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Liatris sp. |
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Just Sprouted
 Glenn Allshire AA Equipment1830 W. Mission Rd. Escondido, CA, 92029 Phone# 760 703-4604 Fax# 760 737-2409 www.aa-equip.comE-mail - gallshire@aaequip.comJohn Deere agricultural tractor dealer for equipment sales,parts and service.Distributor for multiple brands of medium to large Ag implements.Also full service Aros trailer dealer. Tom Jesch and Grace Sandlin Waterwise BotanicalsP.O. Box 968 Bonsall, California, 92003 Phone# 760 728-2641 Fax# 760 451-0265 E-mail - talkplants@waterwisebotanicals.com www.waterwisebotanicals.comA specialty plant nursery providing cutting edge, beautiful plants with sustainability in mind. Additionally we provide landscape concept and design services. Todd Birchler Wilbur-Ellis 2275 E. Locust Ct.
Ontario, CA, 91761 Phone# 951 733-0229 Fax# 909 930-5444 E-mail - tbirchler@wilburellis.com www.wilburellis.com Suppliers of quality specialty and agricultural fertilizers and plant protection products.
Patty Berg The Wishing Tree Company 723 Doris Drive
Encinitas, CA, 92024 Phone# 760-753-1760 E-mail - pattyjberg@aol.com www.thewishingtreecompany.comwww.thewishingtreecompany.comA gift company specializing in super-premium 15 gallon backyard trees -fruit, flowering & shade. The gift package includes delivery, planting and customized tree care kit. Gene Richau Myers Lawn and Garden Group 2465 Centennial Way
Corona , Ca, 92882
Phone# 714-788-4243, Fax# 714-786-8588
E-mail - grichau@myerslawnandgarden.com www.myerslawnandgarden.com Manufacturers of ITML, Dillen, ProCal and Listo growing containers. |
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Here's the Dirt
 If you have a fun story and you would like to share and have published in this spot please email it to info@flowerandplant.org |
SDG&E Energy Update
Electricity supplies will most likely be enough to meet the need this summer, according to recently released reports by two agencies that track the trends. Both the California Energy Commission and the California Independent System Operator mainly attribute their favorable forecasts for June through September 2011 to two factors: - New power plants.
- The lingering effects of the recession have curbed California's appetite for electricity.
Both agencies note, however, that extremely high air-conditioning use during a heat wave, disaster-related damage to high-voltage lines or other events could lead to a temporary need for voluntary conservation or rotating power outages. To learn more about the summer electricity outlook, and how SDG&E can help you save energy and money, visitsdge.com/summer. Save money with simple cooling tips Depending on your line of work, air conditioning may be one of your biggest energy expenses in the summer. Here are some basic tips to help you save money when cooling your facility. In addition, you'll find energy-saving solutions for specific types of businesses atsdge.com/business. - Set the thermostat at 78°F or higher, as comfort allows. If it's a programmable thermostat, set it to turn the air conditioning on a half-hour before people arrive, and off an hour before they leave.
- Keep air vents clear of obstructions. It takes up to 25% more energy to pump air through blocked vents.
- Shade windows with blinds, awnings, shutters or landscaping to block direct sunlight.
- Limit use of exhaust fans to prevent cooled air from escaping, unless health codes require constant ventilation.
Please don't hesitate to contact SDG&E's Business Contact Center at 1-800-336-7343 if you have any questions. |
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Classified ads are FREE to members and run for three months unless otherwise specified. Ad text should be submitted no later than the 25th of the month to the Association office for the upcoming publication.
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Sincerely,
Jan Berry
San Diego County Flower & Plant Association
5600 Avenida Encinas, #108
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Phone: 760 431-2572
Email: info@flowerandplant.org
Website: www.flowerandplant.org |
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Using PCIT to Improve Export Certification
Lisa Leondis, Agricultural Commissioner
San Diego County Agriculture, Weights and Measures (AWM)
Are you one of the many San Diego County growers who requires export certificates from our office? Just like growers, we are constantly evaluating and striving to improve the services to our customers, which in this case is you! Export certification is an area where new technology is available that allows AWM staff to be more efficient while providing better service.
The Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance and Tracking (PCIT) system is a web-based program developed by the United States Department of Agriculture to streamline the process of issuing export certificates. The system is already widely used for issuing Federal Phytosanitary Certificates (phytos) and has proven to be much more efficient than the old "paper" method. The system is also being evaluated as a method for issuing other types of export certificates including Certificates of Quarantine Compliance (CQCs).
PCIT can also improve efficiency in collecting fees associated with export certificates. AWM is transitioning to this system with the goal of providing better customer service, reducing paperwork and saving time. Many growers are already utilizing this new method of fee collection, which offers the following benefits:
- Free up your money by closing your trust fund account.
- No need to pay us at each visit.
- PCIT accounts can be quickly funded for the exact $ amount needed.
- Provides secure access to transaction history 7/24.
- Frees AWM inspectors to spend time issuing the certificate, instead of handling payments.
- Reduces certificate handling and storage requirements - it's all on line!
The PCIT system also allows payment of fees for certificate types other than Federal Phytos, including CQCs and State Phytosanitary Certificates. Fees for these certificates can be paid through PCIT even if the certificate is not issued through the PCIT system.
To get started, all you need is Internet access. Go to: https://pcit.aphis.usda.gov/pcit/. AWM staff is available to help with any questions and to assist with starting to use the PCIT system.
For anyone not currently enjoying the benefits that PCIT offers or for more information please contact Deputy Agricultural Commissioner Jim Wynn at 760-752-4710.
The San Diego office has just relocated to 9325 Hazard Way, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92123.
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President's Message
It is that time again. "What time?" you might ask. It is time to renew your membership with the San Diego County Flower & Plant Association. I realize people will be analyzing what expenses to keep and which ones to drop, but let me tell you this is one you want to keep. For the amount of money that you put forth you can get a lot of bang for your buck. Here are some of the benefits of being a member of the association.
The association is a dynamic collaboration of southern California growers, shippers and associate members. Over the years there have been many new ideas and implementations with one common goal. How do we help our members grow their business? Recently we have created a Facebook page to assist in networking our association and our members. This is an opportunity you can use to help promote your business, offer specials, or even create discussions of topics that are pressing to you. We have brought the website management in-house which allows us to quickly update and add information that we choose. Everyone who is a member is on our website with your company information. We have also negotiated discounts with different vendors that you may be interested in doing business with. Our monthly Newsletter and Feature Flower & Plant of the Month is just another opportunity to get the information out and potential buyers in. We also have the well-made directory, which goes out to over 1000 companies throughout the U.S. We continually grow and expand our wonderful social events to allow you to get face to face with buyers and industry professionals. With the educational classes we provide you an opportunity to keep up to date on all the changes for the industry. In addition to this we are your eyes and ears keeping you informed of governmental issues that arise.
With all that I mentioned we are not done. We are continually working hard to help market your business, help reduce your expenditures and keep you up to date on all the latest rules and regulations. I would also like to take this opportunity to invite you to give us your feedback and attend a board meeting or two, or just shoot me an e-mail at darrell@agnurseries.com. We look forward to a strong future and urge you to be a part of this association and renew your membership.
Darrell Ades - A & G Nursery, Inc.
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Pest Advisor
Did it rain last week? The humidity was so high - how unusual! Sure hope everyone has powdery mildew controls in place. Preventative activities are always better than curatives. One could say preventatives are similar to a problem weed, if you don't see it - then it isn't there! I say, "If I can't hear the grand kids I'd better go check on them!"
Is omission the same as a lie? My wife says yes. I say it is circumstantial. By example this happened this past week. A very good friend and one of the better growers had a problem with a fungicide application clogging filters in their irrigation system. They had to back wash the filters fourteen times before normal pressure returned. Good thing there was a filter system - could have plugged the drippers and that wouldn't be good. So does she tell the owner? It could have been prevented had she studied the label a little more... But she had done similar things often before and never had issues... I say be quite, get your job done and only bring it up if there is clear need - like preventing it form happening again.
With the humid summer weather pests of all varieties show themselves. Yes, pests like spider mites are everywhere. And that white stuff on those watermelons is powdery mildew. Did you see those little white-ish worms on or near roots in the pot, bet they are fungus gnats? Did you see the white butterfly flutter about - what, those holes in the basil got there how? A worm you say! BTs are so good and inexpensive, but only when placed at the correct time and place. There is a lot going on. What to do?
