West Coast Nut - August 2023

WEST COAST NUT

AUGUST 2023 ISSUE

SPOTLIGHT: LINDEN WALNUT GROWER MELDS TRADITIONAL PRACTICES WITH NEWER ONES TO BOOST EFFICIENCY

SEE PAGE 4

IN THIS ISSUE:

INVESTIGATING SALINITY MANAGEMENT IN DRIP IRRIGATED PISTACHIOS SEE PAGE 8 THE IMPORTANCE OF A YEAR-END IPM ASSESSMENT SEE PAGE 14

BY REAL CALIFORNIANS

Photo by V. Boyd

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Award Winning Editorial By the Industry, For the Industry

Publisher: Jason Scott

Email: jason@jcsmarketinginc.com

Editor: Marni Katz

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Almond Board of California

Contributing Writer

Aubrey Bettencourt President/CEO, Almond Alliance

Vicky Boyd

Contributing Writer

Lori Fairchild

Contributing Writer

Louise Ferguson UCCE

Rich Kreps CCA, SSp., Contributing Writer

Mitch Lies Contributing Writer

Chris McGlothlin Director of Technical Services, Western Agricultural Processors Association

Catherine Merlo Contributing Writer

Franz Niederholzer UCCE Farm Advisor, Colusa and Sutter/Yuba Counties

Kristin Platts Contributing Writer

Bob Redding National Pecan Federation

Steven Koike Tri-Cal Diagnostics

Jhalendra Rijal UCCE Integrated Pest Management Advisor, Stanislaus County

Mohammad Yaghmour UCCE Area Orchard Systems Advisor, Kern County

Systems Advisor, Yolo and Solano

View our ePublication on the web at www.wcngg.com

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.

InItfortheLongHaul

Linden-area walnut grower James Chinchiolo is looking to cut costs, but not at the expense of efficiency. Read about how his blend of traditional practices and newer ones can help get him there.

See page 4

With depressed commodity prices, Linden-area walnut producer James Chinchiolo is like many other growers and wants to reduce input costs, but he plans to do so wisely.

“There’s so much that’s changing with respect to cost that if we don’t adapt, we’re just not going to be here. So, we have to become more efficient,” said Chinchiolo, a fourth-generation farmer. “It’s almost like a race, and perhaps I’m behind a little bit. We’re just trying to catch up with inflation and the cost increases in the last few years. Plus, with declining commodity prices, we’ve got to meet those challenges, and the only way I see that is through efficiency.”

At the same time, he wants to increase returns and reduce risks by selling a larger portion of their harvests directly to consumers and educating them about the value of their crops.

For Chinchiolo, who farms with his father, Tom, the goal isn’t just about dollars and cents. It also includes remaining in business and investing in the long-term health of their operations through practices, such as cover cropping and reducing herbicide and pesticide applications.

“I look at this ground and we’ve been farming it since the ’40s. Before that, it was farmed pretty heavily, and to

In It for the Long Haul Linden Walnut Grower

Melds Traditional Practices With Newer Ones to Boost Efficiency

By VICKY BOYD | Contributing Writer

me, we have to slowly give back to the ground,” he said. “It won’t continue to sustain itself over time without proper care, and I believe cover crop is a big part of that.”

The Chinchiolos farm 220 acres of cherries and walnuts in Lodi and Linden, respectively. In addition, they run a small walnut huller and dryer on their Linden operation that can handle 45 tons per day or up to 60 tons in a 24-hour period.

Investing in the Orchard

For several winters, they have planted cover crops in their walnuts that consist of a five-way blend of vetch, mustard, beans, triticale and radish. In addition to helping build up the soil, he views cover crops as a way to suppress weeds in the orchard middles and reduce their use of costly herbicides. Eventually, Chinchiolo said he

This cover crop blend, comprising vetch, mustard, beans, triticale and radish, is part of the Chinchiolos’ efforts to build up their orchard soils.

A bee forages in mustard, which was part of a five-way cover crop mix walnut grower James Chinchiolo planted in his orchard this year (all photos by V. Boyd.)

Proven & Documented - Late Season Leaf Nutrient Penetration and Uptake

As leaves age during the season, they become dense, tough, and develop a pronounced waxy cuticle. This thick waxy cuticle of the older leaves aids to protect the leaves from moisture loss, but also reduces the ability for many conventional nutrient formulations to penetrate and be absorbed by the leaf.

Agro-K’s Sysstem® and Dextro-Lac ® foliar product lines are designed to rapidly and completely move through these tough, dense, thick waxy leaves making them extremely effective nutrient delivery tools. Agro-K’s penetrating, Science Driven Nutritional formulations, allow growers to deliver the Right Nutrients, in the Right Form, at the Right Time, in the Right Mix and to the Right Place in the plant – the 5 R’s for foliar nutrition. Efficient late season foliar applications will help provide optimum nutrient metabolism and carbohydrate production this year and drive nutrient reserves for next year’s bloom.

The charts above are from a pistachio trial in August consisting of an Agro-K foliar mix containing both macro and micro nutrients. Utilizing SAP testing methodology over standard tissue testing allowed for analysis of “available nutrients” only; meaning those nutrients currently mobile within the plant’s sap that are immediately available for plant use. Conventional tissue testing measures what is already bound within the leaf structure and mostly immobile. Measuring sap nutrient levels effectively detects recent nutrient changes. The charts above show statistically significant changes in six different nutrients 7 days after application. Zinc, manganese, copper, molybdenum, potassium and phosphorus levels all increased statistically vs. the control in the week after application proving efficient uptake of applied Agro-k nutrients during late season application.

This year, take advantage of late season applications to feed your crop the key nutrients they need to maximize carbohydrate production this season and deliver higher yields next season.

For more information, call 800-328- 2418, visit www.agro-k. com, or email info@agro-k.com. Your authorized Agro-K distributor and/or PCA can provide guidance on all Agro-K products. Call today.

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hoped to rely on mowing most of the season with possibly just one herbicide application.

Chinchiolo continues to embrace orchard sanitation, something Tom had practiced for years. The goal is to destroy mummies, or nuts left over after harvest, to eliminate overwintering sites for navel orangeworm. Unlike in almonds, where growers winter shake trees to remove mummies, Chinchiolo said the heavier walnuts naturally fall off the trees, especially with a bit of moisture.

He also credited the natural plant growth regulator ethrel for more even ripening and reducing waste during and after harvest. By December, the mummies typically are on the ground.

“What we find is the cleaner we keep the orchard, the better with respect to NOW,” Chinchiolo said. “We’re just trying to eliminate the homes for NOW to get started, and we find it very successful. It’s a practice my dad incorporated many years ago. Back when labor and chemical costs and such were much lower, he was able to make four passes. So, I’m just trying to incorporate what he started doing out here years ago and continue to refine it and make it more efficient.”

How much winter sanitation can be credited for insect control is unknown. But Chinchiolo said it undoubtedly helped, and they applied no insecticides in 2022 for husk fly, NOW, mites or codling moth.

Their walnut trees are planted on 24-by-22-foot spacings. In the past, they would make two passes to blow mummies from each side of the tree row. Then they would have to mow vegetation on each side of the row because of an 11-foot-wide mower. With a new machine that features a 14-foot-wide mower, they now make only one pass to accomplish what formerly took four passes.

From Valley Tool Manufacturing of Hughson, the machine features a Vrisimo Berm Blower that produces 20,000 cubic feet per minute of airflow on each side. Each side can be adjusted

to blow debris to the center of adjacent rows. The rear-mounted blower attaches to Vrisimo’s Low Profile Orchard Flail Mower.

In addition, Chinchiolo had Valley Tool weld a receiver hitch on the back of the mower so he can tow an herbicide rig to spray the tree row at the same time if needed. This eliminates another pass. Chinchiolo uses an 80-horsepower tractor to tow behind the rig.

“Every time we’re making a pass in the orchard, we’re trying to accomplish as much as possible to keep our costs down,” he said. “This was a game changer for us.”

Not only do the fewer passes save fuel but they also reduce soil compaction.

Investing in Water Savings, Too

With the help of a State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program grant, the Chinchiolos installed buried drip irrigation in their orchard, which will allow them to inject fertilizer and other materials through the water and reduce fertilizer ground rig passes. They kept the orchard’s solid-set sprinklers to use to help germinate the cover

crop in the fall if needed.

The grant also funded the installation of a variable-frequency drive on their pump, allowing them to throttle back the 100-horsepower pump when they’re irrigating small blocks.

In 2022, Chinchiolo began using a pressure bomb, also known as a pressure chamber, to determine when the trees were beginning to become water stressed and needed irrigating. It also allowed them to delay their first irrigation of the season.

