Sacramento Valley Orchard Source

Autumn freeze damage in walnuts can occur when trees experience freezing temperatures prior to going into dormancy. Since 2018, we've learned management practices that can prevent widespread damage.

Ethephon, also known as Ethrel®, is an ethylene-based plant growth regulator applied at walnut maturity, or shortly thereafter, which accelerates hull cracking and separation from the shell. This advances walnut harvest by four to seven days, depending on the season and variety, and nut value is increased by lighter kernel color and possibly less insect damage.

UC IPM has released a new resource to help identify carpophilus beetle

Your orchard is an investment – the longer it remains a productive, high-yielding orchard the higher your return on that investment

California's prune industry faces a significant challenge: a decline in orchard lifespan. A primary disease culprit associated with premature orchard decline is the loss of fruit-producing scaffolds likely caused by the heart rot fungus Phellinus pomaceus (formerly called P. tuberculosus).