Current Northern Sacramento Valley ET Report – May 15
Irrigation Evapotranspiration (ET) Report for Tehama, Butte and Colusa county CIMIS stations. Continue reading
Author Archives: Sacramento Valley Orchards
Previous Northern Sacramento Valley ET Reports – March 2025
This report covers the CIMIS stations in Gerber, Biggs, Durham, and Williams for June 28 – Aug 1, 2024. Continue reading
Native hedgerows as a weed management tool in orchards
Justin Valliere, Assistant Professor of Cooperative Extension, Invasive Weed & Restoration Ecology, UC Davis Rachael Long, Emeritus Farm Advisor for Field Crops, Pest Management Field edges are a common source of weed intrusion into farms, often requiring intensive management. Establishing … Continue reading
Walnut Mold and How to Manage It
Themis J. Michailides & Victor Manuel Gabri, University of California, Davis / Kearney Ag Research and Extension Center In the last several years, walnut growers in California experienced unusually high levels of mold in their crop. Particularly in 2018, growers … Continue reading
2025 Prune Fungicide Efficacy Tables
CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO THE PRUNE FUNGICIDE EFFICACY TABLES (right click -> “Open link in new tab”)
2025 Herbicide Registration on California Tree and Vine Crops
Reviewed January 2025 – UC Weed Science Click Here for Herbicide Table on CA Tree and Vine Crops
2025 Almond Fungicide Efficacy and Timing Tables
Click Here for the Almond Fungicide Efficacy and Timing Tables Link
Previous Northern Sacramento Valley ET Reports – November 2024
This report covers the CIMIS stations in Gerber, Biggs, Durham, and Williams for June 28 – Aug 1, 2024. Continue reading
Previous Southern Sacramento Valley ET Reports – October 2024
This report covers the CIMIS stations in Woodland, Davis, Staten Island, and Verona for Sep 6 – Oct 3, 2024. Continue reading
New Threat to California Almonds: Red Leaf Blotch
In late May 2024, unusual symptoms on leaves, including yellow spots and orange to dark red-brown blotches, were detected in an almond orchard (Nonpareil, Monterey and Fritz) on the border of Merced and Madera counties. Continue reading
Ethephon for Earlier Harvest
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. Continue reading
Phellinus wood rot, or “Why do my trees blow up at harvest?”
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). Continue reading
The Big Three in Prunes
The three most important management decisions dictating fruit size and crop size (and therefore grower returns) are 1) cropload management, 2) irrigation, and 3) nutrient management (especially potassium). Continue reading
Carpophilus Beetle: What We Know
Carpophilus beetle (Carpophilus truncatus) is a small insect that causes severe damage to almond kernels. Humid conditions increase the emergence and rate of development, leading to multiple generations within a season. Continue reading
New UC Davis Prune Varieties Prove Promising
The UC Davis Prune breeding program is eager to patent a new variety, Yolo Gold, as well as promote new promising French-type cultivars. Continue reading