West Coast Nut - December 2017 by JCS Marketing, Inc.

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Drives Consistent Yield Increases. Right nutrients, Right form, Right time, Right mix. Almond Trial Var. Independence Two Bees Ag Research – Escalon CA 2015 Data

3000 2250

2938 2452

1500 750

P = .05 486

Nut Meat - Weights

lbs/acre

n Grower Standard Program (GSP) n GSP + Agro-K Non-Phosphite Program n Difference 2016 Data

4000

3049

2500 1750 1000

lbs/acre

Nut set can be influenced by boron which enhances pollination. Calcium is synergistic with boron and enhances its affect. Molybdenum plays a direct role in nut set and retention. Agro-K’s Vigor-Cal-Bor-Moly is the perfect mix to apply from pink bud to early bloom. Applying Vigor-SeaCal with AgroBest 9-24-3 just prior to and during the bloom period provides rapid penetration, uptake and translocation of calcium and phosphate to help drive cell division setting the stage for large, dense nuts with maximum weight. The energy requirements to maximize cell division and nut fill is significant and requires large, healthy, and efficient functioning leaves. Zinc is essential for maximum leaf development, vascular function and root growth. Magnesium is critical for chlorophyll. Manganese is required for proper root development and nitrogen utilization. Agro-K’s Zinc +4 D.L. provides these key nutrients helping maximize leaf surface area, chlorophyll and root growth. Yield results of two consecutive years of replicated data, on the same trees, are shown in the charts. The increases on the treated plots equaled 486 and 514 lbs./ac in 2015 and 2016 respectively. These nut meat yields were statistically different from the grower standard practice at the 5% level (P=.05) and 1% level (P=.01) respectively.

3563

3250

Maximizing profitability in your almond orchard starts with maximizing nut set every year. Achieving consistency in set and minimizing alternate bearing cycles is the key to consistent yields and higher profits. The secret is ensuring the tree has the right nutrients at the right time in the right forms and right mix. Agro-K’s carbohydrate based foliar line including Vigor-SeaCal, Vigor-Cal-Bor-Moly and Zinc Plus +4 DL, are designed to help growers meet peak nutrient timings in the crop cycle.

P = .01 514 Nut Meat - Weights n Grower Standard Program (GSP) n GSP + Agro-K Non-Phosphite Program n Difference

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From the Publisher... Dear West Coast Nut Reader, I would like to begin by saying thank you to all who have participated in reading the magazine this year. I know that there are many that don’t miss a single issue and I am so grateful for you and your dedication to farming. This publication was created for you and to help each of us continue to move the nut industry forward. What an exciting and challenging year for our industry.

Mid-Valley Nut Conference

NORTH VALLEY

Nut Conference

Seven years ago, when I first published West Coast Nut, we began with 3,500 readers throughout the state. Today I am happy to report that we reach nearly 15,000 readers on the West Coast. I attribute this success to a growing interest in more effective farming in today’s difficult conditions. West Coast Nut is the leading publication to help growers and other allied professions grow tree nuts more effectively with timely articles on Best Practices, Laws and Regulations, and New Technologies. West

Coast Nut provides the industry with 12 print issues per year, 5 trade shows across the state, and a monthly e-newsletter to help keep each of you informed. I hope you find the information valuable and timely. It seems like every month I learn about a law or regulation that is getting in the way of allowing our industry to grow, making it harder and harder to farm effectively. Our best chance for future success is to get involved. Have a voice, contact local and state leaders and voice your concerns. We must teach the next generation the values of defending our farming rights and instill a love of agricultural to them. I look forward to another great year in one of agriculture’s finest industries. May we all have a wonderful holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

Happy Holidays! from the Team - Jason, Kathy, Tiffany, Choua, James

Alm nd Day

West Coast Nut

Happy Holidays, Jason Scott

December 2017

PUBLICATION

By the Industry, For the Industry Publisher: Jason Scott Email: jason@jcsmarketinginc.com Editor: Kathy Coatney Email: kathy@jcsmarketinginc.com Production: design@jcsmarketinginc.com Tel: 559.352.4456 Fax: 559.472.3113 Web: www.wcngg.com

IN THIS ISSUE

Contributing Writers & Industry Support Almond Board of California Contributing Writer Terry Brase West Hills College Precision Ag Instructor Charlie Hoherd Roscoe Moss Company Julie R. Johnson Contributing Writer

Jodi Raley Director of Regulatory Affairs, WAPA Emily Rooney President, Agricultural Council of California Bob Turnbull Roscoe Moss Company Walnut Board of California Contributing Writer

Chris McGlothlin Director of Technical Services, Amy Wolfe | MPPA, CFRE WAPA President and CEO, AgSafe Cecilia Parsons Contributing Writer

UC Cooperative Extension Advisory Board David Doll UCCE Farm Advisor, Merced County Elizabeth Fichtner UCCE Farm Advisor, Tulare County Dani Lightle UCCE Orchards Advisor, Glenn/Butte/Tehama Counties Franz Niederholzer UCCE Farm Advisor, Colusa/Sutter/Yuba Counties The articles, research, industry updates, company profiles, and advertisements in this publication are the professional opinions of writers and advertisers. West Coast Nut does not assume any responsibility for the opinions given in the publication.

8 16

Getting Your Walnut Orchard off to a Good Start

20 22 24

Nutrient Applications at Almond Bloom Anthracnose; Is it a Threat to California Pistachios?

Almond Leadership Program: Meeting the Challenges of a Changing Industry

ET of Mature Pistachio Orchards Grown on Increasingly Saline Soils

Legislation In Focus: A Look at Climate Change and Cap and Trade

46 50 52 56 62

Pistachio Rootstock Production and Selection

Technology: Using Electrical Conductivity Sensors to Measure Salinity

Don’t Trim your Safety Program this Season–Train on Pruning Hazards

Aboveground Water Storage in California Water Quality Updates Proper Water Well Development Produce Safety Rule (PSR) for Walnut Growers View our ePublication on the web at www.wcngg.com

Photo Courtesy: Julie R. Johnson

FEATURED ARTICLE Research has shown walnuts can be grown on Class III soils when the right soil evaluation and preparation has been made. That is why walnut orchards are now “cropping” up in regions not adjacent to the Sacramento and other rivers, in soils once considered uninhabitable for walnuts.

See the full story on page 8

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Correction West Coast Nut issue November 2017: From Math Teacher to Almond Grower: How a New Almond Growers Uses Data to Irrigate Efficiently should have had irrigation photos instead of vineyard photos.

December 2017

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Getting Your Walnut Orchard

off to a Good Start By Julie R. Johnson | Contributing Writer

A young orchard in Vina at Andersen and Sons. All Photos Courtesy of Julie R. Johnson.

here was a time when people thought the world was flat. There was also a time when people thought walnuts could only be grown in class one soil. Both “facts” have been proven wrong. According to Bill Krueger, emeritus

University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Glenn County farm advisor, “research and grower experience has shown with the right preparation and planting system, walnuts can be successfully grown on less-than-ideal soils.” He went on to say, in the process of plan-

ning and planting a walnut orchard, soil evaluation is the place to start. Katherine Pope, UCCE area orchard systems advisor for Sacramento, Solano and Yolo counties, said, whether planting a new orchard or replanting, getting

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December 2017

things off to a good start is essential when considering the investment cost required to develop a successful orchard.

Soil Evaluation/Preparation Walnuts are deep rooted trees that were traditionally grown in river bottom soils, such as the dark, loamy soils of Vina and Los Molinos which lie along the Sacramento River. However, research has shown walnuts can be grown on Class III soils when the right soil evaluation and preparation has been made. That is why walnut orchards are now “cropping” up in regions not adjacent to the Sacramento and other rivers, in soils once considered uninhabitable for walnuts. Krueger said when growers are looking to plant a walnut orchard, soil survey maps are well worth the time to peruse. Soil surveys are available at local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices, cooperative extension offices, and online at websoilsurvey.nrcs. usda.gov/app. Soil surveys provide important information, such as soil types, distribution and acreage. “It describes each soil type and provides information about

explore the soil, digging pits five to six feet deep in strategic locations to allow first hand examination of the soil. The soil map can take the guesswork out of where to dig and on average about six pits should be dug in a 40-acre field. If the map shows uniform soil, only one pit may need to be dug. Krueger said to look for stratified soil, compacted zones, hard pans, and clay pans. “If soil modification is necessary, it will be much easier to accomplish before planting,” he added.

He advised using a backhoe to

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“Modification should be done in the late summer or fall when the soil is dry to ensure the most disruption possible while allowing the winter rains to settle the soil before planting. Touch up leveling or smoothing can be done in the spring before planting.” However, Krueger explained, leveling is only necessary when flood irrigating, and not necessary when drip or micro-sprinkler irrigation will be used. Shallow ripping will be needed for deep uniform soils. Sometimes, but not always, deep ripping or slip plowing may be necessary for stratified, hardpan or claypan. When dealing with claypan, he reminds growers of special requirements to avoid reseal of the soil.

At times a shallow, loam topsoil is underlain by the heavy claypan which restricts drainage of water down the root profile. Subsoil tillage in some cases allows excess water to drain away from the root zone and safeguards against waterlogging. If roots don’t have proper drainage, a Traditional walnut planting design and hedgerow configuration. whole host of diseases can occur. drainage, flooding, exchangeable sodium content, and other details important to successful orchard establishment,” Krueger wrote in his studies. “The soil survey cannot provide every detail that may be necessary.”

