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Light brown apple moth eradication efforts on the Monterey Peninsula

Light Brown Apple Moth eradication expanding

Aerial application of Light Brown Apple Moth pheromone will begin September 5 over the Monterey Peninsula, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Applications will cover a 60-square- mile area where the moths have been found. The pheromone is undetectable to humans but confuses the insects so they cannot breed. The Light Brown Apple Moth attacks more than 250 plant species including Cyprus, redwoods and many other trees and plants used in landscaping as well as farming.

Expect plentiful turkey supplies Thanksgiving

Consumers in California will find good supplies of turkeys at Thanksgiving time. Growers here are raising about the same number of birds as they did last year, however, nationally turkey production numbers have declined a little. The California Poultry Federation says most California growers have contracts with retailers for a set number of birds. Feed prices remain high, but turkey farmers are receiving good prices providing needed margin.

Prune plum harvest starts

Prune plum farmers are harvesting their crop. Early reports indicate that the crop is a little lighter than expected. Some growers say the June drop was heavier than usual. However, it is early in the harvest season and too early to tell for certain how yields will be as later varieties come into production. There are about 72,500 acres devoted to prune plum production in California, and harvest won't be completed until mid-September.

Decline in cotton production expected

California cotton production is expected to decline about 13 percent this year, according to a federal government forecast. Acreage devoted to cotton has declined in recent years as farmers opted to turn to permanent crops. Last season's strong corn prices and projections for that to continue caused additional acreage to be withdrawn from cotton. For those who planted cotton, weather has been good and yields per acre are expected to be high. But, there is some concern about water availability in some locations.

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