Jaime Ott discusses the resurgence of prune brownline in the northern Sacramento Valley. In addition to prune, Jaime reminds us to be on the lookout for symptoms of Tomato ringspot virus in almond, peach, and cherry. Also caused by Tomato ringspot virus: Learn about Yellow Bud Mosaic in almond and peaches Learn about Cherry Stem Pitting Come to an …

Houston Wilson, Professor of Cooperative Extension in entomology with UC Riverside, gives us our semi-yearly update on Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) work in Navel Orangeworm, through work completed in 2024. It’s a long (20 year or so) long road, but may provide an additional tool in the IPM toolbox for controlling navel orangeworm. Listen to find …

Incorporating large amounts of woody biomass into soil, such as in whole orchard recycling (WOR), can promote carbon sequestration, nutrient recycling, and ecosystem health in agricultural fields. Yet uncertainty regarding the effects of WOR on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics influences management decisions. Recently, Mae Culumber, Ph.D. with UC …

Soil health is broad term that encompasses a important topic: functional soil that can support human activities, animals, and plants. Measuring soil health can be difficult even for soil scientists, but in today’s episode, Sarah Light shares some tools that growers, PCAs, and CCAs can use to judge soil health in their or their clients’ orchards. Th…

In 2023 UCANR advisors and specialists got an unusual number of farm calls on branch cankers in almonds, many of which turned out to be aerial phytophthora. Florent Trouillas with UC Davis goes over the pathogen, its lifecycle, and the conditions in 2023 that led to this outbreak. Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacramento Valley San Joaquin…

Luke Milliron discusses the growing list of problems with the Monterey almond variety in the northern Sacramento Valley. Leafing failure (what is it) Leafing failure (what might be causing it) Flowering failure Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom) The views, thoughts, and opinions expres…

This week, we share an episode that was TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING (if you count continually rescheduling episode recording sessions due to various conflicts and then forgetting about it for a year as making an episode). Phoebe interviews Amisha Poret-Peterson with the USDA-ARS on the basics of soil microbiology. We discuss the complexity and role of …

Lu Zhang provides an update on work published last year on the effect of dust on pistachio pollen, flowers, nut set, and blanking (it’s not good!). Please note that there are other physiological causes of blanking, such as incomplete pollination or aborted kernel development, and that we have not determined how much dust could contribute to blankin…

Cover crops! They’re not just for almonds (despite the bulk of California orchard cover crop research being in that crop). Daniele Zaccaria has been conducting research on cover crops in California pistachio orchards and shares what he has found, including some interesting possibilities as to why they found higher yields in orchards with cover crop…

Luke Milliron and Ken Shackel (UC Davis) sit down to talk about the decade plus of research investigating when to start irrigation in the spring for walnut orchards. If you want to learn more about incorporating the pressure chamber to improve orchard health and cut costs - contact your local farm advisor or Luke at (530) 828-9666 Come to an upcomi…

In a world where it feels like we have a new invasive pest every month, sometimes it’s hard for an arthropod to stand out. Last year, the nut industries were put on notice by Carpophilus truncatus, a tiny beetle that has commandeered big attention. Lucky for us (and unluckily for the Australians), we aren’t alone in trying to figure out how to keep…

Phoebe talks with Richard Heerema, the pecan specialist for New Mexico State University, about pecan botany and physiology, and why it may not be as good of a choice for areas prone to flooding as you think it might be. This is an episode for those who are thinking of planting pecans but have not done so. Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacr…

Florent Trouillas, a professor of Cooperative Extension in plant pathology at UC Davis, describes how pistachios become infected with phytophthora and how to manage it. He also describes his research on this newly registered product. Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom) Mention of an agr…

Sarah Castro (UC Davis) discusses how new prune varieties can improve a grower’s bottom line! scastro @ ucdavis.edu Insta: @cali.prunebreeder Initial episode on the prune breeding program with Sarah Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom) The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the …

Phoebe and Sam discuss the water outlook for 2024. Some things have changed since last year, but some things have stayed the same. Listen to the entire episode to hear a public service announcement about tequila and agave production in the state! Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom) Ment…

While we posted this episode all the way back in 2018, we thought we would dust it off since the information is still timely. Phoebe interviews Craig Kallsen, the now emeritus subtropical and pistachio tree crop advisor for Kern County, to talk about what we know and don’t know about dormancy in pistachios. Craig also talks about a paper he publish…

Brittney Goodrich provides an update on what almond growers can expect in the 2024 pollination season. You can find the economic calculator here. Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom) Mention of an agrichemical does not constitute a recommendation, merely the sharing of research findings.…

Navel Orangeworm (NOW) wreaked devastating impacts on the California almond industry in 2023. I sat down with Dr. Franz Niederholzer (UCCE Colusa) after harvest to discuss what had happened and what needs to be done to win the war against NOW in 2024. Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom)…