We pride ourselves on the best trees grown on virgin ground

One of the ways to deal with less than prime soil, according to Krueger, is to plant trees on berms, especially on heavier soils. “Ridge berms in the fall for after soil

Continued on Page 10

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Continued from Page 9 preparation to allow for settling over the winter,” Krueger added. Berms have the added bonus of concentrating the best quality soil and at the same time deepening the topsoil along the tree line.

of determining tree and row spacing.

or the hedgerow configuration.

In their article, Proper Walnut Spacing for Light Exposure, the duo of specialists say planting design should provide the tree canopy with maximum exposure to sunlight and allow ease of equipment operation.

Traditionally, walnuts have been planted in widely spaced orchards that allow the tree canopy to expand and fill its allotted space. With the hedgerow design, the trees are planted closer together down the tree row.

Walnut orchards are typically arranged in one of two planting systems that have different methods of management—the standard spaced,

Researchers also advise growers to have soil samples tested to determine the chemical properties in the area of consideration for planting. Once tested at an agricultural laboratory, have the results interpreted by a UCCE farm advisor to know what modifications need to be made.

In a multi-year study, Lampinen and Hasey utilized an especially equipped ATV Mule to measure and monitor canopy light interception in an effort to learn how orchard design and canopy light relates to

Design According to research conducted by Bruce Lampinen, UCCE integrated orchard management and walnut/almond specialist, and Janine Hasey, UCCE Yuba/Sutter counties farm advisor, one of the most important aspects of establishing a walnut orchard is its design, and following that, the difficult decision Traditional walnut planting design and hedgerow configuration.

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“We recommend Chandler in a standard spaced orchard for long-term maximum yields (e.g. a minimum spacing on poorer soils would be 25 feet by 25 feet with wider spacing on better soils),” Lampinen and Hasey said.

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In sharing what they learned from the study, and how that information can be used, Lampinen and Hasey said results indicated it takes three to four years to redevelop the complexity of branching that existed before hedging. Therefore, they wrote, production will be lost for the first few years after hedging Chandler and other varieties.

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Continued from Page 10

Replanting When removing an aged orchard for replant, Pope recommends a number of steps especially when preparing to replant that orchard into walnuts again. If removing an orchard for replant, she said it is a good idea to plan for an 18-24 month transition between orchard removal and planting new trees.

“Trying to rush the operation creates several opportunities for a less satisfactory outcome,” Pope said. “When replanting, first figure out what carry-over problems you’ll need to deal with from the last orchard.” This information can be used in making decisions such as whether or not to fumigate and with what product, what to plant during the fallow period and what rootstock to select for the future orchard. “There are a few problems that may

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To avoid this carryover, Pope recommends killing the roots of the old orchard and rotating in a non-walnut crop for a year. The root-lesion nematode of concern in California is Pratylenchus vulnus, Pope said.

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“Any previous tree crop planting is likely to have hosted P. vulnus,” she added. Pope recommends sampling for nemotodes. Growers can see the UC IPM Guidelines for sampling details at http:// ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/r881200111.html, and other nematode management information, or speak with a laboratory which assesses samples.

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carry over from an old walnut orchard to a new one planted on the same ground if preventive or corrective steps are not taken,” Pope said, “They are the walnut replant problem, nematodes and crown gall.” The walnut replant problem, sometimes called the rejection component, is not linked to one pathogen, she explains.

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Research and study have shown walnuts can be successfully grown in marginal quality soil when the soil is properly prepared for planting.

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Crown gall, caused by the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens, once introduced into an orchard or field site, has the ability to survive for at least two years in the orchard soil and at least one and a half years in non-irrigated fallow soil, Pope said.

Continued on Page 14

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Continued from Page 12 She recommends the use of chloropicrin and 1.3-dichloropropene together in Telone© C-35 to reduce the bacterium populations in the soil. “In sites with a history of high crown gall incidence, fumigation with Telone C-35 followed by chloropicrin combined with extensive gall removal from the soil should be considered,” Pope added.

Additional information on this approach can be found at http://ucanr.edu/ datastoreFiles/391-53.pdf. When replanting a walnut orchard, Pope advises replanting on an appropriate rootstock. “Clonal Paradox rootstocks have different strengths and weaknesses,” she said.

“If there is high crown gall pressure, RX1, which showed ‘moderate resistance’ to crown gall, would be a prudent choice,” she added. The following table provided by Pope, based on data from ongoing University of California (UC) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Agricultural Research Service (ARS) trials, for preferred rootstocks for problem situations in replanting walnut orchards:

Because some nematodes may surTo kill the roots, nematodes, and other vive the soil preparation and sanitation pests and diseases in trees ready for removal and the soil around Clonal Paradox Rootstock Rootstock Vigor Site Problems-Resistance level them, she suggests the use of Crown Gall Nematodes both a fumigant and herbicide. VX211

“During the month of OcRX 1 tober, cut trees a few feet above Vlach the ground and within five minutes paint the stump with straight undiluted Garlona3A or a 1:3 mixture of Garlona3A and MorAct or equivalent surfactant,” Pope said. “Leave painted stumps in place for at least 60 days. This time is necessary to allow herbicide to fully circulate and kill as many roots as possible.”

Highly vigorous

Low

Some

Low

Moderate vigor

Moderate

Intolerant

Moderate to High

Vigorous

Low

Intolerant

Low

process, VX211, which has shown “some tolerance” to nematodes, it makes sense as the rootstock of choice for the subsequent orchard, Pope says.

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Technology:

Using Electrical Conductivity Sensors to Salinity By Terry Brase | West Hills College Precision Ag Instructor

Photo Courtesy of Veris Technologies

est Hills College hosted an Open Farm on October 25, 2017 on the Farm of the Future to demonstrate some of the latest technology. Technology just for the sake of technology will rarely bring benefit. However production or management needs that can be satisfied through the application of technology should be considered. The Farm of the Future tries to incorporate technology we believe to have practical usefulness to growers. Demonstrations at the Open Farm event included: the use of wireless sensors/control network with software to determine power and water efficiencies; use of infrared imagery to determine plant stress and vigor; and the use of electrical conductivity sensors to determine salinity. It is this last technology that is the subject of this article. Crops, whether they be annual row crops or permanent orchards, respond to various factors. These can be categorized as: anthropogenic (human impacts such as compaction or irrigation), edaphic (basic soil characteristics such as salinity, texture, organic matter), meteorological (rainfall, humidity, etc), biological (disease, microorganisms), or topographical (slope, elevation). Identifying all of these factors and understanding the impact each has individually or interrelated to other factors

West Coast Nut

December 2017

would allow the nut producer to control and prescribe treatments that give the maximum or optimum yield. The trouble is that we do not know all of the interrelationship and rarely have consistent and accurate data on these characteristics. Of special interest to most nut producers is the amount of salinity and depth of salinity in the soil profile. Salinity is one of those edaphic characteristics that is highly correlated to other soil characteristics. Texture of the soil and the water content are two other characteristics that are highly correlated to the level of salinity. Salinity affects the uptake of water and nutrients by tree roots, limiting the absorption of both. There are several methods to determine the extent of salinity. The most accurate, though also the most labor intensive and expensive, is to take soil samples and test within a soils lab. A faster and cheaper method that results in a large number of spatially correlated data points are variations of sensors that automatically collect for “electrical conductivity”.

What is EC? Electrical conductivity (EC), as the name implies, is the ease with which an electrical current is conducted through

the soil and is measured in milliSiemens/ meter. Commercially available sensors pass an electrical current through the soil and record the resistance or conductivity of the soil in “apparent Electrical Conductivity (ECa). There are three different paths that an electrical current can take through soil. First, it can follow the water within the soil’s pore space. For this to occur, the soil being tested must be at approximately 50-70 percent of field capacity, otherwise there is not enough water for an accurate test. Second, the current can follow the solid soil particles that are contacting each other. This can provide information on the soil texture. Thirdly, there can be an electrical pathway using both solids and water.

Two different methods are used to collect electrical conductivity: electrical resistivity and electromagnetic. An example of an electrical resistivity device is produced by Veris Technology. The Veris 3100 has six coulters that pass an electrical current through soil. Two coulters are used as transmitters; two coulters in closer proximity are used as sensors that record shallow ECa values; and two other coulters placed further away are used to record deeper ECa values. Values are collected at regular intervals typically resulting in 1200 data points per acre. The Veris 3100 is large enough that a small tractor is

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needed to pull it through the field. Since the coulters cut into the ground, it is limited where it can be used (for example prepared seedbeds). An example of an electromagnetic is produced by Geotronics, the most common model being the EM38. While the 3100 is destructive with the coulters that must pass through the soil, the EM38 is passed over the top of the soil. A transmitter generates two electromagnetic waves that pass through the ground horizontally and vertically. A receiver captures the signal as it passes through the ground to record the ECa as millisiemens/meter. Various carts and carriages have been designed for EM devices. Since it collects just one point at a

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Higher water content and salinity allows higher conductivity. Clay particles are smaller and form tighter bonds than other types of soil particles, resulting in higher conductivity. OM decreases the conductivity. Each of these characteristics specifically impacts the conductivity of the soil. The problem is how to separate and define the level of just one of these characteristics since they are all interrelated.

Continued from Page 17 time, it is a slower process and results in a less dense set of data point. The EM38 is a smaller device that can be carried by hand. This allows it to be used in a variety of situations. There are also researchers that believe that the electromagnetic is a more reliable measure of conductivity. When using either system, GPS should be used to record the location of each data point. Dataloggers are used to record the two different values and combined with a location from a GPS receiver. These values can be mapped for a visualization of soil variability. Georeferencing of the mS/m is important as it allows the transfer of the data in text format and onto a GIS for mapping.

