2005 Annual Report 4d.Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a trust agreement between ARS and the Artichoke Research Association. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the in-house associated project 5305-21000-011-00D, Evaluation, Enhancement, Genetics and Breeding of Lettuce, Spinach, Melon and Closely Related Species. Several new insecticides were tested for their effectiveness against Proba Californica (Heteroptera: Miridae), which has increasingly become a major pest in the late decade. Thiomethoxam (second generation neonicotinoid) was found to be highly effective among all the registered and unregistered materials evaluated in the test. Artichoke Research Association is actively seeking its registration on artichokes. In the interim, an emergency use permit was obtained based on the results of this test and the economic losses ensuing due to its infestation. In the studies pertaining to the effectiveness of pheromone puffers used for the mating disruption of the artichoke plum moth and the economic analysis of the use of this strategy, it was concluded that though this control strategy was highly effective, it was economically not feasible at the current cost of puffers. These studies would continue to evaluate lower rates of puffer deployment and/or greater cutback of insecticide use for the control efficacy and economic feasibility. Field studies were conducted on the effectiveness of the new formulation of the herbicide Oxyfluorfen (Goal Tender) sprayed directly on the bed tops immediately after the annual cutback of the perennially grown artichokes. The herbicide was found to be highly effective against many major weeds in artichoke fields. However, while the herbicide was found to be quite safe with minimal phytotoxicity to the host crop when used on the artichokes cutback in spring (May), with the same rate of application, it caused severe injury to the crop that was cutback in November (slated for summer production). Hard winter rain received in December causing lift off and seasonally low soil temperature resulting in longer persistence of the chemical in the soil must have contributed to this injury. Studies are in progress to evaluate lower rates of the herbicide on the artichokes that are cutback in November.