Southern California and southwestern Arizona growers, pest control advisers (PCAs), and allied industry members can attend the 21^st annual Fall Desert Crops Workshop Nov. 23 in Imperial, Calif., at the El Centro Moose Lodge.

Speakers at the free workshop will discuss the Asian citrus psyllid, insect management in vegetables and melons, alfalfa pests, soil-borne fungal diseases in melons, and phosphorus management in vegetables, and other topics.

The University of California (UC) and University of Arizona (UA) are the conference organizers. Eric Natwick, entomologist, UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE), Imperial County, is the conference chair.

Western Farm Press is the official workshop sponsor.

The tentative agenda includes:

7:15 a.m.     Registration

7:30     Welcome - Cary Blake, associate editor, Western Farm Press, Gilbert, Ariz.;

7:35     Weevil and aphid management in alfalfa - Eric Natwick, entomology farm advisor, UC Desert Research and Extension Center (DREC), Holtville, Calif.; 

7:50     Update on the Asian citrus psyllid, Jolene Dessert, entomologist, Imperial County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, El Centro, Calif.;

8:10     Management tips for insects in leafy vegetables and melons – John Palumbo, entomologist, UA Yuma Ag Center (YAC), Yuma, Ariz.;

8:30     Bell pepper production and pest control – Jose Aguiar, vegetable crops farm advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE), Riverside County, Indio, Calif.;

8:50     Leafhopper management in alfalfa - Vonny Barlow, entomology and agronomy farm advisor, UCCE Riverside County, Blythe, Calif.;

9:10     Using melon herbicides effectively - Barry Tickes, weed science Extension agent, YAC;

9:25     Break

9:40     Salt cedar management - Brent Boutwell, IR-4 staff research associate, UC DREC;

9:55     Don’t plant a pest - Milton McGiffen Jr., Cooperative Extension specialist and plant physiologist, UC-Riverside, Riverside, Calif.;

10:15   Soil-borne fungal diseases in melon – Donna Henderson, plant pathology farm advisor, UC DREC;

10:30   Effective management of melon powdery mildew in the desert – Mike Matheron, plant pathologist, YAC;

10:50   Mitigation of root-knot nematode crop damage by integration of various plant protection approaches – Ole Becker, Cooperative Extension specialist and nematologist, UC-Riverside;

11:10   Phosphorous management for desert vegetables – Charles Sanchez, soil scientist and director, YAC;

11:30   Salinity management in desert soils – Khaled Bali, irrigation and water management advisor, DREC;

11:45   Industry updates;

12:05   Steak lunch - Provided at no charge for those who RSVP by Oct. 28, courtesy of Western Farm Press and commercial suppliers.

The times listed above are Pacific Standard Time (California time). Arizona time ( Mountain Standard Time) is one hour later.

Growers and PCAs can register at the door. Continuing education credit is pending for California and Arizona, plus CCA credit.

The El Centro Moose lodge is located at 2310 Myrtle Road, Imperial, Calif., 92251.

For more information and to pre-register, contact Eric Natwick, [email protected], or (760) 352-9474, or Cary Blake, Western Farm Press, [email protected], or (480) 248-9735.