The good news is determining individual characteristics can be done with the proper protocol. Three basic uses of an ECa map include identifying variability; determining a soil sampling routine; and determine level of salinity or other soil characteristic. Photo Courtesy of Veris Technologies

It is important to remember that this value is not in itself a measure of salinity or other common soil characteristic. But because it is highly correlated to many of these characteristics, it can be used to estimate or predict many of these characteristics of soil. EC is therefore a measure of soil spatial variability. Areas with similar EC values also share soil characteristics such as water, texture, OM (organic matter) and salinity. Any difference in these characteristics show up on an EC map.

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Soil Spatial Variability Precision farming or site specific management is based on understanding the variability that is present within a field and then managing it for economic efficiencies. A goal in managing variability is identifying those areas that are homogenous, i.e. areas that have more in common than the area around it. ECa works well to determine these zones since areas with similar ECa values have similar texture, organic matter, CEC (cation exchange capacity) and water content which means similar production decision will be applicable. This is the one application that requires very little analysis on the part of the user. The mapped points interpolated within a GIS (geographic information system) creates a map showing variability of the field. Using a GIS reclassification tool will create three to five zones of homogenous areas to serve as management zones.

Determine Spatial Variability for EC Directed Soil Sampling Completing a soil sampling using a grid has been common in precision ag. A more common technique is using zones to determine placement of soil samples. An EC map can be used to determine the homogenous areas for targeted sampling. The same management zones previously discussed, can also be used to determine where to take soil samples. Usually a group of samples would be taken from each zone and aggregated for a composite sample. The nutrient values from the samples would be used for fer-

tilizer or other management decisions.

Determine Level of a Characteristic Highly Correlated with EC It is important to note again that the millisiemens/meter is not a direct measure of salinity. Even though the ECa values are directly related to salinity, it is also impacted by numerous other soil characteristics. By controlling some of the characteristics, understanding the relationships between the factors, or analyzing the data, edaphic values such as salinity can be estimated. Ground-truthing by using an EC directed soil sampling needs to be done to collect actual data. The range of values for ECa can be compared or calibrated to the range of values from the directed soil sampling to create a field scale map of salinity or whatever characteristic.

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An increasing number of nut growers are using Veris or EM-38 to determine the salinity of the soil within their orchard. However it is important to remember that the data needs to considered carefully before using it for management decisions. Better yet follow the recognized protocol to analyze ECa data for better decision making.

Protocols and Guidelines for FieldScale Measurement of Soil Salinity Distribution with ECa-Directed Soil Sampling. Corwin D. L. and Lesch S. M., USDA-ARS US Salinity Lab. Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics. March 2013, Volume 18, Issue 1, pp.1-25.

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The lab results will also determine some thresholds that can assist in determining what is causing the variability. The most common threshold is if EC is greater than 2 deciSiemen/meter it is an indication that salinity is high enough that it is the predominant characteristic of the EC. This means that the resulting variability map can be considered a salinity map. Protocol for use of ECa data

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NUTRIENT APPLICATIONS AT ALMOND BLOOM By Kathy Coatney | Editor

itrogen is an extremely important nutrient in almond production, but research suggests that there isn’t any value in applying it when almond trees are dormant, according to David Doll, University of California Cooperative Extension, pomology farm advisor for Merced County. “Applying nitrogen during this pe-

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riod increases your risk of leaching and a loss of the nitrogen from the system, which is essentially throwing your money away,” Doll said.

For growers who have very sandy soils (e.g. sand or loamy sand), they may want to consider applying potassium in January and February, Doll said.

“Even if you exclude the negative environmental effects, there’s not much value to the plant and it will lead to poor nitrogen use efficiency due to the risk of leaching below the root zone,” Doll said.

“In these cases the soil actually doesn’t hold onto potassium very well, leading to the possibility of leaching if too much rain comes in after the application,” Doll said.

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After the trees leaf out, then it’s time to apply the nitrogen, Doll said.

Potassium Potassium is another important nutrient for almonds, and soil reports should be reviewed to determine need and application strategy, Doll said. “People should review their soil reports. There is a value called the cation exchange capacity (CEC), and which indicates how many positively charged ions that can be held in a certain quantity of soil. And if that value is under 10 milliequivalents per 100 grams of soil,” Doll said, that indicates sandier soils.

“By shifting that application a little bit later, the farmer can hedge their bet that they’ll get enough rain to push it into the rootzone, but there won’t probably be enough rain to leach it out of the root zone,” Doll said. Most of the sandier soils are in the northern San Joaquin Valley, but there are some very sandy areas that stretch from San Joaquin County all the way to Kern County, Doll said. “If you’re on a heavier type soil, potassium can be applied to the fields at a relatively high rate in order to help get that into the soil and into the root zone,” Doll said, adding applications are typically done between October and December in heavier soils, then the rain carries it in. Unless the soil report is indicating differently, growers should be trying to replace the potassium that they’re removing, Doll said. “And with potassium that’s roughly 92 pounds of potassium oxide or K20 for every 1,000 kernel pounds harvested,” Doll said.

Micronutrients Boron When it comes to micronutrients, Doll said he thinks boron and zinc are probably the more critical ones to apply. Boron is a strong influencer on yield so it’s important, even if trees are in sufficient range, that a foliar application of boron is made between postharvest and pink bud, Doll said. “This application is essentially going to be about 0.2 to 0.4 pounds of actual boron per acre,” Doll said, adding that’s one to two pounds of solubor in a 100 gallons of water, which is what has been traditionally applied. Ground applications, made at higher rates, should be applied in the postharvest all the way up to the beginning of the season, but again that should be soil type dependent, Doll said. The amount should be based on a hull analysis taken during harvest. Areas that are prone to a boron deficiency are areas with very clean water—predominately the east side of the San Joaquin Valley as well as up in the Sacramento Valley, Doll said.

per acre.

Young Trees With young trees it’s important to remember that they don’t require a lot of nitrogen, Doll said. Nitrogen requirements for young orchards is density dependent, Doll said. “Optimal nitrogen rates for first and second leaf trees appear to be around three to four ounces of actual nitrogen per tree. This means that rates for developing orchards are getting higher due to tree count,” Doll said. It’s also important to remember with young trees that when nitrogen is being applied, it is a relatively inefficient application, Doll said.

“Making nitrogen applications too early can be damaging to the young tree’s roots, and I’ve seen more harm that good come with too early of nitrogen applications on newly planted trees. It actually can kill them,” Doll said, so it’s better to wait until the trees have some growth on them. Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com

, R

“Often people make the soil application of boron with an irrigation. They just mix it in,” Doll said.

Zinc

“I wouldn’t want to see any fertilizer applied to first leaf trees until they have 12 inches or more growth on them, and even then, very small applications are best—less than one ounce of actual nitrogen per tree, per application,” Doll said.

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Clay and loam soils can be made earlier in the year, but with coarser, sandier soils it should be applied later in the year, Doll said.

Applications of boron should be limited if adequate values are found within the hull. Hull boron greater than 100 ppm indicates the reduced need for soil applications. “Unless there’s deficiencies, there’s not much value in adding multiple foliar applications,” Doll said, as the data is less clear about the value of these applications.

“That’s due to the root system essentially being limited, and the irrigation system not applying all the material to the root zone of the tree,” Doll said.

Applying high rates of zinc sulfate, more than 15 pounds to the acre, will prevent the tree from receiving other tank mixed applied nutrients like nitrogen and boron.

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Many orchards are deficient in zinc. To increase zinc tissue content, low applications of zinc sulfate, two to five pounds to the acre, can be made in the late fall without defoliating the tree. If the goal is to defoliate, higher rates of zinc sulfate are needed, 25-30 pounds

December 2017

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ANTHRACNOSE; IS IT A THREAT TO CALIFORNIA PISTACHIOS? By Cecilia Parsons | Contributing Writer

he right combination of environmental conditions and a susceptible scion cultivar can lead to the spread of the fungal disease Anthracnose in pistachio orchards. Themis Michailides, plant pathologist at the University of California Kearney Research Center in Parlier, said the threat of an Anthracnose infection in most California pistachio growing areas could be tempered by the Anthracnose-tolerant and widely planted Kerman variety of pistachio and the drier growing conditions in the southern San Joaquin Valley. The anthracnose fungus, Colle-

