafter

    • 746 Sports Foundation: Provides summer camp recreational and learning activities for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade and continues to build on the partnership between The Wonderful Company and the Shafter Recreation & Parks District with the new The Wonderful Company Community Sports Complex

    • Vision y Compromisio: Funds promotoras to deliver trainings on CPR, healthy development, nutrition, and more to family, friend, and neighbor caregivers, as well as parent engagement workshops in Shafter and Wasco

    Wasco

    • Community Action Partnership of Kern: Distributes free, fresh produce in the communities of Wasco, Shafter, and Lost Hills

    • City of Wasco: Offer hands-on nutrition and meal-prep education during a two-month Summer Nutrition Program at the Wasco Police Activities League (PAL) facility.

    For more information about Wonderful Community Grants, visit www.wonderfulcommunitygrants.com.

    About Wonderful Community Grants

    The Wonderful Company and its co-owners, Lynda and Stewart Resnick, have a long-standing commitment to investing in the communities where their employees live and work, particularly in California’s Central Valley. In addition to the millions of dollars the Resnicks, along with their foundations and The Wonderful Company, invest in the Central Valley every year, the Wonderful Community Grants program provides critical funding to organizations impacting change throughout the area.

    Local governments, area nonprofits, schools, and faith-based organizations can apply for grants in the categories of health and wellness, recreation, art, social services, and community beautification for amounts of up to $50,000 for one year and up to $100,000 for two years. Funding may be used for program development, expansion, innovation, small-scale capital improvements, technology, or equipment. More information can be found at www.wonderfulcommunitygrants.com.

    About The Wonderful Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility

    The Wonderful Company and its co-owners, Lynda and Stewart Resnick, have a longstanding commitment to investing in the communities where their employees live and work, especially in California’s Central Valley, which is home to 3,000 employees. The Resnicks, along with their foundations and The Wonderful Company, have invested more than $2.5 billion in education, health and wellness, community development, and sustainability initiatives across the Central Valley, Fiji, and the world. To learn more about The Wonderful Company and its core values, visit csr.wonderful.com.

  • Preventing Bacterial Blast Damage in 2026

    Though our weather outlook for the next couple of months is leaning toward warmer weather than usual, a cold snap during bloom and leaf-out could cause significant bacterial blast damage. Make a plan now in case of bad weather.

    The Bottom Line:

    • Bacterial blast can be a problem when cold, wet weather coincides with bloom or leaf-out.
    • Copper resistance is common: spraying copper is ineffective for preventing blast.
    • Frost protection is the most economical prevention option and will help prevent damage from both frost and bacterial blast.
    • The antibiotic kasugamycin (Kasumin®) is effective for preventing blast when applied up to 6 days before cold, wet weather. It is available this year under Section 18 exemption (Feb 1- April 15), consult with your PCA regarding rates and timings.

    The Details:

    Pseudomonas syringae can infect all aboveground parts of an almond tree, causing bacterial blast of the leaves and flowers. Pseudomonas is everywhere, so weather conditions are the factor driving this disease. Freezing cold, wet weather favors this disease. Pseudomonas is spread by water hitting the tree. If this occurs during frost, Pseudomonas can enter the tree through cells broken by frost damage. Trees are especially susceptible to frost damage during bloom and leaf-out, when tender new growth is exposed to cold weather.

    Preventing infection by Pseudomonas is the only way to control bacterial blast. Frost protection is the most inexpensive strategy: if the trees are not damaged by frost, Pseudomonas will not have a way in to cause disease. As a second line of defense, kasugamycin (Kasumin®) is effective to prevent bacterial blast when applied no more than 6 days before cold, wet weather. For this spray, complete coverage is crucial: all the tender new growth must be covered in a protective layer of the antibiotic for it to be effective. Any tissue left uncovered will be unprotected. Kasugamycin recently received a Section 18 for use in almond between February 1 and April 15, 2026. If the weather warrants treatment, kasugamycin can be used as a preventative spray up to two times during the temporary use window. Current work by UC researchers shows that copper-resistance is common in Pseudomonasthroughout the state. In some cases, mixing mancozeb with the copper may provide some level of control, but research shows that this mixt ure is not as effective as kasugamycin and can cause phytotoxicity.

    For more information on bacterial blast, check out these articles at www.sacvalleyorchards.com

    Bacterial blast/canker: What do we know?

    Bacterial Blast and Canker

    — By Jaime Ott, UC Extension Tehama, Shasta, Glenn and Butte Counties