“We had an outstanding response, especially with our younger trees, with pressure bombing,” he said.

Although Chinchiolo admitted that pressure bombing was time-consuming, he said the results were well worth it and he planned to continue using the technology this season.

Vertical Integration

The Chinchiolos own and operate their own huller and dryer, something that Tom started in the 1980s. James said they benefit by having more control over walnut quality.

“Walnuts are a perishable product, and I don’t think a lot of people consider this,” he said. “The sooner the walnut

From Valley Tool Manufacturing of Hughson, this machine features a Vrisimo Berm Blower attached to Vrisimo’s Low Profile Orchard Flail Mower. It boosts efficiency by allowing the Chinchiolos to blow tree rows and mow the cover crop all in one pass.

can be dried, the better grades we get. In many instances, we shake, harvest and hull all in the same day.”

begin doing that this season with their walnuts, although not quite to the scale as the cherries. The walnuts also will beduce them to our walnuts,” he said. “I

opportunity to connect with ag, that’s our mission statement, and I think the best way to do that is put the best prodto hear from you. Feel free to email us at

Fourth-generation grower James Chin chiolo farms walnuts and cherries with his father, Tom, near Linden and Lodi, respectively.

Investigating Salinity Management in Drip Irrigated Pistachio

By MUKESH MEHATA,

According to the California Water Research Report on Apr. 22, 2019, 51% of Merced, 36% of Fresno, 89% of Tulare, 66% of Kings and 55% of Kern counties have soils that range from moderately saline (4 dS/m) to extremely saline (16 dS/m). Approximately 85% of California’s pistachio bearing acreage are in these counties (Figure 1). Retired Kern County Farm Advisor Blake Sanden and statewide Specialists Louise Ferguson and Giulia Marino have demonstrated pistachio can produce well in moderately saline soils with rootzone salinities (ECe) between 4.5 to 6 dS/m.

Currently, the most used salinity and boron management method is to leach in the winter with 1 to 2 acre-feet of good-quality water by flood or sprinkler irrigation. As the availability of high-quality canal water for in-season irrigation and dormant season leaching declines, growers are relying more on semi-saline pumped groundwater, particularly in the western San Joaquin Valley. It would be helpful to know if the volume of dormant-season leaching could be reduced, if in-season methods of leaching could be effective, and how to use moderately saline water most efficiently for both dormant and in-season leaching. It is also not known if a single or double-line drip, delivering the same volume of water in the same amount of time, could more efficiently lower soil salinity in the rooting zone.

Real-time monitoring of available water content (AWC) and soil salinity in the root zone (ECe) could facilitate efficient irrigation and salinity management by informing irrigation sched-

BLAKE SANDEN, EMILIO A. LACA, ALIREZA POURREZA, MAE CULUMBER, GIULIA MARINO, JOSEPH COELHO, CLAY BECK, JORDEN HAZELL, DONALD WILLIAMS III, and LOUISE FERGUSON | UCCE

Figure 1. Soil EC e in California’s major pistachio-producing counties.

Figure 2. Experimental layout of the Maricopa experiment. Treatments consist of a factorial combination of five water levels (control, leaching fraction, pulsed winter refill, leaching fraction and pulsed winter refill and major winter leaching) implemented with single or double lines. Each of the 10 treatments are replicated in five blocks.

uling of normal irrigation according to evapotranspiration, irrigation with in-season leaching fraction and dormant leaching. Sensors to continuously monitor AWC and EC e in real time are now available and can be used to monitor the soil profile in the drip-wetted rootzone.

Large-Scale Trial

A cooperation among Maricopa Orchards, Semios, Ceres Imaging and Dellavalle Laboratories in a large-scale drip irrigation trial at Five Points, Calif. in Maricopa Orchards Mt. Whitney Ranch seeks to develop a system to monitor and ameliorate soil salinity, ECe.

The objectives of this trial are to:

• Determine the most efficient salinity irrigation management practices for drip-irrigated pistachio trees in saline soils with moderately saline water supplies;

• Determine if newer monitoring methods can facilitate salinity management;

Develop grower-friendly tools/calculators to help growers manage salinity under increasing limitations imposed by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).

The study is in an orchard that was planted in 2015 with field-budded Golden Hills on cloned UCBI rootstocks spaced at 18 x 20 feet, with 121

trees per acre (Figure 2, see page 8). The soil is a silty clay loam saline-sodic Cerrini complex with salinity ranging from 3 to 15 dS/m, pH 7.5 to 8.2, boron levels of 3 to 12 ppm and soil sodium levels ranging from 16 to 130 meq/l (370 to 3000 ppm). The field has salinity, boron and sodium levels that decrease

from north to south and increase the generality of results by incorporating changes in soil texture. In-season irrigation water consists primarily of ground water with 2.5 to 3.0 dS/m EC (1600 to 1900 ppm). Baseline boron

About 85 percent of bearing California pistachios are grown in counties with moderate to extremely saline soils.

leaf levels measured in August 2022 averaged over 1500 ppm while sodium leaf levels were below detectible levels. Levels of other nutrients in leaves were within normal ranges.

The trial is designed to determine if a double or single hose configuration, delivering the same amount of water in the same amount of time with or without a 15% in-season leaching fraction and combined with or without dormant-season pulsed in-row leaching, can manage root zone salinity that results in better growth, yield and nut quality.

To investigate the effects of the leaching treatments we have significant help from our industry cooperators. Dellavalle Laboratories provided the baseline and is continuing soil and tissue sampling. A wireless network of sensors comprised of soil moisture probes, dendrometers, weather stations and pressure transducers was installed and is being managed by Semios on an ongoing basis. The soil moisture probes provide high temporal resolution of available water content (AWC) and volumetric ionic content (VIC) observations across 12 depths along the soil profile. The dendrometers measure microvariations in trunk diameter to assess water status of an individual plant, and the pressure transducers measure lateral line pressure at each experimental unit to track and measure irrigation volumes and timing applied to them. Ceres Imaging is providing aerial monitoring for the Normalized Differential Vegetative Index (NDVI). NDVI measures the difference between visible and near-infrared (NIR) light reflectance from vegetation to create a

Figure 3. Data collection streams in the Maricopa experiment.

Figure 4. An example of what growers would see on his orchard’s Semios website. The top graph provides the volumetric water content as AWC. The bottom graph demon strates the change in AWC at sequential depths in real time demonstrating infiltration, surface evaporation and rootzone consumption.

Figure 5. This Ceres Imaging aerial image demonstrates the orchard’s water stress level (left) and vigor (right). These aerial images are particularly good for detecting problem areas in an orchard.

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snapshot of photosynthetic vigor. Vegetation in a vigorous canopy will absorb visible light and reflect most NIR light whereas a sparse canopy will reflect

more visible light and less NIR light. Ceres Imaging’s aerial technology also monitors water stress, canopy growth and leaf chlorophyll content. We are doing EM38 measurements of soil EC e and physiological measurements,

including stem water potential, photosynthesis and stomatal conductance. Growth is being measured by trunk diameter and low altitude drone flights. An annual harvesting and sample grading are measuring yield and nut quality. Figure 3 (see page 10) shows the methods of data collection.

Preliminary Results

Preliminary results suggest all leaching treatments (15% in-season leaching, dormant leaching and the combination of both, applied with both single and double hose lines) significantly decreased soil ECe relative to the control. On average, ECe in all the treatments declined by an average of 16% relative to their respective controls. All the leaching treatments also significantly prevented boron from accumulating in the soil relative to the control. No clear effects of line configuration, double versus single line, were detected.

These preliminary results indicate treatments are effective in reducing salinity or at least preventing the increases observed in the control. Although generally representative, these results are based on averages across the number of lines, positions and depths. Significant interactions that were detected but not described here indicate treatment effects can vary depending on distance from the emitter and depth in the soil.

Table 1. Changes in average soil profile ECe determined by direct soil sampling in June 2022 and April 2023. Numbers inside parentheses in the rightmost column indicate the percentage increase (+) or decrease (-) in soil ECe compared to June 2022 data.

Salinity Monitoring Technology

In addition to using new technologies as research tools, this project is investigating the feasibility of growers using these technologies as aids for irrigation management in saline situations.

We are investigating the use of Semios’s platform of integrated sensors as a soil monitoring system in this context. An example is given in Figure 4 (see page 10) of how Semios’ user interface provides a real-time view of the available water content (AWC). To further this, the data is also delivered in a manner that allows the user to perceive both infiltration and rootzone consumption over time. Using these values in coordination with changes in volumetric ionic content (VIC), a grower can begin to determine the impacts of their leaching strategies and whether they are likely to maintain or decrease the EC e.