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totrichum acutatum, overwinters in infected mummy nuts left on the tree after harvest and in dead twigs or branches killed the previous year by the disease. New infections are spread when spores are dispersed by rain or insects. Irrigation systems where water hits tree canopies can also spread the spores. The infection causes lesions with concentric circles on the leaves and black lesions on the mid rib of the leaves and on the peduncles and stems. Black lesions develop on the fruit, leading to severe shriveling of kernels and hulls. Small nuts, when infected turn a rusty orange color. If hulls are infected when nuts are larger, the initial circular hull lesions turn to a more pink color as spores develop. Michailides, a speaker at the 2017 South Valley Nut Conference, said he does not expect Anthracnose to spread in pistachios like Botryospaeria has. Anthracnose infections in pistachios, he said, can be confused with other common fungal diseases in pistachio

including Botryospaeria and Alternaria late blight. In Arizona, Anthracnose has been confused with Septoria spot and Phoma blight. In the field it is difficult to distinguish Anthracnose lesions from those caused by Botryospaeria and Alternaria blight, Michailides said. In California researchers have found a complex of Anthracnose producing fungal species that require molecular fingerprinting to be identified. Proximity to willow trees can also be a source of Anthracnose infection. Michailides is being funded to research biology, epidemiology and management of Anthracnose blight in Pistachio in California by the California Pistachio Research Board. This year his studies have been focused in determining the pathogenicity of Colletotrichum acutatum isolated from pistachio from Kerman, Peters, Golden Hills, Lost Hills and Randy cultivars. Red Aleppo is being used as a positive susceptible control. His work includes determination of when Anthracnose infections occur and when fungicide applications are most effective. He is also collecting isolates to determine baseline sensitivity to fungicides used in Botryospaeria and Alternaria

without humidity after inoculation, but severity of infection increased after 1224 hours of humidity. Both cultural practices and welltimed fungicide applications are important for control of Anthracnose. Pruning out dead wood and removal of from the orchard before the end of the growing season will help it eliminate the source of inoculum the following year. Studies done by University of California integrated pest management special-

ists showed just pruning out dead wood reduced the following year’s infection by 50 percent compared to trees where dead wood was not removed. Cost of pruning out dead wood and loss of future production as fruitwood dies exceeds the cost of preventing the initial problem. Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com

late blight of pistachio. In a test of efficacy on the isolate fioriniae, Fontelis and Quash achieved the least mycelial growth after seven days at 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Next year, Michailides said he would continue efficacy studies. Last year, Michailides said, there was an outbreak of Anthracnose in pistachios in Glenn and Butte counties with lesions found on leaves and fruit. Unlike Botryospaeria, the disease did not kill the clusters. Anthracnose was found for the first time in Tulare County pistachios in 2006 and Michailides said there have been sporadic outbreaks in Fresno and Madera counties. In Arizona, Michaillides said, Phoma blight can be mistaken for Anthracnose as this fast moving fungal disease kills pistachio nut clusters right before harvest. Other pistachio producing countries have reported major losses from Anthracnose. An outbreak in Australia in 2010 caused up to 75 percent losses in nut production. Pistachio plantings in China have also been affected by Anthracnose. While Kerman and Golden Hills have proven to be tolerant of Anthracnose, the female cultivar Red Aleppo, that was introduced into California by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the early 1900s, has proven to be very susceptible to the disease. Studies conducted to determine the conditions that promote infection by the Anthracnose fungus found the optimum temperature for the growth and infection was 25 degrees Celsius. While infection occurred at 5 degrees Celsius, the symptoms of the disease did not appear until 10 degrees Celsius was reached. Older fruit was more susceptible to infection than younger fruit. Infection of leaves and fruit occurred

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Don’t Trim your Safety Program this Season–Train on Pruning Hazards By Amy Wolfe | MPPA, CFRE President and CEO, AgSafe

round 11 a.m. or so, an employee pruning with bypass shears reaches for a branch and catches his finger in his shears. Does this sound familiar? What about someone falling from an orchard ladder? Pruning is a necessary part of orchard management, but before pruning begins, training on safety hazards is essential. Pruning safety training doesn’t

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have to be vigorous. Depending on the type of equipment used during the pruning process, addressing common equipment, chainsaws, ladders, and hand tools does the job.

Pruning Equipment Pruning equipment varies from pruning towers to shredders. Whichever your orchard requires, all employees need to be trained on the specific piece of equipment they will operate prior to operation. Pruning towers present a significant hazard—falling. When an employee is in a pruning tower, ensure that the platform has a guardrail at least 36 inches in height surrounding the entire platform. If the guardrail is less than 42 inches above the platform floor, a safety belt attached to a lifeline anchorage needs to be worn. In addition to physical safety measures of the actual equipment, your operation is required to have a written emergency procedure to address what to do should the person in the tower become unable to operate it. All employees who will work from the pruning tower need to be trained both on the equipment and the emergency procedures. Shredders pose a different hazard from a pruning tower. Shredders are designed to break down the brush left from pruning. Shredders do not distinguish between a branch or a human limb. For this reason, ensure that employees are trained on the following elements prior to operation: • • • •

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•

Review the shredder operator manual. Use required personal protective equipment (PPE) such as ear plugs, safety glasses and gloves. Ensure other workers maintain a safe distance from where shredding is occurring. Check to ensure machine guards are in place and in good condition. Stay away from moving parts, always turn the power off and remove the key before working around or performing main-

Continued on Page 26

December 2017

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Continued from Page 24 •

tenance on the machine. Use appropriate lock out/tag out (LOTO) procedures to prevent equipment from being re-energized while maintenance work is being performed on or around the shredder.

hand tools an alternative to shears can be a chainsaw. The chainsaw is extremely effective, but can be dangerous if an employee is not trained before using it. Some of the common hazards associated with chainsaws are: •

Hand Tools Sometimes hand tools are all that is needed during the pruning season, especially with young trees. Although hand tools do not have the same hazards as a shredder or chain saw, they still have their own potential risks. Prior to use, ensure all moveable joints are lubricated and blades are sharpened adequately. Employees need to wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE). Consider the injury mentioned earlier, the employee who cut his own fingers with the pruning shears. Could this have been avoided by simply wearing a pair of gloves or perhaps training the employee to pay close attention to their hand placement before making each cut? Be sure the right tool is selected for the job. For example, anvil shears are best suited for dry branches or limbs. The anvil shear primarily has a crushing style, rather than a clean cut and is used for tough pruning jobs. Bypass shears have a curved blade best for live plants. The curved blade creates a cleaner cut, important for the plant’s health. Regardless of the tool, the same rules apply. Be sure to train workers on the specific tool that will be used.

Chainsaws When the job gets too tough for

•

Mechanical: Misuse can result in death or injuries, like lacerations or broken bones, typically caused by unsafe work practices and/or faulty saws. Ergonomic: Musculoskeletal disorders develop, such as back strains or shoulder and upper extremity pain resulting from overreaching, awkward postures, and vibration. Heat: Burns caused by unsafe fueling practices, a damaged/leaky fuel cap, use of unapproved gasoline containers, or the presence of an ignition source. Physical: Hearing loss due to inadequate or lack of hearing protection.

Prior to using a chainsaw, cover these common hazards during employee training, including an appropriate and safe hands-on demonstration. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the following steps should be followed while operating a chainsaw: •

• •

Clear away dirt, debris, small tree limbs and rocks from the saw’s chain path. Look for nails, spikes or other metal in the tree before cutting. Shut off the saw or engage its chain brake when carrying the saw on rough or uneven terrain. Keep your hands on the saw’s handles, and maintain secure footing while operating the saw.

Choose the right tool for the job. Anvil and bypass shears prune differently. Photo Courtesy of Toolmonger.com

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December 2017

•

• • • • •

Proper personal protective equipment must be worn when operating the saw, which includes hand, foot, leg, eye, face, hearing and head protection. Do not wear loose-fitting clothing. Be careful that the trunk or tree limbs will not bind against the saw. Watch for branches under tension, they may spring out when cut. Gasoline-powered chain saws must be equipped with a protective device that minimizes chain saw kickback. Be cautious of saw kick-back. To avoid kick-back, do not saw with the tip. If equipped, keep tip guard in place.

Before you and your employees enter the orchards to prune this year, be sure to cover essential pruning safety topics: pruning equipment, hand tools, chainsaws and ladders. For more information about pruning safety or any worker safety, health, human resources, labor relations, or food safety issues, please visit www. agsafe.org, call us at (209) 526-4400 or via email at safeinfo@agsafe.org. AgSafe is a 501c3 nonprofit providing training, education, outreach and tools in the areas of safety, labor relations, food safety and human resources for the food and farming industries. Since 1991, AgSafe has educated nearly 75,000 employers, supervisors, and workers about these critical issues.

Ladders When searching through OSHA’s recorded pruning injuries, it becomes very clear that ladders serve as a primary catalyst of injuries during the pruning season. Most of these injuries are avoidable by following some simple rules: avoid electrical lines, use the right ladder for the job, only one person on a ladder at a time, and train employees to perform an inspection of the ladder prior to use.

Training workers in how to safely use a ladder is the key to a safe pruning season. Remember to keep 3-points-of-contact on the ground at all times. Photo Courtesy of Harvey’s Photo Gallery.

Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com

As per CalOSHA, employee training is not only a requirement, but the elements to be covered are clearly laid out in the California Code of Regulations, Title 8, §3276 for portable ladders: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Importance of using ladders safely, including frequency and severity of injuries related to falls from ladders. Selection, including types of ladders, proper length, maximum working loads, and electrical hazards. Maintenance, inspection, and removal of damaged ladders from service. Erecting ladders, including footing support, top support, securing, and angle of inclination. Climbing and working on ladders, including user’s position and points of contact with the ladder. Factors contributing to falls, including haste, sudden movement, lack of attention, footwear, and user’s physical condition. Prohibited uses, including uses other than designed, climbing on cross bracing, maximum lengths, and minimum overlap of extension ladder sections.

December 2017

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Almond Leadership Program:

Meeting the Challenges of a Changing Industry By Almond Board of California

hen it comes to growing almonds, activity in the orchard is just the beginning of the process. There’s shells to be cracked, kernels to be processed and lots of buying and selling to take place. And that’s a broad overview. It’s the various facets and jobs within the almond industry that make programs like Almond Board of California’s Almond Leadership Program valuable. This year, nearly a decade after its inception, the Almond Leadership Program will be featured in a panel session at The Almond Conference. The session, titled, “Almond Leadership Program: Where It’s Taken Me,” is on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 2:35 p.m. and will feature a mix of alumnae and mentors.

