PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Prune BIFS
During 1999 and 2000, winter applications of diazinon, an organophosphate (OP) insecticide, were eliminated in the demonstration/research sites of the 33 enrolled farms (12 funded by the BIFS program). Diazinon is the main contributor to wintertime toxicity of California river water. The use of irrigation water was also reduced on almost all Prune BIFS farms, due to careful, plant-based monitoring. To promote Prune BIFS practices, such as cover crops and optimized fertilizer applications, over 24 educational meetings were held in 2000 with an audience of over 1,100. The number of enrolled farms has increased 33 percent from 1999, when 22 farms were enrolled.

Walnut BIFS
In 2000, 12 walnut orchards were enrolled in BIOS for walnuts, up from 10 in 1999. The use of pheromone mating disruption technology to control codling moth allowed 83 percent of the enrolled BIOS orchards to eliminate the use of organophosphate insecticides in 2000. In 2000, BIOS growers reduced applications of nitrogen (N) fertilizer by an average of 53 pounds per acre since 1998. Use of cover crops by enrolled growers increased from 60 percent in 1999 to 75 percent in 2000. Cover crops are a cornerstone of an integrated orchard production system. Cover crops can provide beneficial insect habitat, reduce runoff of agricultural chemicals and nutrients, and in some cases provide a biological source of nitrogen for the walnut trees.

Apple BIFS
Nineteen orchards (11 funded by the BIFS program), totaling 656 acres, were enrolled in the apple project in 2000, the first year of this project. The BIFS orchards, by using pheromone mating disruption, were able to reduce the use of organophosphates by 59 percent and carbamates by 92 percent in their first year. The use of all traditional pesticides was reduced in the BIFS orchards by 72 percent. The amount of reduced risk materials (pounds of active ingredient per acre) comprised 93 percent of all pest management materials used. Since the apple BIFS project has provided a cost share for codling moth control materials, the actual grower cost is $296/acre, which is only $10 more than the conventional cost.

Rice BIFS
Nine demonstration farms, on over 1330 acres, were enrolled in Rice BIFS during 2000, up from eight farms in 1999. Collectively, participating growers manage over 14,000 acres of rice. Alternative practices promoted by the project focus on non-chemical weed control strategies and reduced use of chemical fertilizer. On a per acre basis, BIFS project growers use less than half the amount of herbicides on their entire acreage, compared to the county average.

Dairy BIFS
The Dairy BIFS project worked with 11 dairy producers throughout the San Joaquin Valley in 2000, the first full year of this project. Dairy BIFS focuses on developing and demonstrating improved liquid manure management practices. Data collected so far has shown that it is feasible to use manure lagoon water nutrients to fertilize the dairy's forage crop and reduce the amount of synthetic fertilizer. For example, lagoon water nutrients were successfully used to grow silage corn at Dairy 8 in 1999 with yields (29.7 tons/acre) similar to fields where commercial fertilizer supplied needed nutrients (27.6 tons/acre). Controlled use of lagoon water nutrients can help keep those nutrients from contaminating ground water drinking supplies.

Strawberry BIFS
Fourteen farms enrolled 21 acres in the Strawberry BIFS project in 2000, up from seven growers with 10.5 acres in 1999. Strawberry BIFS provides intensive one-on-one scientist-grower interactions. This project focuses on developing alternatives to the soon-to-be-banned fumigant, methyl bromide, as well as aboveground pests like Lygus. The Strawberry BIFS project has completed the first evaluation of commercially available strawberry cultivars for performance under non-fumigated field conditions in California. These trials showed that Aromas, Pacific, and Seascape were the top performers.

Citrus BIFS
The Citrus BIFS project has undergone some changes in 2000. A new principal investigator has joined the project. In 2000, eight farms were enrolled. Citrus BIFS focuses on reducing the use of the herbicide simazine (a known groundwater contaminant), reducing organophosphate insecticide and fertilizer use, and increasing the use of cover crops.

Other BIFS Projects
The Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape BIFS and the Westside (cotton and row crops) BIFS are not currently funded by UC SAREP. These previously funded projects are described in past biennial reports.