Please study your summer spray program carefully. (You do have a summer program?) Consider speaking with someone who may have a different perspective - like your extension specialist - what's his name? Or you could consult your Pest Control Advisor. Advisors love it when there is so much to talk about! And we all love talking about the weather - don't we?
David Pattison, PCA, CaCCA
Crop Production Services
760 522-8349 |
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Ask the Advisor
 A Bad Penny I'm sure many of you have heard the old saying, "A bad penny always turns up". It usually refers to the return of an unwelcome person after some absence. The phrase comes to mind when I think about some of these invasive pests. They are unwelcome, and one of them seems to turn up every once in a while when you least expect it causing great concern among regulators and growers. The light brown apple moth is a good example. It showed up in Bonsall in north County at a level that was just under the quarantine declaration, so "one more bug" would trigger it. Meetings ensued, growers warned, and costly voluntary inspections occurred. We weathered that storm pretty well and no further finds occurred. But then another one was found in the Balboa Park area in San Diego, which set the same series of events in motion. Finally, earlier this year, enough life cycles had passed without another 'find', so the threat was about to be lifted and new meetings arranged to inform everyone that the threat was about to change. Unfortunately, another moth was found the same week the meeting announcement was issued, and we were right back where we started. The threat of action from the invasion of the light brown apple moth and quarantine is not over, and I suspect that we will see more of them in the future because of the level of infestations north of San Diego County. However, we are faced with a number of other serous threats to ornamental plant movement that need an update. First, as I suspected, the red palm weevil, although taken very seriously by the USDA/APHIS, appears to be a rather isolated case in Laguna Beach and will most likely not disperse very far. I'm being optimistic, but I'm pretty sure. The other threat by the South American palm weevil, on the other hand, will be a continuous threat to the movement and production of palm trees in San Diego County. There is a new effort by the USDA/APHIS to detect several different large destructive palm weevil species in the southern states from California to Florida. As of the writing of this article, 8 weevils have been trapped in southern San Diego County, and they were not all caught on the same day. Two were enough to trigger quarantine and so we await the federal order. The South American palm weevil appears to be well established just across the border in Mexico, and Mexico is not regulating the pest because it is endemic in southern Mexico. This is probably not a natural dispersal northward, but since they will not help stop the spread, we are going to have to make some efforts in excluding or controlling populations along the border. Unfortunately, what this means is that the movement of palms (the majority of the species grown here) from the quarantine zone will be highly regulated, and there is a good chance that they will not be able to move for as long as a year. There is lot we don't know, and there is no real effective treatment protocol yet, so there is a lot of work to be done by those of us that are involved with the situation. Make sure you attend one of the informational programs that the County is providing. The first meeting occurred at the County Operations Center on June 29. The next one will occur soon in North County with a tentative date of Aug 18, so watch for the announcements. Another invasive that has been getting a lot of attention is the European Pepper moth, Duponchelia fovealis. Following an extensive survey, the USDA/APHIS has decided not to regulate this pest, which will help the ornamental plant production industry a lot. In lieu of regulatory action, an official task force has been assembled that includes a Technical Working Group of which Dr. Lance Osborne of the University of Florida and I are co-chairs. APHIS formed the task force with the goal of reducing the impact of this pest on US agriculture, and Florida and California are very concerned about the impact this pest may have on their agricultural commodities. Our involvement is important because of our experience here in San Diego County, and the fact that we have an active colony of the insect. I will keep you informed. Lastly, we anticipated that the Diaprepes root weevil would disperse rather rapidly once the CDFA eradication treatments ceased. However, at this point we are not seeing much dispersal. We have been releasing thousands of parasitic wasps that attack the egg stage of the beetle, and we have been monitoring for their effect. We are not sure, however, if that is the reason for the lack of dispersal or not, but I'd like to think so. Regardless, if one of the weevils is found in a nursery, there will be significant consequences. The funding for all of this research is finally running out, so we are making our best effort to establish the parasite and publish the research we have been collecting over the last few years. As with the glassy-winged sharpshooter, we hope to use what we have learned and more, to develop a best management practice for this pest. Rest assured, there will be more invasives that we will have to deal with in the near future, but like you, I think we have enough to think about right now. For me, they are like the bad penny. James A. Bethke UC Cooperative Extension San Diego jabethke@ucdavis.edu 760 752-4715 |
Crime Prevention
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Date
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Crime Reported
Location of Crime
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Method of Entry
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Estimated Loss
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Evidence/Witnesses
Surveillance
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6/20
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Nursery theft of table saw, chainsaw, and 2 water pumps
2500 Blk of Olive Hill Rd
Suspect also discharged 3 fire extinguishers into work truck
Fallbrook
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Cut perimeter fence to access nursery grounds to break-in to 2 storage buildings with makeshift plywood door. Unable to enter and cut locks on front doors
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$2500.00
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Pictures of damage and entry points taken. Suspect damaged motion detector. No suspect information
Security officer checked area at 2:50 a.m. and 5 a.m. and noticed fence was cut. Discovery of burglary made by Facilities Maintenance Manager.