What is the Almond Leadership Program? In 2009, Almond Board of California (ABC) set out to encourage a new group of individuals with diverse backgrounds to become leaders in the almond community. Jenny Nicolau, manager, Industry Relations at ABC, said the program originated to encourage upcoming industry players to join their predecessors at the table. With that vision in mind, ABC created the Almond Leadership Program, a one-year leadership training program that “is meant to inspire and prepare almond community members to join a network of leaders meeting the challenges of a changing industry,” according to Nicolau. The Almond Leadership Program is a mentored experience

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Continued from Page 28 that offers participants hands-on educational opportunities, leadership training seminars, field experience and a firsthand look at the inner workings of ABC. Nicolau and colleague Rebecca Bailey manage the Leadership program each year, and these women have witnessed the program attract qualified industry professionals and become more established with every incoming class. “I am increasingly proud of the Almond Leadership Program participants who take the knowledge and skills shared with them through this program and have, in turn, stepped up to the table to serve their communities and their industry, said Nicolau.” And make no mistake: these participants are stepping up from all areas of the almond industry.

Participants of All Walks Sim Batth, a conference panelist and 2015 Leadership program graduate, is

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not in the orchard every day—nor does her work deal solely with almonds. Batth is an Investment Associate with Prudential Agricultural Investments. Appointed to this position in 2014, she assists “all activities related to agricultural investments in the Western Region including strategy, acquisitions, asset management and dispositions on behalf of third-party institutional investors.” Yet, while Batth’s bandwidth includes over ten different permanent crops, almonds make up 30 percent of her portfolio. It’s that 30 percent that drove her to learn more. “When I started with the company I wanted to expand my almond knowledge, which lead me to apply for the Almond Leadership Program.” Batth entered the Leadership program with a diverse background, including a degree in Viticulture and Chemistry from California State University, Fresno, an MBA with focuses on real estate and finance from University of San Diego and a stint in fashion school. And yet, her background was not a stumbling block as the Leader-

ship program granted her experiences and networking opportunities that allowed her to learn about the industry on a whole new level and connect with individuals who are driven to see the industry succeed.

For Stan Chance, Leadership mentor and panelist, agriculture is more than a career—it’s a lifestyle.

“The Almond Board finds individuals that are passionate about what they do,” said Batth. “I valued being able to connect with individuals in the industry that have tremendous knowledge and experience, whether it’s at the farm level to marketing and sales.”

Chance, who is the Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager at Yosemite Farm Credit, also farms almonds in the Central Valley. He sought to “engage the next generation of the almond industry” as they look to contribute to the legacy of almond farming in California. With a

Mentors: Historical Knowledge, Forward Thinking

passion for the industry, Chance chose to become a mentor and felt encouraged in return. “The opportunity to meet them, see how well they present themselves and hear their good questions encourages me that the industry will be in very capable hands for years to come,” said Chance. “I found that the [program] is attracting outstanding individuals who have an enthusiasm for the almond industry and

Continued on Page 32

As Batth continues to grow in her career, she remains involved in the almond community and ABC. Today, Batth sits on the Almond Board’s Global Market Development Committee as an alternate.

Growing Up with Almonds Even while earning his degree in ag engineering from Cal Poly, SLO, Daniel Bays had his heart set on returning to his roots. A 2013 Leadership alum and panelist, Bays is a fifth-generation California farmer from Patterson, Calif. Though he was raised on the farm, Bays chose to apply for the Leadership program to learn how all the sectors of the almond supply chain work together and also to mature as an industry leader. “The Almond Leadership Program allowed me to learn about the almond industry beyond the orchard and see some of the investment that goes into marketing, research and the other aspects of getting the nuts we grow to the consumer,” said Bays, who now uses research funded by the Almond Board to improve his family’s operation.

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Like Batth, Bays valued the program’s networking component. Discussions with fellow participants and mentors, said Bays, helped him learn how to speak with others about almonds and “why they should be the nut of choice for people when they are searching for a great snack.” Today, Bays remains involved in the almond community outside the orchard and participates as a member of the Almond Board’s Strategic Ag Innovation Committee.

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Continued from Page 31 are looking to contribute in more meaningful ways.” Nicolau, who spends much time with the participants throughout the year, witnesses this professionalism firsthand, stating, “participants continue to wow Almond Board staff, Board and committees.” “Our future seems brighter than ever!” said Nicolau.

Find Your Next Opportunity As the 2017 Almond Conference draws near, now is the time to apply for the Almond Leadership Program. “I would encourage any professional in the almond industry to apply for the program,” said Bays. “The investment of time in learning more about our industry will help benefit [your] own career as well as American agriculture.” In terms of broadening one’s knowledge, graduates of the program serve as non-voting members on ABC commit-

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tees the year after graduating. It is important to note, however, that program participation goes beyond industry involvement and into the larger community. For example, participants raise funds for California Future Farmers of America (FFA) ag scholarships throughout the year. In addition, this past October the 2017 class visited Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera to “spread a little almond joy,” as Nicolau put it, and “help the young patients create almond art.” Could today be your day to apply? “If you feel like you’ve begun to master your role on the farm or a related field and want to broaden your knowledge and involvement in the industry, it’s time to engage the interview process,” advises Chance. Applications for the 2018 Almond Leadership Program are due by 5:00 p.m.

on Friday, Dec. 8. Visit almonds.com/ leadershipprogram to apply today. And mark your calendar for “Almond Leadership Program: Where It’s Taken Me” on Thursday, Dec. 7 at The Almond Conference to hear about your next potential opportunity. Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com

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ET of Mature Pistachio Orchards Grown on Increasingly Saline Soils By Cecilia Parsons | Contributing Writer

s pistachio plantings expand further into the Central Valley and San Joaquin Valley areas on marginal and salt affected soils, growers need to take a closer look at their actual tree water use

West Coast Nut

December 2017

and irrigation management practices to maximize their production. Salinization occurs when the concentration of soluble salts in the root

zone is high enough to limit or impair optimum root growth, canopy development, and possibly crop yield. High salt concentration increases the soil’s water retention, making water uptake by

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plants more difficult. Salinity in soil and water can have different origins. It can result from chemical weathering of early minerals over the millennia or it can be transported to fields through irrigation water, concentrate in the soil as a result of evaporation, or move to streams and aquifers by surface runoff and deep percolation. Pistachio trees are very tough plants and can withstand drought conditions and relatively high soil-water salinity levels. When pistachio orchards are grown under saline conditions, careful water management, including irrigation and leaching practices, are vital to tree health, nut yield and quality, University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) specialist Daniele Zaccaria said. Zaccaria, who focuses on agricultural water management and irrigation, has been working since 2015 with other University of California (UC) scientists to determine the effects of soil-water salinity on actual water use and productivity of pistachio orchards in the Hanford and Lemoore areas of Kings County. “Pistachios are tolerant to drought and saline soils and the effects of these do not easily compromise future production. They have a different physiology than other nut trees, which makes them quite resilient to limited and impaired water supply,” Zaccaria said. “Pistachio trees can tolerate long dry spells and

come back to produce well, that makes them attractive to growers who farm where soils are not ideal for other crops and water supplies are limited.” Current California Department of Food and Agriculture figures put pistachio acreage (bearing and non-bearing) at 291,000 in the state. Zaccaria said UC estimates that at least 20-25 percent of those acres are salt-affected and the percentage has been progressively increasing in the last 10 years. Most of the increase is on former cotton ground, Zaccaria said. The west side of the San Joaquin River and areas of Kern County have the most pistachios grown on salt-affected grounds. Going forward, with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act’s possible limitations on groundwater extractions, pistachio production may become more attractive due to their adaptability to water-limiting conditions, Zaccaria predicted. With the percent of salt-affected ground in pistachio increasing, irrigation management to maintain production will become more critical.

SALINITY EFFECTS Pistachio trees are more tolerant to saline conditions than other nut trees, but to ensure tree health and good production, irrigation must be managed

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Continued from Page 37 with an eye on the actual evapotranspiration (ET) of the tree and the amount of soil-water salinity in its growing environment. Optimal photosynthesis and maximum carbon dioxide uptake are critical to crop production. What Zaccaria and others who study plant water needs have learned is that salts increase the soil osmotic potential retaining water tighter, costing the plant more biological energy and interfering with optimal water uptake. That limits critical physiologic and growth processes including cell multiplication and expansion, canopy growth and leaf conductance to transfer water vapor from the plant to the surrounding atmosphere. Split percent and nut weight are most affected by those stressors. UC researchers report that high soil-water salinity reduces tree evapotranspiration rates in pistachios by 10-30 percent, depending on the level of salinity, relative to those of orchards grown on non-salt affected conditions. Irrigation scheduling and management need to be

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December 2017

accurate and precise to compensate for high salinity levels. The trees may need less water during irrigation season to produce a profitable yield, but Zaccaria said additional water needs to be

applied during the trees’ dormant period to leach salts from the root zone and maintain acceptable growth and produc-

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Continued from Page 38 tion conditions from year to year. Some saline soils have also poor infiltration rates, which make salt leaching difficult, he added. Pistachio trees are tolerant to salinity levels up to 8.4 dS/m (a measurement of the electrical conductivity of the soil that is highly correlated with salinity). Though trees can adjust to higher salt levels, rootstocks differ in their tolerance to saline soils. The trees are most sensitive to salts during vegetative growth and more tolerant later in the growing season. Some highly salt affected soils are also sodic, which makes them more difficult to manage because of poor infiltration rates. In these soils, normal irrigation application rates based on average ET of non-salt affected orchards are risky, Zaccaria said, because the trees could be exposed to excessive water applications, soil saturation due to less crop ET, and thus roots might be deprived of oxygen. Depending on soil type, salinity, irrigation method, and salt leaching practices, mature pistachios can use 30 to 50 inches of water over the crop season. Real time soil moisture and plant stress monitoring over the growing sea-

son is essential to improve irrigation scheduling to maximize yield and water use efficiency, and minimize the risk of diseases. Pistachio trees are most tolerant to water stress from mid May through early July and during post-harvest period. Only 85 percent of full ET will still allow for potential full yields. Full winter recharge of the soil profile, and understanding the soil water holding capacity and salinity are necessary for optimum crop water management.

