SACRAMENTO, CA, July 28, 2011 – A small insect, native to South America, has been brought to California waterways thanks to its voracious appetite for water hyacinth, an invasive aquatic plant that chokes the sloughs and canals of the San Joaquin/Sacramento River Delta.

Scientists with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) have begun releasing hundreds of water hyacinth plant hoppers in the Delta to reduce infestations of the hearty and troublesome plant. The floating, exotic weed can grow so densely that thick “rafts” of the plants can completely cover a waterway’s surface, preventing access by boats and clogging water intake systems.

“Water hyacinth is a serious problem not just for agriculture and our state’s water supply, but for anyone who appreciates the natural beauty and recreational value of our waterways,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross.  “CDFA’s new biocontrol project will help reduce the impacts of this invasive weed in the Delta.”

Initial releases of 750 water hyacinth plant hoppers were made earlier this month in three locations:  Whiskey Slough in San Joaquin County, Willow Creek in eastern Sacramento County, and Seven Mile Slough in western Sacramento County.  Secondary releases have since been made in Whiskey Slough (1,500 insects) and Willow Creek (3,000 insects).  Scientists hope the plant hoppers will thrive in their new home, eventually resulting in self-sustaining colonies. This project shows CDFA’s ongoing commitment to the principles of integrated pest management – considering physical and biological approaches and using them whenever possible.

Before a biological control agent like the water hyacinth plant hopper can be released in California, the organism must be cleared by both federal and state regulatory officials through an exhaustive analysis that weighs risks. Biological control agents from outside the U.S. are shipped to a domestic quarantine facility where they are subjected to a series of tests. Only those organisms with high specificity to the target weed are approved for use as biological control agents.  The results of the pre-release tests are summarized into a petition requesting permission to release the organism into the field.  Once approved, the permitted biological control organism can be mass-reared to high numbers and released at field sites established by biologists.

The water hyacinth plant hopper, known to scientists as Megamelus scutellaris, is approximately 1/8 inch in length as an adult.  It feeds only on water hyacinth, making it an ideal candidate for release as a biological control agent. The insects feed on water hyacinth leaves by siphoning plant juices into their mouths, much like an aphid on a rose bush.  The damage caused by their feeding kills the small area where their siphons are inserted; high densities of plant hoppers and high levels of feeding can cause whole leaves to wilt and die, reducing the infestation and relieving pressure on the waterways.

Native to the Amazon region of South America, water hyacinth has spread to more than 50 countries on five continents. It was introduced into the United States in 1884 at the Cotton States Exposition in New Orleans when display samples were distributed to visitors and extra plants were released into local waterways. By 1895, water hyacinth had spread across the Southeast and was growing in 40-km-long mats that blocked navigation in the St. Johns River in Florida. Water hyacinth was first reported in California in 1904 in a Yolo County slough.

The California Department of Boating and Waterways leads an ongoing effort to reduce the abundance of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), limit its impact on boaters and keep waterways open.  CDFA’s releases of the water hyacinth plant hopper add another tool to the state’s cooperative effort to manage water hyacinth in the Delta.

Photos of the released plant hoppers are available online at http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/exec/public_affairs/WaterHyacinthBiocontrolInsects.html

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SACRAMENTO, July 28, 2011 – The California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing 18 vacancies on two advisory committees overseen by the department’s Inspection and Compliance Branch. Vacancies are available on the California Organic Products Advisory Committee and the Certified Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee. 

The California Organic Products Advisory Committee advises the CDFA secretary on current issues related to organic food production and makes recommendations on all matters pertaining to the California Organic Program. Seven vacancies are available on the committee. Vacancies include: one consumer representative, one alternate technical representative, one alternate retail representative, one alternate processor representative, and three alternate producer representatives.

The California Organic Program is responsible for the enforcement of federal and state laws governing organic production. These statutes protect consumers, producers, handlers, processors, and retailers by establishing standards under which agricultural products may be labeled and sold as organic. The California Organic Program is funded entirely by industry fees and assessments. For more information on the California Organic Program and committee vacancies, please contact Brian Cote at (916) 445-2180.

The Certified Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee advises the CDFA secretary on regulations, enforcement, and administration policies and procedures related to the direct marketing of agricultural products at certified farmers’ markets.  11 vacancies are available. Vacancies include: eight alternate certified producers, one alternated certified farmers’ market manager, and two alternate direct marketing representatives. All producer members must be active in the direct sale and marketing of agricultural products at certified farmers’ markets.

California has more than 2,200 certified agricultural producers participating in approximately 700 certified farmers’ markets within the state. The Certified Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee recommends the annual budget and fees to provide enforcement services for the department’s Certified Farmers’ Market Program. For more information on the Certified Farmers’ Market Program and committee vacancies, please contact Susan Shelton at (916) 445-2180.

Applications for committee vacancies will be accepted until the positions are filled. Individuals interested in being considered for an appointment to a committee should send a letter of consideration and a letter of recommendation from individuals within the represented industry sector. Applications should be sent to Sarah Cardoni, CDFA Inspection and Compliance Branch, 1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 or via e-mail at scardoni@cdfa.ca.gov. Clearly indicate the vacancy and the advisory committee for which you are applying.
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CDFA Secretary Karen Ross

Welcome to Planting Seeds, CDFA’s new blog about food and farming! The people of CDFA are engaged in a wide variety of programs that help us protect the food supply and natural resources of California. We plan to use Planting Seeds to introduce you to as many staff members and programs as we can. We’ll also take every opportunity to highlight what is happening today in farming, and the farmers and ranchers who make California special, and we’ll share things that we think are interesting, informative and entertaining.

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