Cultivating Solutions Through Cooperation

Meet the staff

James A. Bethke is the County Director and Floriculture and Nursery Farm Advisor. He received his Master of Science degree in Entomology from UC Riverside in 1985. Currently he is working on several research projects to address the serious impacts on the ornamental industry due to a series of invasive pests.

James A Bethke

Contact our Office

One of the least-known treasure troves of information in San Diego County is that over two hundred Master Gardeners provide home gardening and pest control information throughout the county, FREE to the public. Master Gardeners are volunteers trained and supervised by the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE).

Continue to Master Gardener Website

For staff directory or office address or phone number please use this link: Office Directory

You See CE: UCCE San Diego's Blog

Register now for Landscaper IPM Training

Added April 3, 2017

The Unified Port of San Diego and The University of California Cooperative Extension will present their 17th Annual IPM Training for Landscape Professionals. May 11,...
Please file under "Should have known better"

Added March 31, 2017

While out with my dogs last weekend, I went through a narrow trail that is constantly being invaded by Cape ivy (Delairea odorata). Without thinking, I grabbed the invading vine broke it...
SAVE THE DATE: IPM Training for Professional Landscapers

Added March 15, 2017

SAVE THE DATE:IPM Training for Professional Landscapers Date: May 11, 2017 Time: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM Sponsor: CE San Diego/Port of San Diego Event Details Get ready for the Annual IPM...
New pest of olive trees found in Riverside

Added March 7, 2017

An arborist reported an unusual pest found on an olive tree in Riverside CA late 2016. CDFA identified it as an Olive Bark Beetle (OBB) Phloeotribus...
Is your pesticide safety training in compliance with the new Worker Protection Standard?

Added February 1, 2017

FROM UC Pesticide SAFETY AND EDUCATION GROUP: We are in the midst of a new and changing era of Worker Protection Standards (WPS). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the...