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS UC researchers have made the following recommendations for sustaining pistachio production in saline growing areas. The first is choosing UCE1 rootstock. Trials showed P. integerrima, P. atlantica, PGII and UCB I tolerate salinity of up to 5,120 parts per million (ppm) or 8dS/m in the root zone. UCB I produced the best yield response among all the rootstocks. Periodic soil sampling at different depths along the root zone and below, and determination of electrical conductivity (EC) of soil samples through laboratory analyses is recommended to track the variation of salinity

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December 2017

over time. Zaccaria said that in medium to high salt-affected grounds the soil sampling and lab analyses should be done at least once per crop season, either at mid-season or towards the end as salts can build up. This periodic sampling and lab determinations are crucial for defining the salinity management practices, he added. When possible, it is recommended to keep EC less than 8.4dS/m. Soil saturation by excessive irrigations should be avoided, and the use of good quality water at least during the early vegetative growth is also advised. Zaccaria said flooding salt affected orchards with good quality water once or more times per year is recommended, depending on the level of soil salinity, crop evapotranspiration and quality of available water supply. It is recommended that leaching of salts by flooding be done during periods of low evapotranspiration when the crop is dormant. Another practice that could aid improving water infiltration where soil is salineniversitsodic and thus prone to compaction and asphixia is to establish winter cover crops. Zaccaria said that planting a winter cover crop between rows can be beneficial in creating micro porosity in the soil, allowing more abundant and deeper infiltration of fall and winter rainfall, increasing the effectiveness of salt leaching, and reduce soil sealing and compaction. Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com

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Legislation In Focus: A Look at Climate Change and Cap and Trade

Legislative Package Contains Incentive Dollars for Agriculture and Minimizes Costs to Food Processors By Emily Rooney | President, Agricultural Council of California

his year’s Legislature was highly ambitious. Prior to this session, the Legislature rarely exercised its need to conduct a two-thirds vote for fee increases. However, 2017 was different. There were a number of outstanding issues important to leadership: transportation, housing, climate change and restoration of parks. All of the solutions for these very tough issues required a two-thirds vote. Most lobbyists and political consultants in Sacramento agree that while two-thirds votes are rare, they face an even tougher challenge in election years. Therefore, if these issues were to be approved, 2017 was the year for those votes to be executed. On the climate front, the agriculture and business community was faced with an important decision. In 2016, the Legislature passed SB 32, which required the Air Resources Board (ARB) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2030. SB 32 passed by a simple majority vote.

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ARB then analyzed various alternatives to achieve the goals of SB 32 and offered the following options: a carbon tax, a scenario that mandated GHG reductions throughout agriculture, food processing and business community, continuation of the cap and trade program and creation of a new cap and tax program. Simply put, the cap and trade program is the most cost-effective way to meet the ambitious GHG emissions reduction requirements already in place. Cap and trade is the least expensive approach to reducing carbon emissions and is three to five times cheaper than alternative methods. Because many of our members are regulated by the cap and trade program, Ag Council joined other groups in an effort to help craft a meaningful program that would benefit agriculture while meeting the requirements of SB 32. On July 17, 2017, the Senate and Assembly approved AB 398 (E. Garcia), a bill to extend the cap and trade program through 2030, by a two-thirds

vote. The governor subsequently signed the measure into law. Without cap and trade, ARB had the ability under statute to move forward with extreme mandates to achieve GHG emissions targets that would have cost Californians far more. Additionally, in an effort to achieve reductions throughout the agricultural industry, the Legislature also passed subsequent legislation that included a substantial funding commitment to incentivize emissions reductions throughout agriculture. On September 16, Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation into law directing approximately $1.5 billion in expenditures generated from cap and trade auction revenues, including funding for agriculture, in addition to other budget spending. The funds, primarily allocated in the form of grants, loans and rebates, will allow agriculture to leverage cap and trade dollars to reduce greenhouse gases, as well as lower emissions from mobile sources such as tractors, harvesters, heavy-duty trucks and other

Continued on Page 44

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Continued from Page 43 at the Air Resources Board:

ag equipment. Ag Council participated in the discussions, along with others in agriculture, when the funding was negotiated and is pleased the governor fulfilled his commitment of $300 million to the agricultural community in the expenditure plan. The expenditures for agriculture are included within two budget bills, AB 109 and AB 134.

•

Agricultural Funding Allocations The expenditure plan, which is now law, allocates the following financial incentives from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the agricultural sector: • • •

$60 million through the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission for food processors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, $6 million via the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission for renewable energy projects in the agricultural sector, and $99 million to the California Department of Food and Agriculture for dairy digester research and development and alternative manure management.

Significant investments in funding are provided in the expenditure plan to achieve emissions reductions from mobile sources and other ag equipment through programs

•

$35 million from the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Fund to lower agricultural sector emissions through grants, rebates and other financial incentives for agricultural harvesting equipment, heavy-duty trucks, agricultural pump engines, tractors, and other ag equipment, $15 million from the Air Quality Improvement Fund to reduce agricultural sector emissions by providing grants, rebates and other financial incentives for agricultural harvesting equipment, heavy-duty trucks, agricultural pump engines, tractors, and other ag equipment, and $85 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to lower agricultural sector emissions by providing grants, rebates and other financial incentives for agricultural harvesting equipment, heavy-duty trucks, agricultural pump engines, tractors, and other ag equipment.

The bills containing funding for agriculture, AB 109 and AB 134, passed the Legislature on September 15 and were signed into law by the governor on September 16. Ag Council urges farmers and food processors to fully utilize these funds to assist in the goals of reducing climate emissions. California is clearly the world leader in climate change policy and will continue these efforts well into the future. Given the Legislature’s and Administration’s leadership on this issue, it is imperative that we continue to participate in these discussions to minimize the impacts on agriculture and capitalize on opportunities to incentivize reductions, as opposed to receiving mandated regulations that will add additional costs to our overly burdensome regulatory environment. Ag Council recognizes this vote was not easy. We thank the Republican legislators who, amidst a great deal of political pressure, voted in support of AB 398 to extend the cap and trade program through 2030. In the Senate, in addition to Senate Democrats, Sen. Tom Berryhill was the lone GOP member who supported AB 398 at the request of agricultural groups. We appreciate his vote to ensure passage of the bill. In the Assembly, seven GOP legislators supported the cap and trade bill and joined many Democrats to attain the two-thirds vote necessary to pass AB 398. We thank the following Republican members of the Assembly for their courage to vote in favor of AB 398: Asm. Catharine Baker, Asm. Rocky Chavez, Asm. Jordan Cunningham, Asm. Heath Flora, Asm. Devon Mathis, GOP Leader Chad Mayes, and Asm. Marc Steinorth. Farming in an urban state has its challenges. We expect this will not be the last challenge, and we are thankful to those in the Republican Party who demonstrated true leadership in support of this legislation. To read more about the advocacy work of Agricultural Council of California, please go to: www.agcouncil.org. Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com

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December 2017

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istachio Rootstock PPRODUCTION AND SELECTION

By Cecilia Parsons | Contributing Writer

areful selection of a pistachio rootstock is a good first step toward a productive and healthy orchard. Tulare County Cooperative Exten-

sion farm advisor Elizabeth Fichtner’s rootstock presentation at the annual South Valley Nut Conference in Tulare included several reasons why rootstock selection is an important decision in

pistachio production. Most growers’ primary focus has been selection of the scion or cultivar that will produce the fruit. Scions are chosen for their production qualities including yield and nut quality. They can also be chosen for an earlier or later harvest date. While walnut and almond scions are typically budded to rootstocks in the nursery, pistachios are usually budded several months after the rootstock has been in the ground. Growers can buy budded trees, Fichtner noted, but it is less common.

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Rootstocks, Fichtner said, are chosen for enhanced freeze tolerance, disease or pest tolerance, adaptability to soil and water conditions or for their horticultural properties which can include growth habits, buds or clusters per tree, nuts per cluster and nut weight. There are five rootstocks that have been used in the California pistachio industry. Three are different Pistacia species and two are interspecific hybrids. The rootstocks are P. terebinthus, P. atlantica and P. integerrima and two hybrids of P. atlantica pollinated by P. integerrima. The rootstock P. integerrima is known as Pioneer Gold I and the hybrids are Pioneer Gold II and UCB 1. According to University of California