Accompanying this data with monthly aerial imaging can enhance soil profile monitoring by documenting the effects on canopy growth, vigor, and water stress status. Figure 5 (see page 10) shows a Ceres Imaging aerial image of orchard stress and vigor.

The main objective of this project is to create a grower-friendly tool to calculate the most efficient way to maintain soil salinity between 4.5 to 6.0 dS/m in the San Joaquin Valley under drip irrigation using moderately saline water supplies. We are also evaluating the impact of single- versus double-line drip to manage root zone salinity and boron using different leaching methods. After one season, results demonstrate in-season leaching has potential to decrease or prevent increases in salinity in moderately saline-sodic soils, using

moderately saline irrigation water with both single- and double-line drip systems.

Novel in situ monitoring systems and aerial whole orchard monitoring have potential to enhance management of irrigation when available water is moderately saline.

Detailed results after one complete experimental season will be presented and discussed in the Salinity Management in Pistachio Workshop at the Kearney Agricultural Center, 9240

South Riverbend Ave., Parlier, CA on Wednesday Dec. 13, 2023 from 8:00am to 12:00pm. For more information, contact LFerguson@ucdavis.edu.

We gratefully acknowledge the significant cooperation of Maricopa Orchards, Semios, Ceres Imaging and Dellavalle Laboratories and the funding support of the California Pistachio Research board and the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

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

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The project is looking at technologies for irrigation management in saline situations.

The Importance of a Year-End IPM Assessment A WORD FROM THE BOARD: THE ALMOND BOARD OF CALIFORNIA

By ALMOND BOARD OF CALIFORNIA | Contributing Writer

ately or otherwise put in the freezer to avoid mold. Cracking right after collection also helps in detecting larvae and the size of the larvae’s head capsule, which aids in determining the date of infestation, Marquez said.

One of the most valuable benefits to harvest sampling is the samples collected are as raw as you can get and provide insight to the crop’s “true” total damage.

“When you collect them directly from the field, you get to see a full picture of stuff that maybe got kicked out by the pickup machine or by a color sorter at the processor,” Marquez said. “If you get it from the field, no edits have been made.”

Almond harvest is right around the corner, so it’s the perfect time to start thinking about doing a year-end assessment on your integrated pest management (IPM) plan. With input costs at a record high, analyzing what worked and what didn’t with your PCA and CCA is a good strategy to help maximize your investments for the coming years.

Harvest/Windrow Sampling

One method for examining your IPM practices is through harvest sampling, also known as windrow sampling.

During a session at the IPM Summit earlier this year, Mateo Marquez, PCA at Integral Ag Inc., said, “The first thing you want to do is establish a protocol. This will vary depending on commodity to commodity or grower to grower, depending on what you’re looking for.”

In most cases, samples will be

pulled from the almond orchard right after a shake or from a windrow just before the product is picked up. The sample is then labeled by who it is from, when it was collected, where it was collected, variety, location site and any other information that may be imperative for data collection.

While some may believe harvest sampling serves the same purpose as grade sheets, there are vast advantages that come from sampling. Grade sheets (the damage report a grower receives from their handler) do not address how certain damages were caused, only that they were present, so sampling compiles a much more thorough report.

Marquez reiterated this when comparing the findings of almond samples from a handler to the findings of Integral Ag Inc. The difference showed what specific pests were present in the kernels and the numbers behind the damage.

When the samples are processed, it’s important they are cracked immedi-

Sampling at the harvest site also eliminates contamination from other orchards, so growers can be confident in the accuracy of the results and make sound financial and management decisions based on those outcomes. If inspected quickly, the grower can troubleshoot issues and adjust harvest timing accordingly.

Though there are some costs associated with harvest samples, approximately $2 to $3 per acre, it is well worth the investment for the potential IPM cost savings. As sampling becomes a habit, growers can keep records of reoccurring issues, adapt to the needs and characteristics of that orchard and protect the long-term success of their operation.

Consulting with the Experts

Another key method of ensuring a well-thought-out IPM plan is involving those who know best is consulting your PCA and CCA. Donny Hicks, who works in grower relations at RPAC,

Gerrit Dorrepaal examines almonds in a windrow before the product is processed (all photos courtesy Almond Board of California.)

LLC, joined the session panel to discuss the importance of fostering relationships with PCAs and CCAs.

Not only does Hicks work with growers every day, but he also is a Stanislaus County almond grower himself, so he knows firsthand the importance these individuals serve in ensuring a crop’s success.

“One of the things we do at the end of harvest is he (PCA) gets soil samples, tissue samples, well water samples, and we look at our grades that I get back from the processor,” Hicks said. “We get a game plan together for how we’re going to approach the next season. Without the PCA, it’s difficult for us growers.”

Quality Product to the Handler

Communication doesn’t stop once the product has left the field. In fact, as the product gets closer to market, conversations with grower representatives, hullers and handlers should be constant.

“Anything that you do in the field, I encourage you to talk to your grower reps about,” said Katie Staack, sales manager at Grizzly Nut, LLC, and panelist during the session. “Having those conversations, those tough calls right before harvest, is very important to make sure you’re capturing the market.”

Staack explained handlers strive to make growers successful, but it’s the grower’s job to ensure the product is at top quality until it reaches the handler, which can often be controlled with a proper IPM plan.

“Every packer is different; every grower is different,” she said. “We’re in a unique industry that we’re all in California. Every single packer’s goal is to make you money. So, when you inform us, it makes our job easier to make you money.”

She also encouraged growers to take advantage of funds and programs through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) to help with on-farm sustainability practices that can support IPM plans and offset costs in low priced years.

All of this is a reminder that successful almond opera-

tions start with a solid foundation established at the field level. At the end of each year, it’s a good idea to assess areas of improvement and areas where costs can be decreased.

“Everything you do in the field matters, and it does increase your return on investments,” Staack concluded. “If we don’t have premium products coming from the field, it really impacts us later on in the food chain.”

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

Taking samples for different parts of the orchard can help growers determine where pest pressures might be in their orchard and how well their IPM programs are working.

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The Art and Science of Using Ethephon in Walnuts This Season

By KRISTIN PLATTS | Contributing Writer

As walnut growers struggle to survive another tough year in the market and look for ways to maximize crop value, the ethylene-based plant growth regulator Ethephon could be of use to some.

Since recouping costs lost to a critically low walnut market won’t be possible this year, garnering the highest quality nuts at harvest will be crucial. Sacramento County Orchard System Advisor Katherine Jarvis-Shean hopes Ethephon can help assist some growers in that mission.

While she says she knows growers won’t break even this year, the benefits of using Ethephon could at least allow for the harvest to pay for itself by helping to provide a superior product.

“Quality is king right now for pricing,” Jarvis-Shean said.

The value of using Ethephon this year could also come in the form of saving on labor costs for growers who find it more cost effective to spread the harvest out on acreage with the aid of Ethephon.

“It is an additional input, but you’re paying for all these people on staff, and it will be more expensive to pay them overtime once they get past eight or ten hours,” she said, “so the cost of keeping them overtime might still be more than the cost of Ethephon.”

Jarvis-Shean said this probably isn’t the year for growers who have never used Ethephon to experiment with it, but those who adhere to the “art” and “science” philosophy of how to properly use Ethephon, could indeed benefit

from it.

“Generally, for people who use it consistently as a tool in their toolbox, it’s looked on as a really valuable tool in helping manage the workflow of harvest and to maintain high quality at the same time as spreading out the workload,” she said.

Ethephon can speed up hull cracking and harvest by four to seven days depending on variety, season and temperature conditions. It can also garner lighter colored kernels, which could bring more value to a harvest. The factors affecting the decision to use Ethephon differ from orchard to orchard, but in any situation, it’s vital the product is applied properly to enhance its potential.

Growers must assess the cultural status of their orchard to be able to make that decision, according to Bob Beede, UC farm advisor emeritus for King’s County, who has spent more than 20 years researching Ethephon.

With little to no incentive to recover the costs of doing so, Beede says growers will likely question the value of applying Ethephon this year, but understands they are also caught in a Catch-22.

“If they don’t deliver nuts of the lightest color, then they’re going to get even less money for their walnuts,” he said. “It puts the grower in an extremely discouraging position and it’s one that all of us current and retired UC people have a great deal of empathy for.”

Over the years, many longtime users of Ethephon have developed their own

recipe for success, Beede explained.

“Like all plant growth regulators, the success in its use is 50% science and 50% art,” he said.

