October 2023

Detection of HLB in VC establishes new quarantine area

CDFA has declared a quarantine in Ventura County following the detection of the citrus disease Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening, in two citrus trees on one residential property in the city of Santa Paula. These detections are the first HLB-positive trees in Ventura County. CDFA is working with the USDA and the Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner on this cooperative project. CDFA Press Release

Image: Farm Bureau Ventura County

Take a look at our Annual Report

Hansen REC move to Camarillo almost complete

The Hansen Agricultural Research and Extension Center staff have almost completed relocating from Santa Paula to their new property in Camarillo, said Annemiek Schilder, director of UCCE Ventura County and HAREC. Continue reading article published on 09/08.

As of October 10, everything has been transferred to the new site.

Image: Annemiek Schilder

Join the UCCE Farm Advisors at the Agri-Tech Fair

The 150th Anniversary of Ventura County Celebration

FREE family festival celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Ventura County!

Festivities will be held in Santa Paula, CA from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm Stop by the MVC Agriculture Museum and take a tour of the garden with VC Master Gardeners! Click here to see all of the Mountains to Sea Jubilee Community Performances and Activities. Click Here to see all 150th Anniversary events.

Volunteer ISHB Training

Volunteers from Ventura County were recently trained to report possible invasive shot hole borers (ISHB) infestations as part of a regionwide UC ANR participatory science project. Instruction requirements included successful completion of online ISHB training, attending an online ISHB participatory science seminar, followed by an in-person field training and posting five ISHB infestation observations.  

Once a participant completes the course, they can report possible ISHB observations to a UC ANR ISHB project that is part of the online program iNaturalist. These posts are vetted to UC ANR expert staff for verification. 

The ISHB data provided by trained volunteers helps further inform the Statewide ISHB Program of new or expanded infestations. ISHB is an invasive tiny woodboring beetle that has over 60 reproductive hosts. Severe infestations threaten both natural and urban forests throughout Southern California, including Ventura County. For more information, see the ISHB website

Image: Julie Clark

Meet the Hands That Feed You

On Saturday, November 4th, more than 15 Ventura County farms, ranches, and agricultural organizations will open their doors to invite the public to experience a day of agricultural activities and tours during the 11th Annual Ventura County Farm Day.

It is entirely self-guided — you drive yourself at your own pace to any of the locations on the Farm Day Trail Map on the day of the event. Not all locations have registration requirements or set tour times, so check their descriptions on the Trail Map for details!

Learn more about the farm origins of your food, the food supply chain, and meet the people responsible for producing the food we eat, and more!

Field Finds: Lacewings!

By Siomara Zendejas, UCCE Ventura County

I was counting Argentine ants (and the aphids they protect) in a local cherimoya orchard. I was there to monitor how different pesticide treatments control Argentine ant populations. These ants protect other pest insects, like aphids and mealy bugs, from their natural predators and make them that much harder to kill. While I was counting, I found this egg hovering above a leaf, like a magic trick Houdini would’ve performed! I almost thought it may have been the egg of some crafty pest, so I looked into it... continue on.

Image: UC Statewide IPM

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