(UC) researchers, all have characteristics that make them more or less suitable for specific growing regions or environmental conditions. P. terebinthus is seldom used, but does have some characteristics that could be used in specific situations as it is the most cold tolerant rootstock. It is also been found to be resistant to Armillaria root rot. P. atlantica , while used to create hybrids, has more cold tolerance than P. integerrima and with the low incidence of Verticillium wilt in the Sacramento Valley, was commonly planted there at one time. UCB 1 is one of the more popular rootstocks. The rootstock cultivar, a hybrid of P. atlantica X P. integerrima, was selected for its resistance to verticillium wilt, salt and cold tolerance and vigor. P. integerrima has the most frost sensitivity while P. atlantica is the most frost tolerant. UCB 1 leads in yield and ranks second in frost tolerance, salinity tolerance and Verticillium tolerance. One of the first challenges to the California pistachio industry was

rootstock susceptibility to the soilborne disease Verticillium wilt. When pistachio production in Kern County was gaining momentum in the late 1960s and early 1970s, rootstock susceptibility to this disease halted most plantings. Verticillium wilt affects a wide range of plants, including cotton. Because many of the new pistachio plantings were going in on former cotton ground, those trees were affected by the disease, showing loss of growth and production. According to writings by former Kern County farm advisor Joseph Maranto, the early plantings were on P. atlantica and P. terebinthus and nearly 14,000 acres of pistachios were in the ground by 1975. No significant new plantings went in for the next five years due to the disease issue. Growers harvested a 12 million pound pistachio crop in 1979. Maranto wrote then that the new P. integerrima seedling rootstock would be a “new hope and momentum” for the fledgling pistachio industry due to its

disease resistance. Several old and new growers were giving serious consideration to new plantings on P. integerrima, rootstock, he noted. Beginning in 1989 and continuing to 2002, California pistachio rootstock trials were conducted in five San Joaquin Valley locations: the West Side Research Station near Five Points, S&J Ranch in Madera County, Kearney Agriculture Research and Education Center in Parlier and Paramount Ranch in Kern County. Trials were run for yields, cold tolerance, verticillium tolerance and salinity tolerance. While the new rootstock, p. integerrima or PG 1 solved the problem with verticillium wilt, it was found to be sensitive to frost. Interspecies hybrid rootstocks were developed more recently to give growers in different growing regions of the state more choices suited to their needs. The cross of p. atlantica and p. integerrima produced UCB 1 rootstock

Continued on Page 48

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Continued from Page 47 that was resistant to verticillium wilt and also tolerant to frost and salinity. UC researchers noted that trees on UCB 1 rootstocks have Verticillium tolerance equal to that of trees on PG 1 rootstocks and are producing better yields. Both hybrids are rated equal in terms of general vigor. In addition trees on UCB 1 rootstocks are also tolerant of saline conditions as trees grown on PG1 rootstocks. Analysis of the components of yield, clusters per tree, nuts per cluster and nut size showed UCB 1 is the top performer with

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more clusters per tree, but not more or bigger nuts per cluster. Rootstock also affects the vigor of the most commonly planted scion cultivar Kerman, producing a larger tree with more clusters. Rootstock does not affect alternate bearing which is a function of the scion cultivar alone and that permanent elimination of this characteristic will come from rootstock breeding. Pistachio rootstocks may be propagated sexually to produce seedlings or asexually to produce clones. Ficthner said there are advantages and disadvantages with both procedures. For UCB 1 seedling propagation, pollen is collected at anthesis and stored in a freezer. It is applied to P. atlantica female tree at bloom several weeks later. There is more variability in the rootstocks produced with this method, Fichtner said, but with the diversity there is the opportunity to identify superior individuals. The clonal system of propagation ensures uniformity of plants and also rapid multiplication of plants to help meet the demand for new trees. Uniformity can also be the disadvantage to the clonal method of propagation as there will be uniform susceptibility to pathogens, pests and stresses. Micropropagation is the practice of rapidly multiplying stock plant material to produce a large number of progeny plants using plant tissue culture. This practice helps meet the high demand for new trees, Fichtner said. Axillary bud proliferation can deliver a high rate of progeny, but there is a higher risk of mutation within tissue lines. Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com

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Aboveground

All Photos Courtesy of WAPA.

Water Storage in

Among the remaining projects are Sites Reservoir and Temperance Flat Reservoir. These two large aboveground storage projects were identified early by project proponents to provide benefits to the public, environment and notably additional water to California’s farmers.

California By Jodi Raley | Director of Regulatory Affairs, Western Agricultural Processors Association

hat is the cost of getting water storage in California? Funding requests to the California Water Commission’s Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP) suggest the bill is a little over $5.7 billion. With that in mind, the applicants requesting these dollars are all competing for their slice of the $2.7 billion pie that makes up the WSIP portion of the California Prop 1B Water

Bond. With 12 different projects on the table, the members of the California Water Commission reviewed applications to determine basic eligibility. Following this action at last month’s board meeting 11 projects now remain.

Sites requesting roughly $1.6 billion dollars, will hold 1.8 million acre-feet off stream from the Sacramento River, an area that has been considered for off stream storage since the 1950’s. Of this amount, roughly 500,000 acre-feet will be produced

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for the purpose of it to be released into California’s water system. With Temperance Flat Reservoir requesting funds just over $1.3 billion dollars, the project proponents identify that the dam and reservoir project, to be located in the back part of Millerton Lake, would produce nearly 1.26 million acre-feet of storage. The additional storage of Temperance Flat Reservoir has seemed increasingly valuable over the course of this year as Central Valley residents witnessed 2.5 million acre-feet in emergency releases rush down the San Joaquin River, much of the water going unneeded and ultimately drained to the ocean. So what are the next steps? Now that applications, including hundreds of pages of complex climate change modeling, are sitting with the California Water Commission, the real work now begins. Commission staff will comb over

applications and will determine each project’s public benefit ratio which will play a large role in early funding decisions, which are anticipated to be made

in June of 2018. Much of the WSIP process is built around a structured process. It is anticipated that these calculations will bring Sites and Temperance to the top of the applicant list due to their size, scale and large amount of public benefits. However, as much as we would like to rely on the outcomes of these scorings and calculations it is incredibly important to understand that at the end of the

day the nine member California Water Commission have the powerful ability to exert “discretionary authority,” meaning the work produced by commission staff is only taken into consideration when funding decisions occur, and will not be the sole basis of funding allocations. It is exciting to see movement on securing large aboveground storage projects in California. This effort is a long road and the California Prop 1B Water Bond is not the only stop. Talks of at least another two water bonds have begun, with likelihood of appearing on the upcoming ballot. Throughout the WSIP process and now with talks of the state voting on spending more tax payer dollars on additional water bonds, the message remains loud and clear… California’s water system is broken and investments in storage is being demanded by not only the agriculture but the public as well. Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com

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Water Quality Updates By Chris McGlothlin | Director of Technical Services, Western Agricultural Processors Association

East San Joaquin River Watershed Proposed Order

ast year, we updated you on the State Water Board’s Revised Order for the East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition. This Revised Order was precedential, and even though it focuses on one region of the state, it would ultimately set the standard for the entire state. The original Order had several significant

inclusions such as requiring of Nitrogen & Irrigation Management Plans to be submitted directly to State Water Board (SWB) staff as opposed to an aggregated data submission made by third party coalitions, requiring that yield specific data be submitted to SWB staff, designating all of California as High-Vulnerability to groundwater quality, as well as the requirement for landowner/ farmer identification information to be

y h W Featted Videos “Why WAPA? Value. Simply put. A hardworking staff providing proven results on the issues affecting the tree nut industry. Not just being there, but directing change and providing answers and solutions in the toughest of situations. With WAPA you get what you pay for!”

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made available to the public through a website utilized by Regional Board staff to monitor year by year results. Various stakeholders and Associations voiced opposition to the revised order at a series of public workshops held in both Fresno and Sacramento, and it seems as if some of the comments have had a significant effect.

Continued on Page 54

Full 7-person staff dedicated to local, state and national issues Delivers unprecedented tree nut safety training including HazComm, Lockout/Tagout, Conﬁned Spaces and many others Provides unrivaled services on air permits, safety & safety plans, SPCC plans and HMB plans food sa Industry leader on bringing urban legislators to huller & processors facilities Unmatched relationship with local, state and federal legislators and regulators Leading industry effort against tree nut cargo theft Leading effort with FDA to ensure hullers aare treated equally under FSMA Leading opposition to new Aboveground Fuel Storage Tank regulation Directly and intimately involved in push for new water storage Successfully obtained exemption for propane-ﬁred tree nut pasteurizers Coordinated tree nut industry inclusion in economic Coo study on state's proposed tractor regulation

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Continued from Page 52 The East San Joaquin Revised Order was released in October, and is now open for a second round of public comment. The second draft reverses many of the provisions listed above, including the public submission of personal information as well as the elimination of the entire state being considered High-Vulnerability to groundwater quality. In turn, some significant additions in requirements include developing appropriate monitoring framework for surface water monitoring, an expansion of groundwater constituent monitoring, as well as making the “Self-Certification” process for Nitrogen Management Plans be more stringent and require adequate, yet limited availability, training for stakeholders. While some of the revisions to the original Order are welcomed, WAPA also sees some very problematic inclusions with the second draft. First off, the surface water monitoring inclusions in this draft will be burdensome for growers and Coalitions in the Delta as well as the northern half of the state where surface water is more readily available. Costs will increase for monitoring programs in those areas, and thus more fees will be required from growers in those areas. The self-certification program for Nitrogen & Irrigation Management Plans has been available for the past year, but has seen only a few thousand attendees complete the required courses. If your operation has not completed the self-certification-required classes, the demand for Certified Crop Advisors to sign off on these plans will increase

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dramatically. With a limited amount of time to work with on submitting comments, WAPA and various other agricultural and landowner stakeholder groups are convening to develop comments to voice opposition to the new focus of the Revised Order. Various workshops are also being proposed to the State Water Board in the hopes that all stakeholders

December 2017

have a chance to have their voices heard. Written comments are also due by December 6th, 2017. Stay tuned.