Application Timing

A key element to successful Ethephon use is its application in cooler weather conditions, after the completion of packing tissue brown (PTB). At PTB, the walnut meat is fully mature and beginning to pull away from the internal packing tissue of the shell. Individual nuts have reached PTB when the shell tissue surrounding the walnut “meat” has acquired a uniform, oak color. Packing tissue interspersed with light brown and white tissue has not completed full maturation, Beede explained.

One reason he emphasizes the importance of timing application to PTB is because growers looking for the lightest meats possible might be inclined to apply Ethephon too early. UC research has shown the application of Ethephon prior to the completion of PTB not only affects nut weight but can actually cause very immature nuts to blacken. Thus, the goal for higher quality has been defeated.

Beede strongly recommends growers not base the important decision of Ethephon application time on simply cutting a handful of nuts, but to follow the UC guidelines. These recommend walking your orchard on a diagonal with a five-gallon bucket, randomly selecting 100 nuts, cutting each nut open and then digging out the meat to ensure

they have reached full PTB.

It’s also important to know PTB is completed last in the bottom of the canopy.

“Growers wishing to treat as close to the completion of packing tissue brown as possible can safely do so once they have achieved 95% or better packing

tissue brown in the bottom of the canopy, which is where they’re sampling. This assures them that the top of the tree, where the bulk of the nuts are, is at 100% packing tissue brown,” he said.

However, he’s still not advocating growers put Ethephon on at that very point of PTB completion.

“In tough economic times such as these, many growers are hoping to harvest as many walnuts as they possibly can with a single shake, because walnut prices cannot pay for a second harvest and dehydrating cost,” he said.

This is where the use of Ethephon be-

ContinuedonPage20

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With early leaf out, accurate sampling will be even more important this year, experts said (photos by C. Parsons.)

When applied five to seven days after PTB (packing tissue brown), ethephon promotes a more uniform hull split and typically a one-shake harvest.

comes an art form, according to Beede, who said once PTB is reached, you must decide how long to wait to apply Ethephon to maximize removal and still get the benefit of lighter meats.

His research shows once walnuts of any variety reach PTB, normal harvest without a harvest aid can typically commence with 80% removal after about 21 days from the completion of PTB. At 21 days, you’ll get 80% removal on difficult-to-harvest varieties such as Serr and likely Chandler.

“At that 21-day point, if you don’t use Ethephon, you certainly want to be out assessing how harvestable your nuts are,” he said.

But that 21-day window is not set in stone, Beede explained. Hot temperatures might extend the window to 25 days, while cool, dewy mornings might narrow it to 17 days.

Beede says the goal for Ethephon use is to accelerate the maturation of the hull tissue. For growers trying to maximize this, he suggests they look at a treatment window of around five to seven days after the completion of PTB. It might be as much as 10 days if daytime temperatures remain high.

Beede said key elements during the

decision period are temperature and relative humidity. Low temperatures and dewy mornings favor natural hull maturation. Ethephon treatment enhances this by contributing ethylene to ripen the hull like a banana.

It’s All About Hang Time

Ethephon is a liquid formulation that produces ethylene gas; this is important to remember when pinpointing the right time to apply it.

Hang time refers to the period the liquid applied to the hull tissue remains in liquid form long enough to be absorbed into the hull. This then produces the ethylene gas that advances hull dehiscence and breakdown, Beede explained.

“We’re putting a liquid on the hull tissue, and we need to have as much absorption or “hang time” as possible on the hull tissue for Ethephon to work effectively,” he said.

Ethephon applied during hot temperatures, especially around 90 degrees F, will volatize off the hull surface too quickly for it to achieve sufficient absorption. Thus, the goal of improved harvest date is not obtained.

“That’s why UC has always advocated the application of Ethephon not only at night but also during the coolest period you can find in that window of five to

seven days for maximum removal,” Beede said.

Beede hopes his years of research can help growers understand that the proper application of Ethephon is so important, because walnuts don’t produce enough on their own internally to mature the hull close to the completion of PTB.

“My data clearly shows that walnuts do not produce a lot of internal ethylene. If they did, the hull tissue would crack and dehisce much closer to packing tissue brown than it does,” he said. “You wouldn’t need to put it on the outside in hopes to get enough into the hull tissue in order to get the hull off sooner so that you could take advantage of the lighter meats.”

Beede also questions the use of adjuvants with Ethephon.

“I have tested adjuvants to the point where they burned the hull tissue,” he said, “and I have not received any greater benefit from adjuvant use than simply applying more ethephon.”

He added if a farmer and their PCA have determined that an adjuvant has benefited them and feel it’s right for them, then that’s right for their situation.

“But my research shows that if you have a difficult-to-harvest variety, you’re better off putting on five pints of Ethephon rather than the four pints,” he said.

Beede further emphasizes the importance of hang time when it comes to varieties that might not respond as well to Ethephon. He said UC research suggests some varieties don’t respond to Ethephon as well as others because of the waxy surface and density of their hulls. These differences create barriers to the absorption of the liquid you’re putting on the surface, Beede explained.

“It’s like the hulls have raincoats on them,” he said. “If you’re going to get this stuff to work the best you can under your conditions, you have to have enough hang time.”

Walnut Quality Doesn’t Begin at Harvest

With all of this in mind, Beede says farmers will also have to assess when

Collect 100 samples, cut them open and dig out the kernel. The packing tissue should be oakbrown in color. The photo at left is immature and the packing tissue hasn’t reached that color yet. At right, the packing tissue is an oak-brown color, so the nut has reached its peak maturity (photos by Bob Beede, UCCE.)

leaf-out was in their crop this year, with many orchards having experienced it 7 to 14 days late this season.

“This is why every walnut grower this year ought to be out cutting walnuts and assessing when packing tissue brown occurs in their field,” he said. “It’s going to tell them how late a season it’s going to be.”

Growers might also find it helpful to talk to PCAs and even other growers to help them assess where they’re at.

“Typically, late-maturing crops in walnuts help us in terms of walnut quality because you shift walnut harvest later in the season when temperatures typically cool,” he said.

As growers look to determine PTB and what the end of their season might look like, factors like a late crop or ending with rain will be another determining factor for Ethephon use.

“You get a quarter inch of rain right after packing tissue brown, you won’t need Ethephon because you’ve had enough water on those hulls that they’re going to have enough moisture, and that’s going to accelerate their degradation,” he said.

Beede also emphasizes the importance of irrigation practices in determining Ethephon use.

New data being developed by UC researchers and farm advisors on walnut irrigation management suggests stress responses associated with Ethephon may actually be associated with walnut trees that have been overirrigated during the season, especially from June to harvest, Beede explained.

“People say Ethephon is the cause of defoliation in walnut trees; my data challenges that hypothesis,” he said.

In Beede’s opinion, growers who have been doing a good job of irrigating throughout the entire season should be less concerned with applying Ethephon before an irrigation, rather than having to wait to apply it after an irrigation.

“Once you irrigate that ground, the decision as to when to put your Ethephon on is driven by ground conditions, not by the farmer going out and making assessments of the physiological status of nut maturation,” he said.

As growers make the decision whether to use Ethephon or not, Beede

says they should not ignore the fact that the label says not to apply the product to stressed trees. Growers who have stressed trees because of the wet winter or who have deficit irrigated all season might want to forgo using Ethephon. For those who have uniformed sets, wound up with a good crop, and maintained a good irrigation schedule, Ethephon might be an option if finances allow.

“Ethephon does not make walnut quality; Ethephon allows you to enhance the quality you have developed over the season because walnut quality doesn’t start at harvest,” Beede said.

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RESEARCHERS RACE TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES FOR NEMATODE CONTROL

By MITCH LIES | Contributing Writer

With restrictions on the horizon in California for the soil fumigant Telone II, or 1,3-D, researchers are racing to develop cost effective alternatives for nematode control in walnut and almond production.

Andreas Westphal, UC Riverside nematologist, said he has 10 or so trials out at the moment looking into nem-

atode control. And that’s not counting the rootstock trials.

Among his trials, Westphal is looking at preplant alternatives to Telone II, post-plant nematicides, and trying to pin down an economic threshold in almonds for the root lesion nematode.

Almonds, which appear to be less sensitive to lesion nematode than

walnuts, are still sensitive to the pest, Westphal said, but to date, no economic threshold is available in almonds. In walnuts, the economic threshold is one nematode per 250 cubic centimeters of soil.

Other nematodes of concern in the two tree nuts include the ring nematode and root-knot nematode, which causes problems on Paradox and English walnut rootstocks, according to UC Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Guidelines.

“In many areas of the state and with current rootstocks, ring nematodes and root-knot nematodes are not the largest problem in walnuts,” Westphal said. “In almonds, rootstocks with resistance to root-knot nematodes are available and very effective against southern root-knot nematodes.

