Current Northern Sacramento Valley ET Report – April 24
Irrigation Evapotranspiration (ET) Report for Tehama, Butte and Colusa county CIMIS stations. Continue reading
Search Results for: zone irrigation
Gophers, Ground Squirrels, and Voles… Oh My!
Becky Wheeler-Dykes, Orchard Systems and Weed Ecology Farm Advisor, UCCE Glenn, Tehama and Colusa Counties Luke Milliron, Orchards Advisor, UCCE Butte Glenn, Tehama Counties In February 2025, Dr. Roger Baldwin gave an excellent presentation on vertebrate pest management at … Continue reading
Carbohydrates, dormancy, and yield in pistachios
Recent years of research by the Zwieniecki lab (the Z Lab) at UC Davis, including the Carbohydrate Observatory, have been providing exciting new insights to better explain how pistachios may be counting winter chill, when budbreak occurs, and how much pistachios will yield in a given year. 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
Timing almond harvest in 2024
Historically, the recommendation from UC almond experts for the ideal time to shake was as soon as 100% hull split occurred throughout the orchard, however, these considerations vary widely among varieties and locations. Potential challenges that growers should consider when timing harvest include pest and disease management, nut removal/drying time, and nut quality. Continue reading
Be Careful with Almond Variety-Rootstock Selection
Almond variety and rootstock selection is a quarter century investment. Evaluating the compatibility of different varieties and rootstocks together is critical to deciding whether a combination will be successful. Continue reading
April Walnut Orchard Management Considerations
Read this article for walnut orchard management tasks to keep in mind in April. Continue reading
Wet winter concerns: Phytophthora and waterlogging
Excessive water, caused by rain, flooding, or even overirrigation, is a challenge for orchards and can cause two very different problems: waterlogging and Phytophthora infection. Given that we had bountiful rain this winter and orchards with standing water were common, continuous monitoring and collaboration with your PCA or farm advisor will be increasingly valuable. Continue reading
Thinking About Skipping or Shorting Nitrogen This Year?
Sensitivity to a lack of nitrogen will vary from orchard to orchard. We know that trees have much more nutrient storage capacity than annual crops, but how much of this can be relied upon to meet nitrogen demand, and when might it not be appropriate? Continue reading
Vegetation for Infiltration
Facing a fourth consecutive year of drought conditions across California, and pressures to preserve existing water reserves has led to more California growers taking interest in incorporating some form of agriculturally managed recharge (AG-MAR) into their water management plans. Read further to learn how cover crops can help divert runoff from winter storms into groundwater basins for future use. Continue reading
Management Practices for Improved Water Capture
In the middle of a drought, there are several management practices that may improve the retention of limited water resources. Read ahead to learn how groundwater recharge, winter cover crops, organic matter, and tillage can affect your water conservation plan. Continue reading
When do you shake almonds?
Historically, the recommendation from UC almond experts for the ideal time to shake was as soon as 100% hull split occurred throughout the orchard, however, these considerations vary widely among varieties and locations. Potential challenges that growers should consider when timing harvest include pest and disease management, nut removal/drying time, and nut quality. Continue reading
Is it time for a closer look at alternative nutrient sources?
With continued tight nut markets and high input costs, it’s worth considering all nutrient input options in an effort to lower costs and maintain production. Sustainable nutrient management includes assessment of irrigation nitrate, adding compost manure amendments or almond shells, and using nitrogen-fixing cover crops. Continue reading
Drought Strategies for Walnut Orchards
With 41 California counties officially in a drought emergency and water allocations significantly reduced in many areas, many growers and managers are stuck with less water than walnuts use for prime production levels. Read this article for more information about how to manage walnut irrigation in drought years. Continue reading
Weed Management in Young Almond Orchards
Successful new plantings are key to the economic future of an almond growing operation. Any setbacks in new, non-bearing orchard growth or health can be costly, distracting and stressful. Weed management is a major management focus and potential stress point in young orchard development. Continue reading