June Prune Orchard Management Considerations
Read this article for prune orchard management tasks to keep in mind in June. Continue reading
Author Archives: Franz Niederholzer
Prune Bloom Review, 2020
While it’s hard to be certain what caused the light prune crop in 2020, warm temperatures before and after bloom might have been a contributing factor. Continue reading
Hive Strength and Bee Health/Safety
A large almond crop at harvest requires good bee activity at bloom in the orchard. Read to learn more about best practices for keeping bee hives in your orchard strong and healthy at bloom. Continue reading
Orchard Sanitation is Key to a Quality Crop
Navel orangeworm (NOW) is the key pest of almonds, causing more income loss due to reject nuts than any other pest. Pesticide sprays, alone, cannot control this pest. A combination of several specific practices has been proven to reduce NOW damage and limit loss of grower income. The first of these practices on the orchard calendar is sanitation. Continue reading
Cytospora: A Prune Grower’s Archnemesis
Cytospora canker can severely limit prune production; reducing grower income and potentially lead to early orchard removal due to scaffold and/or tree loss. This bark disease is not new to prune orchards in California, but in recent years there has been a dramatic increase in this disease in some orchards. All prune growers and PCAs should know its symptoms and management strategies. Continue reading
Navel Orangeworm Management Considerations – 2020
Hull split and the pesticide application timing for navel orangeworm control on new crop nuts are fast approaching. Timing, coverage and pesticide selection, in that order, are critical to getting the best possible results from spray applications. Continue reading
Hull split Hull Rot Management
Infections by Rhizopus stolonifera and Aspergillus niger occur after hull split because these are wound pathogens that require an opening to enter and infect the hull. The best, current approach to managing Rhizopus hull rot management includes three parts. The first two steps help to manage the environment, with respect to the disease triangle, while the latter seeks to control the pathogen. Continue reading
Hull Split Timing and Sprayer Practices for Best Pest Control Results
If you wait too long to put on the first hull split spray, it doesn’t matter if it’s done by air, ground or robot, what’s in the tank, how slow you drive or what spray volume you use – you are too late to get the best control possible and it will cost you in both lost crop and quality incentives. Once you get the timing right, you have to get excellent coverage when you spray or you will not get the best control possible and the best net return. Continue reading
Pre-Season Airblast Sprayer Calibration
Prep your sprayer for bloom (blight) sprays. If you use stainless steel nozzles, toss out last year’s and buy new ones. If you are using ceramic nozzles, check them for wear. Ceramic nozzles do wear out, eventually. Once you are happy with your nozzles, check pump and system strainers as well as those at the nozzle. Continue reading
Almond Variety Planting Trends
With the right varieties, a new almond orchard should be profitable for at least 20 years. Many decisions contribute to successfully meeting that target. One key decision is variety selection. Knowledge of the current and past variety planting trends of almonds in California may be helpful in this decision. Continue reading
Almond Hull Rot Control – Irrigation Management
Originally posted July 2018; Updated July 2019. Franz Niederholzer, UCCE Farm Advisor, Colusa and Sutter/Yuba Counties & Allan Fulton, UCCE Water Resources Advisor, Tehama, Glenn and Colusa Counties Hull rot can be a heartbreaker, appearing suddenly at harvest in orchards where … Continue reading
Hull Split Timing and Sprayer Practices for Best Pest Control Results
Early hull split, when the hull begins to open at the suture, is a don’t-want-to-miss timing in almond production. The crack in the hull does two things: releases nut volatiles so the navel orangeworm (NOW) female can find the nut … Continue reading
Don’t get Caught out in a Perfect Storm
California prune growers generally had good bloom in 2019 and bloom weather was also good. This should see an increase in cropload for many blocks for 2019, meaning that chances are higher for growing smaller fruit. Growers and PCAs are invited to attend a field day to demo cropload checking in Live Oak on Wednesday, May 8. Continue reading
Trends in World Prune Markets – and What They Mean for California Grower Practices
Bigger crops often follow small to medium crops. [The 2018 prune crop looks to be 25-30% off the 2017 crop.] California should expect a larger prune crop in 2019 compared to 2018, weather allowing. While nobody can be certain what … Continue reading
Postharvest Nutrition Review
In uncertain times, put your money on proven practices and materials. Certain postharvest fertilizer inputs (boron, potassium, and zinc) when needed, are proven to deliver increased yield. At least one nutrient, nitrogen, when fall applied does not deliver yield benefit … Continue reading