“There are no rootstocks available with resistance to the ring nematode in almonds,” he added, “but Lovell does have some tolerance to it. However, Lovell is very susceptible to root-knot nematodes.”

The severity of the damage nematodes inflict on almond and walnut trees depends on the age of the tree and density of the nematode population, with young trees particularly sensitive, according to UC IPM Guidelines. Mature trees can tolerate some nematodes, but can still show a lack of vigor, poor growth and reduced yield under high nematode pressure.

Start Clean

One of the points Westphal said he

has stressed for years in walnut and almond grower presentations is the importance of starting with a clean field when planting an orchard.

“When you plant a new tree, whether it be potted or bare root, it will go through transplant shock upon being put in the soil, and the smaller the root

system, the more damage the tree will incur if nematodes are present. And it is very difficult to recover from that,” Westphal said. “When that happens, you are constantly behind the 8 Ball because you are trying to play catch-up.”

When sampling for nematodes, Westphal said it is important to do so

at proper times of year. “You need to sample at a time when you can find the nematodes,” Westphal said. “Especially in fallow situations when the soil is bone dry, there is a high likelihood to miss them.”

Walnut planted in 2019 in root lesion nematode-infested soil. Left picture: no preplant treatment; right picture: treated with Telone before planting followed by post-plant mitigation.

Walnuts planted in 2019 in root lesion nematode-infested soil, no preplant treatment (left) and treated with Telone before planting followed by post-plant mitigation (right) (all photos by A. Westphal.)

ContinuedfromPage23

Optimally, Westphal recommends growers sample for nematodes before removing orchards. “Take your soil sample at that time, because then you can go into the rootzone of the trees,” he said. “If you wait until the ground is fallow, you

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won’t know where the tree rows were anymore.”

Waiting until late in the summer, when soil conditions are dry and nematodes are typically deep in the soil profile will not provide accurate nematode counts, he said.

“There is always going to be enough moisture lower in the soil profile that will allow them to survive, and even if they decline in numbers, they have a very high reproductive potential,” he said. “So, as soon as the crop is there, they can very quickly build up their population numbers.”

He said it is important to identify which nematode species are present given that some nematode species are not known to be harmful to orchard health.

Soil Fumigation

For years, the solution to nematodes in California tree nuts was soil fumigation. Use of Telone II can help get orchards off to a good start and provide nematode protection well into the life of an orchard. Beginning January 1, however, use of Telone II could be more difficult with the proposed start of new Department of Pesticide Regulation restrictions.

As a recent article in West Coast Nut outlined, the restrictions would require increased soil moisture levels for Telone II applications, a restriction expected to decrease efficacy of an application and increase application costs. And the restrictions would require deeper injection of Telone for perennial crops, which could present challenges in terms of cost and equipment.

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“That is foremost an issue for the applicator,” Westphal said, “because the company now either has to take a few shanks off of the applicator, meaning they get less done, or they need a bigger tractor to be able to pull that device through the soil. And of course, the provider will be looking to cover their expenses, so I assume that increase will be passed to the grower.”

Set-back restrictions, proposed to increase from 100 feet from a structure to 500 feet in some cases, also are expected to increase application costs, given the proposed restrictions can be mitigated by treating smaller parcels.

Almond planted in 2022 in root lesion nematode-infested soil. Left picture: no preplant treatment; right picture: treated with Telone before planting followed by post-plant mitigation.

Almonds planted in 2022 in root lesion nematode-infested soil, no preplant treatment (left) and treated with Telone before planting followed by post-plant mitigation (right).

“That means the applicator has to be there more frequently with all his equipment, so that will also increase costs,” Westphal said.

The impending restrictions have increased the urgency to develop alternatives to Telone, Westphal said, and to provide an economic threshold for nematodes in almonds as soon as possible. “That is something we are working on, to find out when it is absolutely critical [to treat for nematodes.]”

Alternative Strategies

To date, researchers have uncovered some promising findings for alternative control strategies in trial plots at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier, Westphal said. Among next steps, he hopes to bring some of the alternative strategies out to grower-cooperator fields.

“Once we know what treatments are the most promising, we intend to install trials at grower sites just to upscale application methods and to learn under commercial conditions,” Westphal said.

Among his trials, Westphal is studying whether a new method of anaerobic soil disinfestation, one that doesn’t require tarping and drip irrigation, can perhaps provide an efficacious and economically feasible alternative to Telone II.

“We are not quite there yet,” Westphal said. “But we are finding ways to apply it that is a lot less expensive than the traditional way it has been applied in the past where you need lots of plastic tarp and drip irrigation.”

Westphal is also looking into alternative application methods for the preplant product Dominus, a broad-spectrum soil fumigant with the active ingredient Allyl isothiocyanate.

“We have developed methods of applying it which make it economically competitive with the current Telone fumigation,” Westphal said. “So, we are pretty high on that.”

Dominus is not yet registered for use in California, and Westphal was hesitant to speculate when that might occur.

“I’m not privy to any information whether DPR would approve the application method that we have been using

for it, which is a little bit different than it has been used before,” he said. “But this seems the only way to not need the plastic tarp and the drip irrigation setup to apply it.”

Westphal is also looking into Salibro, or fluazaindolizine, a selective nematicide from Corteva Agriscience. It too is not yet registered for use in California tree nuts.

And he is researching efficacy of

post-plant products, such as Movento, or spirotetramat, a nematicide/insecticide from Bayer Crop Science.

Overall, he said, nematode management remains a challenge that will require continued efforts on the part of both growers and researchers.

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U.S. PECAN INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO ADVANCE TRADE AND AGRICULTURAL POLICY EFFORTS

By BOB REDDING | National

The National Pecan Federation (NPF) is pleased to continue to advance the work on behalf of the pecan industry in trade and other agricultural policy areas.

NPF was excited to learn in February that the India Ministry of Finance had released their proposed 2023 Union Budget and updates to custom duties that included a 70% reduction in the import tariff for pecans, from 100% to 30%. This was a significant positive change for the pecan industry that opened the U.S. pecan export market to India. According to recent American Pecan Council studies, the industry could see an increase in trade sales from $1 million to $50 million to $60 million by 2030. The timing of India’s reducing the tariff was particularly important due to the loss of a large segment of the pecan market in China due to tariffs on U.S. pecan imports.

Reducing the import tariff on pecans in India has been a trade priority established in 2018

by pecan growers and shellers to unite the pecan industry and advocate with one voice in Washington, D.C.

“This is great news for the pecan industry,” said NPF Chairman Larry Don Womack. “NPF has worked hard over the last few years on reducing this tariff to open the U.S. pecan export market to India. Pecans are grown in 15 states and have a significant impact on these rural economies. Opening the India market will be a great opportunity for our industry to expand and grow.”

Earlier this year, NPF Executive Board Member Marianne Brown attended a roundtable discussion hosted by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) with U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Katherine Tai and USTR Agriculture Ambassador Doug McKalip. At the meeting, Brown was given the opportunity to voice the pecan industry’s concerns and priorities as they related to global markets and, most importantly, India.

“Expansion of the U.S. pecan export market to India is essential to the health of the pecan industry. Over the last few years, NPF has worked with Senator Ossoff and other members of Congress on this issue with USTR and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to advocate for lower tariffs to India. We are pleased with this outcome and believe the reduction in the tariff will

be beneficial to the U.S. pecan industry,” added NPF Executive Board Member Jeff Worn.

Numerous members of Congress worked hard to reduce this tariff. U.S. Congressmen David Scott (D-GA), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Austin Scott (R-GA) and U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Cornyn (R-TX), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) led efforts to encourage the Administration to prioritize efforts to reduce the pecan tariff in India.

Developing Markets

The American Pecan Council (APC) oversees the pecan industry’s Market Access Program (MAP) funding from USDA. This will be an essential tool for the pecan industry in developing Indian and other markets. NPF supports fully funding the MAP program in the Fiscal Year 2024 Agriculture Appropriations legislation as well as efforts to double the size of the MAP and Foreign Market Development (FMD) programs in the 2023 Farm Bill reauthorization for MAP and FMD.

These programs as well as domestic marketing efforts are overseen by the federal marketing order for pecan, APC and the research and promotion checkoff program, the American Pecan

Pecan Federation

Opening India through reduced tariffs could lead to significant growth in export sales of US pecans (all photos by Blair Krebs, Pecan South.)

Promotion Board (APPB). These USDA programs have been important to the marketing of pecans. Unfortunately, similar to the debate surrounding the 2018 Farm Bill, legislative efforts are being made to harm these programs. NPF signed on to a letter with other commodity organizations opposing S. 557 and H.R. 1249, titled “Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act.” This legislation, introduced by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mike Lee (R-UT) and U.S. Congresswomen Dina Titus (D-NV) and Nancy Mace (R-SC), targets commodity research and promotion boards, better known as “checkoff” programs. Proponents of this bill argue this legislation would increase transparency and close perceived loopholes in the statutes enabling checkoff programs.

