Your source for orchard news & information in the Sacramento Valley
Allan Fulton, UCCE Irrigation and Water Resources Advisor, Tehama, Colusa, Glenn & Shasta Counties; Luke Milliron, UCCE Orchards Advisor, Butte, Tehama & Glenn Counties The dormant winter season is a time when evapotranspiration (ET) is low and it is an opportunity … Continue reading
Fully dormant walnut trees are a relatively frost tolerant crop. Fully dormant mature trees can tolerate temperatures to the low 20’s (°F) or below. However, if the first one or two freeze events have lows down to around 28° F, damage will likely ensue. Continue reading
Irrigation Evapotranspiration (ET) Report for the Woodland, Davis, Dixon, and Verona CIMIS stations. Continue reading
Irrigation Evapotranspiration (ET) Report for Tehama, Butte and Colusa county CIMIS stations. Continue reading
In research conducted by Themis Michailides, winter pruning (February) resulted in higher infection rates than fall pruning (October). Continue reading
Consistent technique helps improve the accuracy of stem water potential (SWP) measurements. Keep reading for tips on bagging, measuring, and properly determining the SWP endpoint. Continue reading
Plan to join us for this integrated orchard management short course featuring UC faculty, Cooperative Extension specialists and farm advisors, and USDA researchers who will provide an in-depth, comprehensive study of all phases of walnut culture and production. Registration for California residents opens September 4th. Continue reading
Continue to brush up on your pressure chamber technique with tips on selecting leaves for SWP measurement, weather conditions, and other FAQs. Continue reading
I was called out in mid-July by a PCA to evaluate a single sick walnut tree. The tree was said to have unusual symptoms and be surrounded by completely healthy trees. Indeed, the tree was surrounded by healthy, uniform trees, while the single tree in question had multiple scaffolds with patches of dead leaves. Continue reading
Boron is a weird nutrient in orchard crops, particularly in California. It’s needed in very small amounts, and some crops, like almonds, do not tolerate soil levels much above 1 ppm. To complicate things, boron tends to be deficient in some parts of the valley. Continue reading
The beginning of almond harvest is upon us in the Sacramento Valley, and while the bulk of the in-season pest management decisions are behind us for 2018, now is the time for a key activity in your year-round IPM Program – harvest samples. Continue reading
Stem water potential is a direct measure of water tension (negative pressure) within the plant. Continue reading to learn more about the basic concept of stem water potential and measurement in the field. Continue reading
These updates are provided as reference information for Sacramento Valley orchard pest and natural enemy activity. Continue reading
Irrigated agriculture acreage in the northern Sacramento Valley has grown substantially over the past decade, with gains largely driven by new orchard plantings. Despite these substantial gains in irrigated agriculture, actual water demand has remained relatively stable. This video showcases many irrigation management technologies on-display at a walnut irrigation field day conducted in June 2018. 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