Fresno
County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer Les Wright TODAY
urged all cotton growers to complete their plowdown activities as soon as
possible to maintenance a host-free period for pink bollworm. For the 2013
growing season, there were no native pink bollworm moths captured in Fresno
County for 62,215 acres of cotton.
Cotton Plowdown Requirements:
Plowdown Dates for this growing season are:
December 20, 2013 - South Of
Shields Avenue
December 31, 2013 - North Of
Shields Avenue
Stalks
must be shredded by a power-driven shredder that will effectively reduce
stalks to a particle size, permitting burial and rapid decomposition.
Following
shredding, tillage must be completed in such a manner that all stubs are loose
from the soil around the roots and will prevent re-growth.
At
this point, there are two options for cotton growers:
Conventional
plowdown is done by discing all roots, plant stubs, shredded
debris and trash remaining from harvesting or clean-up operations and soils around
roots to the point that they are turned over and thoroughly mixed with surface
soil. This method of plowdown is required in sections where pinkie has been
found last growing season or this season until September 1, 2013.
Reduced
tillage does NOT require the incorporation of all roots, plant
stubs, shredded debris and trash remaining from harvesting or clean-up
operations. If growers choose this option, they must submit a notification 10
days prior to tillage of their intention to reduce tillage on their
acreage eligible for the program. Call the Department to find out which
sections are not eligible for this program if you are not sure.
Once
plowdown is completed by either method, any volunteer cotton must be destroyed
that may appear during the host-free period, even if it is on ground that
was not planted to cotton this season. If re-growth does occur during the
host-free period in 2014, the grower/landowner will be cited for a violation of
cotton plowdown regulations. Be sure to check fallow fields for isolated plants
growing in the field and in easement areas.
Do
your part to keep pinkie out of the San Joaquin Valley and finish your plowdown
early to avoid the following penalties for noncompliance:
Violation Of Plowdown Date - Base fine of $500 + $5 per acre not in
compliance
Repeat/Subsequent Violations - Base fine of $1,000 + $10 per acre not in
compliance
In
California, pink bollworm overwinters as a late stage larva in trash, at the
base of cotton stalks, in soil cracks, and rarely in seeds in the unopened
boll. Conventional plowdown, when done properly, kills pink bollworms in these
overwintering sites. Conventional plowdown and March planting dates are
designed to disrupt the life cycle of pink bollworm. It is not known whether
reduced tillage practices give pink bollworm a foothold for next season. Fields
using reduced tillage will be scrutinized during the host free period and next
trapping season.
The
late planting dates for cotton create the opportunity for "suicide
emergences." If pink bollworm emerges before the plants have begun to
square, the female will lay her eggs on sheltered parts of the plant, but the
larvae will die. Cotton planted too early or re-growth cotton will provide
feeding and egg laying sites for pinkie.
Questions
concerning proper plowdown procedure may be directed to any district office
locations listed below:
Fresno
600-7510 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Firebaugh
600-7322
1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Huron
600-7325 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Kerman
600-7326 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Reedley
600-7329 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Sanger
600-7331 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Selma
600-7327 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
The
Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner’s offices will be closed on December
25, 2013 and January 1, 2014.