However, as stated in the letter signed by NPF, this legislation would substantially undermine the research and promotion boards’ ability to

promote U.S. agriculture. Research and promotion boards exist to develop new markets and strengthen existing channels for specific commodities while conducting important research and production activities. They also work to educate consumers on behalf of a particular commodity to expand total demand to the benefit of all producers. However, if passed, the bill would stymie research collaboration, undermine producer direction of these programs and unnecessarily restrict implementation of critical checkoff functions. The coalition of organizations on the letter included the American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Soybean Association, National Cotton Council and many others.

Other Funding

In addition to trade issues, NPF has worked on increased funding for pecan processing modernization and pecan breeding at USDA and land grant

universities. The U.S. House Appropriations Committee continued funding of these initiatives in their Fiscal Year 2024 legislation. Separately, the Committee included language to protect pecan reports produced by the National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS) at USDA. Anticipated NASS budget cuts have raised concerns about pecan reports. The language included is below:

The Committee expects NASS to continue its ongoing activities at the frequency levels assumed in Fiscal Year 2023 including barley acreage and production estimates; the Bee and Honey Program; the Chemical Use Data Series; the Floriculture Crops Report; and Fruit and Vegetable Reports including in-season forecasts for noncitrus fruit and tree nut crops such as pecans.

The House and Senate Agriculture Committees are wrapping up hearings and listening sessions for the 2023 Farm Bill. Pecans have been most interested in crop insurance, research, disaster, nutrition and other provisions. With reference to nutrition, NPF is concerned about the exclusion of pecan and other tree nuts from the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. Leaders on the Agriculture Committees are working with the Budget Committees and the Congressional Budget Office on various farm bill proposal costs. The 2018 Farm Bill expires on September 30, 2023.

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National Pecan Federation continues to work on giving U.S. pecan growers a voice with federal legislators.

From the Orchard

Q and A with Gordon Heinrich

Diversified multi-generational family operation is committed to the tree nut industry’s success

By LORI FAIRCHILD | Contributing Writer

Gordon Heinrich, CEO of Heinrich Farms, oversees 1,300 acres of family farm in Modesto, but his love of farming started at five years old when he was in charge of teaching baby cows how to drink from a bucket. The family business has switched from dairy cows to walnuts and almonds, but Heinrich’s love for the job has only grown as he helps prepare the next generation to take the reins.

Heinrich has seen a lot of changes since those days as a young boy on the dairy farm in the 1950s, including improvements in irrigation practices and increasing mechanization. But he believes the biggest asset in his business is the people, including his three sons who oversee different parts of the operation.

Beyond passing his farming knowledge on to the next generation of his family, Heinrich also supports local FFA and 4H groups to encourage young people interested in farming to take up the challenge.

Heinrich shared his thoughts on the current state of the

Gordon Heinrich, CEO of Heinrich Farms, oversees 1,300 acres of walnuts, almonds, corn and hay crops in Modesto (all photos courtesy Heinrich Farms.)

OUR FAMILY FARM IS IN IT FOR THE LONG RUN, AND WE HAVE MADE INVESTMENTS INTO THESE CROPS TO PRODUCE GOOD AND HEALTHY PRODUCTS.

tree nut industry and where he thinks the industry is headed in the future in an interview for West Coast Nut.

What and where do you farm?

My family and I are still in the Modesto area, farming walnuts, almonds, corn and hay. My wife and I have nine children, seven sons, two daughters, and 21 grandchildren whom I consider a great blessing. Our family is our biggest asset when it comes to our operation. I couldn’t have gotten to where we are today without my family, and my wife, Wendee, has been right there with us working, giving us the support that we all need. She’s the glue that holds our family together.

How have your farming practices evolved in recent years?

Today, we have a lot more resources and tools than what we used to.

ContinuedonPage30

Gordon Heinrich and his three sons, Philip, Jerad and Eric, manage all operations at Heinrich Farms.

One of the things that’s progressed is moisture monitoring tools, like the pressure bomb. We believe that water management is crucial in growing quality crops. During irrigation season, we go to each ranch and take pressure bomb readings every three days. We use an app called Pressure Bomb Express to document and chart each reading. This helps us schedule irrigation, which is our scientific approach to farming operation.

What are the three things that keep you up at night related to growing walnuts?

We’re in a market that’s governed by supply and demand, and right now, we have been slightly oversupplied. To overcome this, we must create more demand for our walnuts to get consumption up.

One thing that’s been in our way are retaliatory tariffs; tariffs going into India were at 120%, making it difficult for them to buy our walnuts. Thankfully, they recently removed the 20% retaliatory tariff. Exports are challenged with a strong dollar compared to most other world currencies. Since a majority of the crop is exported, we have had some shipping challenges while trying to get our products overseas in time for the holiday season in Europe and other parts. Some of that has been resolved, but we need to be vigilant and keep our product flowing.

I’m a member of the California Walnut Commission. I had the privilege of serving on the Strategic Plan Task Force for the Board and Commission this past year, in which the final report was recently approved. In this strategic plan, it gives us a new vision and focus for our walnut industry. It addresses building demand, marketing, quality, consumption, communication and much more. Even though the final report is out and available from the California Walnut Board and Commission, I believe it will be a work in progress in our ever-changing industry.

What are you most hopeful for in the future?

Our family farm is in it for the long run, and we have made investments into these crops to produce good and healthy products. We have a tremendously good product. Walnuts have omega-3 ALA fatty acids, and many dieticians put them top of the nut list. Walnuts are also extremely versatile and pair well with other foods like dried figs, raisins and cheese. Personally, I like walnuts on my pancakes.

What in your opinion needs to happen to set the industry in the best possible direction for the future?

We need to create more demand for our products as well as reduce or eliminate the tariffs. By doing that, we’re going to increase consumption.

What do you think the biggest assets are of the nut industry in California?

One of the biggest assets to the nut industry is that we have a region where we can grow quality nuts. We have a perfect climate for growing walnuts with fertile soils and an abundance of water here in the valley.

What is your proudest achievement as it relates to your professional development?

I’m not one to tout my own achievements, and I want to give credit where it’s due. My faith runs deep, and God has blessed me with a great family and a great opportunity to grow great crops.

I’m very proud of all my sons and the fact that our family

Gordon Heinrich has faith in the future of the California walnut industry, touting California Walnut Board and Commission CEO Robert Verloop’s efforts in the past year to reenergize the industry.

farm will go into the next generation.

How do you give back to the community both in agriculture and in the community where your operation is based?

Our future generations of farmers are in the young adolescent stages right now. We believe in and support programs that build our future leaders and farmers like Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4H.

What advice do you have for a young person getting into farming nuts today?

I’d say a young person needs to be diversified in their operation through crops and farm services. There are a lot of ups and downs in the market and in weather patterns, but having a diversified operation helps.

Who was the biggest influence or mentor for you in your career?

My father was the biggest influence. He taught me how to work hard and how to love work. He gave me a lot of responsibility at a young age, teaching me how to be frugal and not live beyond my means. Working side-byside with him and learning the farming techniques we still practice today is invaluable.

What do you think the biggest advancement has been in the field of nut growing during your career?

I started farming in 1975 at the age of 20. Over the years, innovative mechanization has improved dramatically. Harvest equipment and field equipment have improved, and we can have a much faster harvest capturing quality.

What advancements do you foresee having a big impact in the future?

We will continue to see more automation and precision resources in farming. The future of agriculture is exciting, technology will advance, and the sky is the limit.

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"OUR FAMILY IS OUR BIGGEST ASSET WHEN IT COMES TO OUR OPERATION. I COULDN’T HAVE GOTTEN TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITHOUT MY FAMILY, AND MY WIFE HAS BEEN RIGHT THERE WITH US WORKING, TOO."

– GORDON HEINRICH, HEINRICH FARMS

With Harvest Around the Corner, Pay Close Attention to Nutrients and Irrigation Now Rather than Later

By RICH KREPS | CCA, SSp., Contributing Writer

It’s August and I’m here to remind you that harvest is merely weeks away! Where did this year go? I was having a conversation with my father, Big Rol as we used to call him (it was great irony since he only stood 5’6”), and I told him it seemed the year we were in was flying by. In his usual deliberate slower drawl that always seemed to capture more drama in a moment, he said, “Wait ‘til you’re my age.” I’ll be 52 this month and probably the same age he was when we had that conversation.

