Your source for orchard news & information in the Sacramento Valley
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
Predicting nut set in any given year is often a bit difficult. A review of the many steps involved in successful nut set may provide a better understanding of just what went wrong (or right) for different varieties across the … 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
Plum aphids are the major pest of prunes. Fall or winter are good timings to control aphid. So, with harvest over, it’s a good idea to settle on an aphid control plan to protect next year’s crop. Continue reading
Farm Advisors and PCAs have fielded calls this season concerning Monterey on Krymsk 86 or Rootpac-R showing unique foliar symptoms – yellowing, rolling leaves with marginal necrosis and poor growth. Most of the trees show these symptoms in the second leaf, but in some situations, first and third leaf trees are also affected. Continue reading
Potted trees may be the nursery stock of the future, but they have challenges and a learning curve for growers accustomed to planting bare root trees. One of the major challenges is irrigating during the orchard’s first year. Continue reading
If you are planning a prune orchard in the near future, here’s something to think about. Prune farming is about turning sunlight into sugar: the more sunlight your trees “catch” per acre, the greater the potential crop production. Continue reading
Along with setting a decent prune crop begins the important work of supporting current crop growth and canopy health and return bloom for future production. Adequate orchard nutrition is critical to both these goals. Special care in soil and nutrient … Continue reading
Navel orangeworm is the key pest in almond. Nut feeding by this pest directly reduces yield and grower income. For example, 1% damage* in a 2500 kernel lb/acre crop = 25 kernel lb/acre loss (and $62.5/acre at a price of … Continue reading
Extreme weather at bloom can have damaging short and long term effect on prune growers in California and the entire California industry. Excessive heat (2004, 2005, 2007 and 2014) or prolonged cool, wet weather (2016) can dramatically reduce prune production. … Continue reading
High levels of rust infection can be found in some orchards around the region. Severe rust infections can cause premature defoliation, reducing almond or peach yield next year and increasing the risk of scaffold and branch bark sunburn in prunes in the late summer and fall. Why was 2016 a bad rust year and not 2015? Continue reading
Almonds are typically shaken to the ground by a side mount or boom shaker, allowed to dry where they fall for several days to weeks and then windrowed and picked up. Recently, some growers have moved to shaking and sweeping within 24 hours. Another alternative to traditional almond harvest is the use of catch frame shaker sets instead of shake-to-the-ground machines. Continue reading