Walnut Huller Waste Discharge Study For the past four years, the Western Agricultural Processors Association (WAPA) has been actively involved in fighting off a potential Waste Discharge Requirement

into groundwater aquifers, an issue that the SWB is focusing on heavily in various regulatory efforts and programs. At the beginning of the season, a call was made to the State Water Board regarding the continuance of the study, and what the State Water Board was planning on doing at the conclusion of the sampling season. WAPA was informed that the SWB would ultimately like to develop a Waste Discharge Requirement for walnut hullers. They found the sampling data very helpful,

which ultimately will help develop a less restrictive order based on the data that we were able to provide. While the development of a Waste Discharge Requirement is not the most ideal scenario, WAPA will remain involved in the WDR development process and will voice opposition to any restrictions and limitations proposed by the Regional Board. Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com

(WDR), aimed specifically at the walnut hulling facilities located throughout the state. This WDR would align the walnut hulling industry along with various other commodity processing facilities that utilize water, and require that these hulling facilities pay into the Waste Discharge Program implemented by the Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board). Fees Associated with WDR’s have drastically increased over the past five years. For the past four seasons, WAPA has sampled discharged water from four walnut hulling operations, located throughout the state. Samples are pulled from the well prior to the beginning of the hulling season to determine what the water makeup was prior to its inclusion in the hulling process. Samples are then taken from the discharge ponds at various points during the season representing the beginning, middle and end of the season. A hull sample is also taken at the end of the season, as a limitation on spreading hulls was included in the SWB’s original Waste Discharge Proposal. The limitation on hull disposal through land application is aimed at reducing nitrogen sources leaching

December 2017

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All photos courtesy of Roscoe Moss Company & RoscoeMoss.Com

Proper Water Well Development By Bob Turnbull & Charlie Hoherd | Roscoe Moss Company

ver the years, the practices of water well design and water well construction have evolved considerably from a time when cable tool drilling was the state-of-the-art approach and well designs were uncomplicated. In today’s water well industry, well designers and contractors are able to take advantage of advanced technologies of drilling, construction, and materials that are pres-

ently available. They routinely combine complex drilling methods with highly durable and corrosion resistant materials to install wells in varied hydrogeologic and water quality conditions. Despite the marked advancements within the industry, however, one constant has been the fact that well owners continue to expect that their completed wells will provide efficient, productive, and long-term

water service. Such expectations are both natural and reasonable. Yet, they are only achievable if after construction the well is properly developed and then later redeveloped periodically during its useful life. Speaking with your water well drilling contractor about proper well development before your well is com-

Continued on Page 58

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Continued from Page 56 pleted is a vital step to ensuring you have a productive well. First it is important to understand what is meant by “Well Development.” Well development takes place after the borehole has been drilled and the casing, screen and gravel pack have been installed. The process of well development involves the following: 1. Remove remnant drilling fluid and cuttings from the borehole wall, formation, filter pack and well screen. 2. Create an optimum interface between the filter pack and the water-bearing formation. For gravel pack wells, well development also consolidates and stabilizes the filter pack material. Later, during its operation, it is common for a well to experience a decline in efficiency and/ or production. When this happens, it should be redeveloped by mechanical and/or chemical treatment methods in order to improve its efficiency and productivity. Unfortunately, for many irrigation

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December 2017

wells sufficient well development is commonly not given proper attention or in some cases is completely overlooked. This can happen either intentionally or unintentionally, typically as a result of well owner’s lack of understanding of its importance or the result of a drilling contractor trying to save on costs. No matter how skilled the drilling contractor is at constructing the well or how prolific the water bearing formation, failing to perform adequate development will severely limit the production of your well.

mance has been restored to a satisfactory level.

Development Methods Well development (and redevelopment) methods are categorized as either mechanical methods or chemical methods. Mechanical methods include: bailing, swabbing with a surge block or dual-swab (Image 1), airlift pumping, jetting, and pumping with a test pump. Generally, wells are developed initially by swabbing and bailing followed by a period of airlift pumping and/or jetting (Image 2, page 59). The final stage of mechanical developing is usually pumping with a test pump.

The proper amount of development time is also a changing variable as each well is different. Whether during initial development or follow-up redevelopment, it is essential to carefully monitor the well’s response over time. It is simply not enough to assume that a well can be developed (or redeveloped) within a fixed number of hours. The proper approach is to carefully monitor the well’s responses in real-time and discontinue the Image 1: Dual Swab work when the well’s perforTool

Chemical treatments include the use of dispersants (such as polyphosphates) to remove filtercake from the borehole wall and clay fractions in the formations. A common approach is the use of both mechanical and

chemical methods to sufficiently improve the well’s performance. Mechanical methods are used often to remove biofilm or encrustation prior to chemical treatment.

Monitoring Real-time monitoring during development is typically conducted by the well contractor or an engineer acting as the well owner’s representative. Most often, one or more parameters (e.g., sand content, turbidity, and specific capacity) are monitored and recorded in order to evaluate how the well is responding; these parameters are discussed below. One other important parameter that should be closely

monitored is the number of hours worked by the contractor because often well development is a unit-cost item that is billed by the hour. A common approach for monitoring during development (or redevelopment) is to check the sand content and turbidity of the discharge during airlift pumping and pumping with the test pump. In fact, most regulators require that all discharges from the well must meet specific physical and/or chemical criteria as defined in a discharge permit (e.g. NPDES) issued to the well owner. Typically, parameters such as turbidity and sand content are included; monitoring of other parameters may also be required.

Common Monitoring Parameters •

Image 2

Sand Content. Sand production can be measured by several methods. Initial development pumping of a new well usually produces considerable quantities of fine sand and silt. Monitoring these discharges can be performed with an Imhoff cone or similar device

when the sand content exceeds 50 parts per million (ppm). For sand measurements of quantities less than 50 ppm, a Rossum Sand Tester is recommended. This device will measure sand content as low as 0.5 ppm when operated over a period of approximately 10 minutes. Turbidity. Turbidity refers to the clarity of water and is associated with colloid clay particles, suspended algae, decaying vegetation, and other sources. Turbidity can result in unpleasant tastes and odors, and occasionally encourages the growth of slimes or other organisms. During development, turbidity can be measured in the field (and laboratory) with a turbidimeter which has various ranges sufficient to measure 0.1 to 400 NTU (National Turbidity Unity). • Turbidity is a key parameter for discharge regulated by NPDES permits. • Specific Capacity. The specific ca-

Continued on Page 60

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Continued from Page 59 pacity of a well is the yield per unit of drawdown, expressed in gallons per minute per foot of drawdown (gpm/ft). Typically, this parameter is checked as the well is pumped with the test pump. By periodically calculating the specific capacity, it is easy to determine the degree to which the performance of the well has improved. The yield can be measured by various methods, depending upon the pumping rate. Most commonly, yield is measured with a circular orifice weir or totalizing meter. For very low yields, it may be sufficient to use a bucket or 55-gallon drum and stopwatch.

that the well was developed until 1) the sand content had declined to less than 1 ppm, and 2) the trend of the specific capacity curve indicated no more significant change.

Summary Monitoring during development is a necessary task if one expects to properly assess the progress of development and its cost for labor and equipment. As shown in Figure 1, when basic parameters are recorded and evaluated, it is a simple matter for the

Evaluating Results Sand content and specific capacity are key parameters used to evaluate the responses of the well to mechanical development (or redevelopment). Figure 1 is an example of a plot of these parameters over time; it shows

contractor, owner’s representative and/or owner to determine when the development work should be terminated. This approach eliminates guess-work because it leads to a results-based decision rather than one simply based on having developed a well for a pre-determined number of hours. It is important to understand that a well cannot operate at its highest production capacity and efficiency unless it is properly developed. The truth is some wells are able to be developed more quickly than others, as the drilling method, the amount of drilling fluid, or even Mother Nature all play a role in determining the adequate amount of time needed to properly develop a well. You can influence the performance of your well by ensuring that your drilling contractor uses appropriate mechanical and chemical development methods, along with the proper amount of time, to bring your well to its optimal production capability. Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com

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Produce Safety Rule (PSR) for Walnut Growers By California Walnut Board

ast month the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) conducted a meeting about pending food safety laws that will be implemented in early 2018 for walnut growers. The purpose of this meeting was to gather information and share ideas on how to best educate and inform California produce farmers about pending laws. At this meeting the following topics were discussed: 1. Review CDFA’s planned strategy for implementing the Produce Safety Rule (PSR).

2. Explore potential communication channels available throughout the industry. 3. Discuss questions you and your grower/suppliers have concerning PSR implementation. CDFA is forming an inspection team called the “Environmental Auditing Unit (EAU)” comprised of eight field inspectors. The EAU will be funded by a $1 million Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grant. The strategy will be to begin farm inspections for those operations with over $500,000 in annual revenue (large farms). They estimate there are over 25,000 large farms in the State with an inspection goal of 300 farms annually. With some exceptions large farms are supposed to be compliant to the PSR January 2018. CDFA disclosed their plan is to begin compliance inspections beginning January 2019 unless an incident occurs which requires them to visit the farming operation involved. They also said they want to conduct farm inspections during harvest activities so they can assess how produce is being handled during full operation. For walnut growers that means CDFA should not conduct inspections until September 2019. CDFA expressed interest to conduct “mock” inspections during the 2018 harvest to help train their inspectors. For any volunteers, there will not be any consequences if any issues are identified. Any grower wanting to participate in these mock inspections, contact DeLarian Dyson, Environmental Scientist at CDFA (916) 767-3431. During the meeting, CDFA also discussed their plans to conduct industry training on the PSR rules. They have split up the State into four regions with the goal of having six classes in each region, with one in Spanish. Each class will have capacity for 50 attendees. PSR training is required for one person per farm and is only needed once. The California Walnut Board will again sponsor PSR training for walnut growers starting January 2018 in four regions of the State. Exact dates and locations will soon be posted on the California Walnut Board (CWB) website (walnuts.org). Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com

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