In true, prophetic, Big Rol fashion, he was right again. This year seems to have actually flown by. Maybe it’s due to how late we were getting into our fields after all the blessed rain we received. Maybe it was us just hanging on to the mildest June I can remember. But whatever it was, it has rushed by, and harvest is here. Now what? Get it done, feed for recovery, prepare for next year.

Hopefully you didn’t overapply nitrogen this year trying to “catch up” on the blessed number that most growers chose as their holy grail recipe for N. Year after year, we see growers waste money applying too much N and suffer from more pest and disease pressure. With that, sticktights seem to be more prevalent in fields that were overnitrified. If you didn’t get a July tissue test, get one now. Check those nutrients and evaluate where you ended up on the Big 6 (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S). Are you balanced or are you one or two ways out of range? I’m not talking about oversufficiency levels; I mean balance. Do they all fall in the optimal level for the numbers recommended by the lab you trust? Plan for postharvest with those big nutrients.

Now look at the micronutrients. Where are they? Take notice of your zinc and boron. We want those optimal for next years bloom. Plan for those now. If zinc is low, plan to address that at hull split sprays or pea sprays. Zinc is critical for the abscission process to release nuts. We may be able to exacerbate a good shake by having zinc right and starting to address loading up for next spring. Fortunately for those peaches some of you grew in your almond blocks this year, they should shake well.

Is your boron high or low? If it’s high, add some calcium to offset that for harvest. Boron is a key ingredient to many glues. Maybe trying to get that right and overdoing it can be an issue to sticktights. If it’s low, wait a bit to start applying that immediately after harvest. But have a plan to spoon-feed those levels back up after the nuts are in the bin. We need boron for a successful bloom.

As you approach harvest, if it’s possible to suffer the logistical hassles of changing up your irrigation schedule, try to get across your fields with shorter sets more often. I have growers that switch their practice to (4) 10-hour sets every other day instead of a 48-hour

Nutrient planning is key at this stage of the crop with harvest around the corner. Growers should get a tissue test if one was not taken in July (all photos by R. Kreps.)

One way to ensure optimal yields next year is to properly prep as soon after harvest as possible.

set. I had one last year in the 30 days over 100 we had run seven hours every night in pistachios. The trees stopped their decline and even started pushing new growth in August! You’ll also find infiltration should improve. Efficiency will go up if you’re running at night (less evaporation) as well as saving money for off-peak electrical costs. It’ll give you the opportunity to fertigate any deficient nutrients in several small shots to get those trees ready for the rigors of harvest. We used to run long sets to try to drive deep moisture for trees to draw on during harvest. Shorter sets often have proven more effective for some of my growers. Setting those trees up for that cycle can make it easier for trees to adapt to those short sets between shakes.

I hit you with the realities of the proximity to harvest. Then the one-two punch of preparing for postharvest already. Start making your plans. It’ll

be here before you know, and having everything prepped and lined up will make it smoother. So many of my almond farmers have had to cut back on nutrition the last two years due to price. One way to ensure optimal yields next year is to properly prep as soon after harvest as possible. This allows the trees to recover and build as many carbohydrates as possible while storing nutrients for overwintering. That sounds funny in August with 100-degree-F temps, but it all happens so fast at a time that we get rundown. Get prepared now with a plan.

Time flies, but this year, water runs. It’s hot, and trees need water more often if we can get it to them. Make it happen, it’ll pay off. Plan your postharvest now and be prepared to get it in the second those trees are rehydrated. With prices still low, a good foliar can still make a big difference at a better cost. A “Big Rol” difference. The small things are

often just as important. Cleaning those dusty leaves after harvest doesn’t hurt either. Harvest comes faster and faster every year it seems. Let’s be more proactive and try to stay ahead of it.

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

Thermal imaging showing well hydrated trees in the heat. Closer to harvest, irrigate across the field with shorter, more frequent sets.

Soil as a Service

Opportunities abound when growers view soil as a service. An age-old solution to a modern productivity shortfall - the routine application of live, native microalgae builds soil health, putting soils to work growing more abundant and nutritious crops and delivering a healthier ROI.

Soil provides 95% of the food we eat and stores more than twice as much carbon as the atmosphere. Yet today, one soccer field of arable land is lost every five seconds to soil erosion as a result of farming practices. For perspective, more than two acres of topsoil was lost in the time it took you to read to this point—more than two acres in ten seconds.

Without a paradigm shift in how the agriculture industry thinks about soil health, global crop cycles may be numbered. Water holding capacity, salinity, nutrient availability and pest management all play important roles in the ability of a crop to reach its genetic potential, and the severity of each lies, at least partly, in the ability of soil to function to its potential. But No Two Farms are Alike™, and that simple fact provides a unique challenge for agriculture, at

the intersection of a soil health crisis. Therefore, we must take an approach to soil health that can be easily tailored to each unique farm.

DELIVERING SOIL HEALTH

A paradigm shift is exactly what the MyLand solution to soil health offers: turning depleted soils into thriving, diverse communities of microorganisms through amplified live, native microalgae production.

The MyLand team knew that live, native microalgae would deliver far greater benefits more rapidly than a bottled, dead microalgae product. Thus, a traditional bottled product isn’t something that will be seen with the MyLand logo. In fact, continuous on-farm production and delivery of live, native microalgae taken directly from the farm’s soil, back into the soil, is the foundation of the Soil as a Service™ model MyLand provides every customer.

Dane Hague, co-founder and CEO for MyLand shares that the company’s unique approach is centered on service and the fact that every farm is different:

“No Two Farms Are Alike, so the solution we use to drive life into the soil needs to be custom,” he said. “We know that we can’t deliver live, native algae in a jug economically, especially in the quantities and frequency we deliver, and that necessitates that we be onsite. What we’ve learned from being on-site with the owners and farm managers is just how valuable it is to become integral to the fabric of a farm’s operation. Land is the number one asset for a farmer. It’s meaningful and cherished. Our service to those farms is healthier soil that can withstand weather and production challenges –our service is their experience – and ultimately, the product is soil that is a more valuable and productive asset for the next generation of farmers.”

holistic approach to soil health is helping meet the specific goals of all types of farmers.

Vice President of Grower Relations, Jonah Parker says that the unspoken ethos of MyLand was the greatest attraction for him to join the MyLand team.

Parker says that he was “immediately impressed by MyLand’s service-based, individualized approach to delivering live, native microalgae.” The company, he found, “was less focused on a crop-specific solution and more focused on the health of the soil and how that affects the management and operations of the farm”.

Today, MyLand partners with growers to build relationships that improve soil health from the base of the microbial food chain, beginning with a baseline analysis of the farm’s soil with routine, subsequent testing to assess improvements to the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of the soil over time. The process builds relationships between the MyLand team, farm owners, individuals working on the farm, and managers at every step.

The process is simple for any farm owner or grower.

For the farm owners and growers MyLand partners with, healthy soil not only produces more nutritious crops but is also more resilient to adverse events. MyLand-improved, healthy, living soils will rebound more quickly after a negative event such as harvesting, tilling, weather or modified rotations. Crops grown in healthy soils are better positioned to respond to the constant challenges of agricultural production and the environment. MyLand is quickly demonstrating that its individual,

After initial outreach and interest from the grower, the MyLand team pulls soil samples that are analyzed by a third-party lab. More than a chemical-based soil sample, these soil tests provide a grower with a snapshot of the biological activity within their soil’s microbial ecosystem. The soil samples will also be used to identify and select a native microalgae strain. Once selected, the strain will be cultured at the MyLand lab and then continually reproduced in a MyLand System on-farm. The final step sees the live, native microalgae reintroduced to the farm’s soil through their irrigation system.

The process is efficient, sustainable and a completely customized soil health experience.

“It seems crazy to go on-site at each farm and provide this level of service,” Parker says.

“But what I realized very quickly was that having a partner who is focused on their soil’s health is incredibly valuable to a grower’s operation. We may start with the basics of what the soil tests show us, but what we find is that there’s a

“No Two Farms Are Alike, so the solution we use to drive life into the soil needs to be custom.”

Dane Hague Co-founder & CEO, MyLand

progression in management opportunities that allow growers to start looking for efficiencies in other practices and applications on the farm.”

HOW MYLAND IMPROVES SOIL HEALTH

“Microalgae are the only microbes that do not consume other microbes but rather themselves provide a principal food source for the other microbes,” says Hague. “And an abundant and healthy microbial community is critical to the creation of natural organics and humus in the soil. Our MyLand System generates mass quantities of native, living microalgae cells, and after they leave the System these algae cells continue to propagate for up to two weeks before they naturally die and are consumed by microbes. It is not unusual for living algae to double its population every 24 hours.”