Dr. Andreas Westphal provides an update on tightening regulations and the latest research progress for nematode management in walnuts and other orchard crops. Dr. Westphal’s upcoming nematode management field days will be on Tuesday November 28 (walnut), and Wednesday November 29 (almond) at the Kearney Ag Center (9240 S. Riverbend Ave, Parlier, CA…

Mel Machado (Blue Diamond Almond Growers) discusses important considerations for timing almond harvest, including grower objectives, varieties, and nut quality. Resource links related to almond harvest: When do you shake almonds? Maintaining Quality with Pick Up & Stockpiling Best Practices Thank you to the Almond, Pistachio, Prune, and Walnut Boar…

Pistachios are very salt tolerant, at least compared to most of the other orchard crops that are grown in California. However, this does not make them immune to the effects of salinity. Daniele Zaccaria recently wrapped up a four year study examining the water use of trees under varying levels of soil salinity and found that water use decreases as …

Drew Wolter (now former UCCE farm advisor intern) and Luke Milliron discus why the postharvest weed survey helps form the backbone of an integrated weed management program. Mention of a pesticide does not constitute a pesticide recommendation. Always follow the pesticide label. Thanks to the Pistachio Board of California and Almond Board of Califor…

Whole orchard recycling is thepractice of incorporating recycled wood chips from oldorchards into soil priorto planting a new orchard. While this can change or improve howthe new orchard grows and the soil properties for the site, there are still various thingsgrowers need to consider if adopting this practice. Cameron Zuber (Merced and Maderacount…

Mating disruption has been found to reduce NOW damage in almonds by, on average, 50%, however we think it is most effective when it is applied in blocks that are 40 acres or larger. This means that a lot of growers who may be interested in mating disruption feel like they may not be able to use it due to their small blocks. A collaborative partners…

Pacific flatheaded borer has recently become a pest of concern in walnuts, though it has been known to damage walnuts for a long time. Jhalendra Rijal has been researching its biology and control methods and has provided us with an update on his findings. Mention of an agrichemical does not constitute a recommendation, merely the sharing of researc…

Daisy Hernandez has been conducting research on Ganoderma adspersum as part of her doctoral dissertation. She shares some more things that she’s learned since our last episode on this wood decay fungi, as well as a few tips for growers who are replanting in sites with known G. adspersum issues. Upcoming Extension Meetings: Sacramento Valley San Joa…

Whole orchard recycling (WOR) is becoming commonplace in almonds, and we have several research trials scattered across the state examining best practices and potential benefits from this practice. It has not been looked at as extensively in walnuts, which will contribute much more biomass to the soil. Luke shares the results from some of this trial…

Phoebe discusses some research she has conducted with Greg Browne (USDA plant pathologist) on examining phosphorus fertilization in newly planted almond orchards. Upcoming Extension Meetings: Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom) The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, …

Dr. Katherine Jarvis-Shean (UCCE Yolo, Solano, and Sacramento) and Luke talk about the early testing of treatments for low winter chill in California walnut orchards. Upcoming Extension Meetings: Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom) Mention of an agrichemical does not constitute a recommendation, merely the sharing of researc…

Franz Niederholzer (UCCE Colusa and Sutter-Yuba) and Luke talk about March almond, prune, and walnut tasks in the Sacramento Valley. Sac Valley Meetings: https://www.sacvalleyorchards.com/events/ Cover Cropping in Conventional Orchards and Vineyards: Arbuckle Area Tour March 8 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Southern Sacramento Valley Walnut Meeting – March 22…

In this episode, Phoebe talks with Sam Sandovol Solis, a professor of water management at UC Davis, about the 2023 water outlook. It’s looking a lot better than the previous years, but we aren’t out of the woods yet. A previous episode on irrigation system maintenance with Tom Devol has an anecdote about how much water can be lost with a few leaks.…

Phoebe discusses the 2023 bee outlook with Brittney Goodrich, an agriculturlal economics Professor of Cooperative Extension at UC Davis. Like in previous years, there are some issues affecting the health and size of the bee colonies in the United States, and Brittney shares some work she’s done to help growers possibly save money while ensuring the…

IPM Advisors David Haviland, Dr. Jhalendra Rijal, and Dr. Sudan Gyawaly look back on the 2022 almond, walnut, and pistachio highlights from the south, middle, and north of the Central Valley respectively. Learn from these IPM Advisors and other great UC researchers at our winter meetings! Sac Valley Meetings: https://www.sacvalleyorchards.com/event…

Leaffooted bugs are a sporadic pest in orchards, but when they appear they can cause serious damage. There are few management guidelines as it is believed that this insect was less of a pest in the past due to widespread useage of broad spectrum insecticides. As the nut crop industries have moved to more selective insecticides, an IPM success to be…

Roger Duncan discusses his research over several years showing that in some situations compost may not improve orchard performance and grower bottom line. Roger’s article on how “Compost May Not Improve Orchard Performance”. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of t…