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6/22
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Theft of avocados-Unknown amount
No crime report written
1900 Blk of Vista del Mar Rd
Bonsall
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Unfenced perimeter of property
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Unknown
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Deputy attempted to contact victim without success. Victim was contacted by BJ Williams and offered free security consultation.
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7/14
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Theft of approx. 400 lbs. of avocados
17000 Blk of State Route 76
Pauma Valley
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Employee observed
suspicious suspect vehicle driving away from area near water tank
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$800.00
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Employee probably interrupted ongoing theft. Suspect vehicle is a green Ford Ranger truck with stainless steel toolbox in the truck bed.
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Crime Prevention Tip of the Month: Report Crimes in Progress or Suspicious Activity immediately ! Sheriff's Dispatch 24/7/365 9-1-1 Life in danger or crime in progress
Sheriff's Dispatch (Non-Emergency) 24/7/365
(858) 565-5200 (Countywide)
(760) 749-1303 Valley Center
(760) 728-1113 Fallbrook/Vista/San Marcos
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(760) 751-4408 B.J. Williams
Crime Prevention Requests for Service
- Report crimes or suspicious activity
- immediately to Sheriff's Dispatch 24/7/365 (see telephone numbers above)
- Call Sheriff's Dispatch Center 1st to report suspicious activities, crimes in progress or crimes that have occurred
- Call surrounding neighbors/businesses 2nd to advise them to be on the lookout for unknown persons or vehicles in the area and ask if they saw anything that may be helpful to identify any suspects related to crimes that occurred.
- Call B.J. 3rd to advise what actions were taken thus far and schedule a FREE Security Consultation for your property to discuss crime deterrence measures
- Report unscrupulous vendors trying to sell product, fuel, or equipment at drastically reduced prices
- Establish a Nursery/Grove/Farm Watch in your area - B.J. will assist you in that effort.
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Farmers Almanac
 August 11, 2011 Ask the Advisor with Jim Bethke. "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Fungus Gnats but Were Afraid to Ask" guest speaker Dr. Ray Cloyd from Kansas State University. click here for more information. August 30, 2011 Plantscape Industry Expo 2011- where the industry grows. 21st Annual Interiorscape Conference & Trade Show August 30 to September 1, South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa, Las Vegas. Online registration available May 30. www.piagrows.org or email pia@piagrows.org. 707/462-2276. Sept. 14 - 17, 2011 SAF's 127th Annual Convention is coming to the Palm Springs area at the Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, CA.Please visit our website at www.safannualconvention.com for full details about Outstanding Varieties and the convention. August 23, 2011 Scouting and Spray Evaluation Workshop at UCCE Santa Cruz Co. Auditorium,1432 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville, CA 95076 - 1 2:30pm - 5:30pm - Registration: $25 per person Sept 12 - 14, 2011OFA Plug and Cutting Conference in San Jose, California www.ofa.org/conferences Sept. 13, 2011 Erosion and Pesticide Runoff Management in Nurseries Cooperative Extension Ventura County, 669 County Square Drive, #100,Ventura, CA 93003-5401, September 13, 2011
7:30 am - 12:00 pm - Registration: $15 per person Sept. 22, 2011 Ball Tagawa Growers 20th Anniversary. Nursery and Landscape Day at 819 Zenon Way, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420-5818. To RSVP or for more information contact Kim VanMorkhoven at kim@twcg.com phone 805 481-7526. Oct. 8 - 9, 2011 California State Floral Association presents CALIF FLORA 2011 - "CALIFORNIA FRESH". Program and Registration information. Please visit the CfAHR Website for exciting news on an educational program recently launched by UCCE and CfAHR. Thank you |
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