Your source for orchard news & information in the Sacramento Valley
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Harvest can be a nerve-wracking time in the prune business. The finish-line – when the entire crop is in the bins – may be in sight, but there are still tough decisions to be made that influence your bottom-line. One of the most important decisions to be made is when to start harvesting. Continue reading
Hull rot infections can cost growers a lot of money; money in lost crop this year, money in more sanitation costs this winter, and money in lost spurs and shoots for future crops. There are two disease organisms responsible for hull rot damage. The first is Monilinia (brown rot), which infects the hull just prior to hull split in early to mid-June. Continue reading
Navel orangeworm (NOW) damage in the 2017 almond crop was painfully bad in many blocks in the Sacramento Valley. It cost some growers hundreds of dollars per acre, slowed crop processing (more money lost) and may be an issue in some international markets due to aflatoxin concerns. Continue reading
Interplanting existing prune orchards where established trees don’t fill their space is a long accepted practice to increase grower income while limiting costs compared to complete orchard removal and replanting. This is often done in older orchards either by interplanting … Continue reading