Leslie Holland, Assistant Professor at University of Wisconsin, Madison, shares the results of some of her work examining fungicides to suppress Botryosphaeria infections in almond pruning wounds as a Ph.D. student at UC Davis. Leslie shares what works, as well as the key tip to dealing with fungal infections in orchard crops: preventing the infect…

Bacterial canker can be a serious disease affecting young Prunus species. It is closely connected to weather and tree health. Mohammad Yaghmour discusses what conditions lead to bacterial canker and what growers can do to lessen its severity. Thank you to the Almond, Pistachio, Prune, and Walnut Boards of California for their kind donations. Thank …

Call or text 530-487-5991 to ask questions for Phoebe and Luke to answer or provide feedback about adapting the 1 Minute Challenge Upcoming Field meetings: Introduction to Orchard Irrigation Management in three locations Madera: Monday, November 7, 2022, 7:30 AM—12:00 PM Bakersfield: Monday, November 14, 2022, 7:30 AM—12:00 PM Modesto: Wednesday, N…

Luke discusses the recent history of sudden autumn walnut frost events in California’s Central Valley, how to prevent damage ahead of the next sudden frost, and how to rehabilitate damaged orchards. Recorded Zoom webinar: Practical Canker Management in Almond and Prune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4JwrMGKros&t=3s Articles referenced in the pod…

Measuring soil moisture by hand with the “feel” method, or with modern senor technology can be a powerful irrigation management tool. I sit down with Allan Fulton (UCCE Irrigation Advisor) to discuss how to measure and interpret orchard soil moisture. You can lean more about soil moisture sensor selection at: http://www.sacvalleyorchards.com/blog/s…

Kadie Britt discusses research results from a project examining the effects of cover crop on overwintering NOW larvae mortality. Upcoming meetings: Introduction to Irrigation Management series to be held in Madera (Nov 7), Bakersfield (Nov 14), and Modesto (Nov 16). Best Management Practices for Soil Health to be held at the Kearney Ag Center in Pa…

It’s October, the year is almost over! Phoebe and Luke compete to see who can go over the month’s tasks, using whatever metric they feel is the best way to declare themselves the winner. They then discuss current activities. Upcoming meetings: Introduction to Irrigation Management series to be held in Madera (Nov 7), Bakersfield (Nov 14), and Modes…

Dr. Ben Faber (UCCE Ventura County) discusses the effects of heat damage in orchard crops and practices to help manage high temperatures that are occurring more frequently with climate change. Upcoming events: Zoom webinar: Practical Canker Management in Almond and Prune: Register here Thursday, September 29, 9–10:30 AM PST The webinar will feature…

Dr. Themis Michailides has been seeing increased mold in walnut pathology samples in recent years. The UC Davis Plant Pathologist at the Kearney Ag Center discusses his lab’s research on the biology and management of the disease. An article based on this episode, can be found at: sacvalleyorchards.com/walnuts/diseases/managing-mold Mention of a pes…

Houston Wilson (Entomology Specialist with UC Riverside) gives Phoebe an update on a project examining whether sterile NOW moths can be an effective addition to navel orangeworm management. Upcoming webinar: “Practical Canker Management in Almond and Prune” Thursday, September 29 from 9 – 10:30 AM PST. The webinar will feature UC plant pathologists…

Phoebe and Luke discuss important tasks for September, orchard observations, and other thoughts. Upcoming webinar: “Practical Canker Management in Almond and Prune” Thursday, September 29 from 9 – 10:30 AM PST. The webinar will feature UC plant pathologists Florent Trouillas and Themis Michailides discussing the latest best management practices for…

Dr. Rich Rosecrance and Becky Wheeler-Dykes (CSU Chico) discuss their latest findings on the mechanical pruning of prune trees. You can learn more at: sacvalleyorchards.com/prunes/year-round-management-prunes/mechanical-pruning-in-french and sacvalleyorchards.com/photos-from-the-field/box-hedging-decrease-prune-sunburn.This critical research is mad…

In this encore episode Dr. Themis Michailides (UC Davis Plant Pathologist) discusses his lab’s advances against Cytospora cankers, a disease that can devastate prune orchards. Upcoming webinar: “Practical Canker Management in Almond and Prune” Thursday, September 29 from 9 – 10:30 AM PST. The webinar will feature UC plant pathologists Florent Troui…

Phoebe discusses irrigation pumps, including their capacity and maintenance, with Jon Chilcote, a USDA NRCS team engineer for the Southern San Joaquin Valley. The website for the Department of Water Resources groundwater data: http://wdl.water.ca.gov/waterdatalibrary/ There are several additional resources you can find on our episode page. Thank yo…

Despite it’s fun acronym (BFF), the newly introduced Black Fig Fly is no friend to figs. Native to the Mediterranean, it’s recently been found in Southern California and causing damage to fruit there. Kadie Britt, a postdoctoral scholar at UC Riverside, describes what we know about it and what she and her colleagues are doing to learn about its lif…