Your source for orchard news & information in the Sacramento Valley
Bacterial blast doesn’t occur every year, so when there are a large number of orchards affected, it is natural to want to look for patterns in the occurrence and severity. One of the orchards affected in 2017 was the Regional … Continue reading
The crop load (number of fruit per tree) has a large influence on the fruit size, sugar accumulation, drying ratio, and prices received. The goal is to set a good crop this year, without producing too many small fruit or … Continue reading
Weekly olive fruit fly counts for locations in Glenn and Tehama counties. Continue reading
This 4th leaf almond orchard had multiple trees collapse suddenly when temperatures warmed up. In some cases, the trees were isolated and surrounded by apparently healthy trees; in others, several trees down the row died almost simultaneously. Continue reading
Irrigation Evapotranspiration (ET) Report for Tehama, Butte and Colusa county CIMIS stations. Continue reading
Weekly “Photos from the Field” features images taken while on farm calls. They reflect current conditions and questions that I am receiving from growers & PCAs. Continue reading
This is the weekly IPM pest update from Tehama county, with biofixes and trap activity for: codling moth, oriental fruit moth, peach twig borer, navel orangeworm, San Jose scale, and walnut scale. Continue reading
Weekly “Photos from the Field” features images taken while on farm calls. They reflect current conditions and questions that I am receiving from growers & PCAs. Continue reading
Weekly “Photos from the Field” features images taken while on farm calls. They reflect current conditions and questions that I am receiving from growers & PCAs. This week highlights photos taken on our annual almond advisor training tour, held this year in Kern county. Continue reading
Weekly “Photos from the Field” features images taken while on farm calls. They reflect current conditions and questions that I am receiving from growers & PCAs. Continue reading
The continued saturation of tree root zones may lead to nutrient deficiency symptoms from reduced root activity. Sometimes these deficiencies are transient and symptoms resolve as the soil dries out and warms up. However, if the season progresses and the soils warm up but stay oversaturated, the symptoms may persist or trees may show the “yellowing Krymsk” problem. Continue reading
This is the weekly IPM pest update from Tehama county, with biofixes and trap activity for: codling moth, oriental fruit moth, peach twig borer, navel orangeworm, San Jose scale, and walnut scale. Continue reading
Irrigation Evapotranspiration (ET) Report for the Woodland, Davis, Dixon and Verona CIMIS stations. Continue reading
Weekly “Photos from the Field” feature images taken while on farm calls. They reflect current conditions and questions that I am receiving from growers & PCAs. Continue reading
Prune growers should be aware that the weather conditions this upcoming week favor development of blue prune. Blue prune drop is associated with the rapid increase of orchard temperatures. We’ve had a mild spring with temperatures forecast to be in the low- to mid- 90s this week. Continue reading
This is the weekly IPM pest update from Tehama county, with biofixes and trap activity for: codling moth, oriental fruit moth, peach twig borer, navel orangeworm, San Jose scale, and walnut scale. Continue reading
This is the weekly IPM pest update from Tehama county, with biofixes and trap activity for: codling moth, oriental fruit moth, peach twig borer, navel orangeworm, San Jose scale, and walnut scale. Continue reading
A bad gopher infestation can reach populations as high as 30-40 per acre. Feeding on the bark around the crown girdles the tree, leading to tree collapse or death. Here are the methods that do and don’t work for gopher control in orchards. Continue reading
Increased incidences of scale have been observed in Sacramento Valley walnut orchards for upwards of 10 years. Reasons for scale increases in walnut are not entirely known. Commonly, when a secondary pest emerges as a problem, it is because something … Continue reading
Dormant monitoring helps to decide whether to pursue treatments of some pests (primarily scales and mites) in the dormant or delayed dormant period. This timing can be quite effective. Coverage tends to be very good since there are no leaves … Continue reading
Many almond growers in the Butte area were running sprinklers late last month for frost protection. I haven’t had any growers bring freeze damage to my attention yet, but over the last couple days several orchards began showing symptoms of bacterial blast. Continue reading
It is finally looking a little bit like spring outside! Almond bloom is winding down, prune bloom will be picking up, and there are even some tasks the walnut growers can do to stay on top of things. Keep reading for orchard tasks to keep in mind for almonds, prunes, and walnuts. Continue reading
There are a few nights in the upcoming 10-day forecast that predict temperatures at 32°F or lower. This post contains resources if you need information about frost protection. Continue reading
California DPR has granted an emergency exemption for fungicide applications to orchards that have standing water until June 1st, 2017. Keep reading for more information on which counties are affected and what restrictions you should keep in mind. Continue reading
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Print off this checklist to make sure you don’t miss any important orchard tasks during almond bloom! Continue reading
Many growers in the Sacramento Valley woke up this morning with white tipped grass in their yards. If you didn’t harden off your young walnut trees by beginning to withhold water in September and forming terminal buds, they are at risk of freeze damage. Continue reading
Dormant monitoring is an important activity that can help you decide whether to pursue treatments of some pests (primarily scales and mites) in the dormant or delayed dormant period. Continue reading
Olive Fruit Fly Populations for Glenn & Tehama Counties Continue reading
Olive Fruit Fly Populations for Glenn & Tehama Counties Continue reading
Olive Fruit Fly Populations for Glenn & Tehama Counties Continue reading
Olive Fruit Fly Populations for Glenn & Tehama Counties Continue reading
Olive Fruit Fly Populations for Glenn & Tehama Counties Continue reading
Olive Fruit Fly Populations for Glenn & Tehama Counties Continue reading
Early splitting husks in walnuts are oilless nuts. They can be recognized by the early husk split and dark pellicle with white nut meat. Click Read More (below) to see more images of oilless nuts compared to normal walnuts. Continue reading
Keep these considerations in mind as we move into walnut harvest! Continue reading
Olive Fruit Fly Populations for Glenn & Tehama Counties Continue reading
Olive Fruit Fly Populations for Glenn & Tehama Counties Continue reading
Most of our Nonpareils are already on the ground in the northern Sac Valley, but during a few recent orchard walk-throughs, I’ve seen some instances of hull rot on pollinator varieties. Continue reading
Olive Fruit Fly Populations for Glenn & Tehama Counties Continue reading
Olive Fruit Fly Populations for Glenn & Tehama Counties Continue reading
Tehama County Insect Pest Update for July 25, 2016. Continue reading
Olive Fruit Fly Populations for Glenn & Tehama Counties Continue reading
While the disease bacterial spot has been identified in California since 2013, it was previously known only to occur in the northern San Joaquin Valley and as far north as Arbuckle. However, I was recently called out to a symptomatic orchard in Butte county and confirmed that bacterial spot was present. Continue reading
Olive Fruit Fly Populations for Glenn & Tehama Counties Continue reading
Olive Fruit Fly Populations for Glenn & Tehama Counties Continue reading
Earlier this spring, oil olives with severe defoliation in San Joaquin county were sent in for diagnosis by UC Plant Pathologist Florent Trouillas. He has isolated a putative pathogen, Neofabraea species. In addition to defoliation, leaf lesions and elongate twig lesions were also associated with this fungus. Here is a list of what we know and don’t know about this disease. Continue reading
Olive Fruit Fly Populations for Glenn & Tehama Counties Continue reading
July 8th ET Report for the Gerber South, Durham, and Colusa CIMIS stations. Continue reading