Microalgae increase soil porosity and water holding capacity, providing more oxygen and water for the soil’s microbial community to flourish. Over time this results in an increase the organic matter in the soil, capturing and storing atmospheric carbon—a win-win for us all!

SOIL HEALTH FOR TOMORROW

“The future of MyLand is extremely promising,” says Hague. In fact, the number one challenge he sees for the future—honing-in the service to better equip farms for improved soil health, while continuing to grow.

“It is a significant challenge. As great as it is to provide a truly unique service, the challenges we’ve created for ourselves are significant. We are continually peeling back the layers of the onion on our service, gaining a better understanding of it, refining it, and making sure we’re providing the growers what they need to see success on their end,” Hague says. “There is no one-size-fits-all approach to our Soil as a Service model because there is no one-sizefits-all solution to soil health and fertility. We are all consumers of soil-derived food; we are all invested in the success of every acre of soil.

Visit myland.ag to learn more about the investments the company is making to not only build soil health, but to grow and disseminate soil education.

2.63 additional days between irrigation compared to the control.

11,765 more gallons of water per acre is being stored using MyLand versus control.

Data reflects MyLand versus control. Third party verified.

•

September 27th - 28th

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DPR & CCA TRACK

AM Neighborly NOW Program: Getting Connected with Mating Disruption Users

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View from the Top The Changing Property Picture

AG Appraiser-Broker Michael Ming Shares

What’s Driving Tree Nut Land Values and Why Buyers Are Sitting on the Sidelines

By CATHERINE MERLO | Contributing Writer

As private investigator Jake Gittes unravels a corrupt plan to bring water to 1930s Los Angeles in the film noir classic, Chinatown, he asks, “You have any idea what this land would be worth with a steady water supply?”

Cinematic storytelling aside, the question is still valid today, especially in California’s Central Valley. Water dominates all talk of farmland values here, something few people know better than Michael Ming.

Ming has more than 30 years of agricultural brokerage and appraisal experience in Kern County, one of California’s top almond and pistachio areas. He is an accredited rural appraiser, a professional real estate broker and the owner of Alliance Ag Services. His Bakersfield-based company counts eight professional team members who serve commercial customers across California. Ming is also an expert on the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), California’s landmark 2014 legislation.

Water availability, or lack of it, and mounting economic losses in almond and walnut production have upended land values since Ming shared his tree-nut property assessments with West Coast Nut in spring 2021. Back then, he reported investors were eagerly buying California’s larger tree nut properties to diversify their portfolios. Large family operations looking to expand were also showing buying interest. Even sales activity for walnut property remained stable.

But, as Ming discusses here, it’s a very different scenario now.

Q. What’s happening with land values for almonds, pistachios and walnuts?

It’s all about water, water, water. If you’re in a river district with good, solid surface delivery, your land values are holding or increasing a little. In the second quarter of 2023, open land in a river district in Kern County has a value of between

$18,000 and $30,000 an acre.

Q. What level of buying interest is out there?

We’ve seen a cooling-off period of buyer interest. A lot of people have their hands in their pockets, waiting until the first or second quarter of 2024.

Q. Are they waiting for interest rates to come down?

I think they’re waiting for the end of harvest. So much money has been lost in the almond market over the past couple of years that it’s created a vacuum of capital. All these private equity investors, insurance companies, big family farming operations, they almost all have almonds. Now they’re saying, “Let’s see where we are in the first quarter, second quarter, and then start redeploying capital at that point.” There are billions of dollars on the sidelines right now, money sitting in their portfolios just waiting. To me, that means a lot of buyers have taken a hands-off position until they see where almond prices are going.

Q. What about pistachios?

When buyers started pulling back from almonds, they started pushing forward into pistachios. So, it drove the price up for a short period of time. We had some sales up in the $60,000s per acre. One of the sales at $65,000 in Fresno County was a situation where the buyer had to close on it. It was a 1031 Exchange, a last option. And the seller knew it. There was nothing special about that pistachio orchard. It was not what you would think of as prime land in the greatest water district with the greatest soil. While there have been sales this year in the $60,000s, I don’t realistically think that’s the market going forward. I think it will be more in the $50,000s for really primo orchards.

Farmland values are all about “water, water, water,” says Michael Ming of Alliance Ag Services (photo courtesy of Alliance Ag Services.)

Q. That’s still impressive, isn’t it?

Yes. I look back at how much capital has been lost in the almond market over the past years that would have been redeployed. Buyers must put money to work somewhere. Where is the next best bet? Pistachios. Money is not likely going to go into table grape vineyards or walnuts since both are currently severely depressed. Where do you go? A lot of Kern County farming families have opted to grow row crops when they take out old almonds or vines. They have done very well as an alternative.

Q. Are walnut properties coming up on the market?

A lot of them are. It’s not a healthy market at all for walnuts. We know of walnut orchards that have been sold at land value or land value less the cost to remove trees. In some cases, these are younger, viable orchards with extended

life expectancies being removed. A few sellers are saying, “Just get us what we can get and get us out.”

Q. Who are the typical buyers?

You have some private investors that will play in the ag market. But they’re very specific on their returns. Every-

Almond orchards with ample water, like these west of Bakersfield, have seen their land values hold or even increase (photo by C. Merlo.)

thing is spreadsheet modeled to meet their return expectation. Anybody can ask for whatever they want, but the reality is if you’re going to sell to a private equity or investment group or any of the institutional companies, they’re going

to say, “This is our return-on-investment spread, and this price is where we have to be.” Of course, there’s always that property that comes on the market or is sold off market that maybe someone buys from his next-door neighbor. But, as far as in the big picture, I’m still seeing a lot of buyers with their hands in their pockets. This could also mean there are deals ready to be made for the right buyers and sellers.

Q. What questions are you most often asked about land values or appraisals?

From growers, “What do I plant next? What is the highest and best use for my property?” We do a lot of consulting on that. I’m not a farmer, but we can look at the trends and see what’s going on. There are lot of questions about water. “What districts do you recommend being in if we do buy?”

Water security is No. 1, so we look for the most secure water districts. That’s a combination of surface delivery and the groundwater basin underneath your district. How good are you there? How aggressive has the management in the water district been in banking water? It’s amazing what the water banks here in Kern County have been doing. They’re banking water wherever they can and paying their farmers in the district to berm up where they can bring water in. They are

Q. When they ask what’s the best use of land going forward, what do you answer?

I do not have a crystal ball. However, we look at their crop mix, what they normally farm and feel comfortable farming, because sometimes almond growers are not comfortable with vineyards, and vineyard growers aren’t comfortable with almonds or pistachios or citrus. But I think you should get comfortable because there are going to be crops and land

Almond orchard values have dropped $10,000 an acre since 2015 but seem to be holding. It all depends on their access to water, says Michael Ming.

Prime pistachio properties may bring $50,000 an acre or more this year (photo by C. Merlo.)

uses that maybe you haven’t grown or thought about in the past that you may benefit from looking at now.

Q. What other uses could replace permanent plantings or other crops?

with proven solar developers on large utility-scale as well as small and medium projects. We are finishing up acquisition on a 10,000-acre solar array that’s plugging into the Mid-

In Kern County, per-acre prices for pistachio orchards peaked at over $50,000 last year.

Kern River Districts High Value

Land High Value

Water Risk Wedge

way-Sunset substation at Buttonwillow [west of Bakersfield]. We were approached three years ago to start acquiring land for the project. It will be very beneficial as most of that land to the north of the substation and east is mostly located within a challenged water area due to State Water Project allocations and looming SGMA constraints. Groundwater quality is starting to get a little shaky. It was a perfect fit for the farmers to do something else with their land. The highest and best uses for agricultural lands are changing in many areas of California.

Q. Advice going forward?

A lot of land still needs to be fallowed. I hate to say that as an ag appraiser or ag broker. But we have SGMA, and it’s real. It’s either going to hurt a little or it’s going to hurt a lot. So, be proactive. Just keep your head up and look around. Ask for advice from qualified sources. That is the most important thing. Understand the current reality of what you have and what is coming at you.

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

KERN RIVER DISTRICTS

Since SGMA became law in 2014, land values in water districts supplied by the Kern River have climbed steadily, while open SGMA irrigated lands have plummeted.

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Capturing Maximum Genetic Potential

APHID CONTROL IN HAZELNUTS POTENTIALLY COMPROMISED BY STINK BUG

By MITCH LIES | Contributing Writer

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) can be gumming up aphid control in hazelnuts and is a major concern moving forward, according to Nik Wiman, Oregon State University Extension orchard crops specialist.

The emergence of BMSB in Oregon orchards over the last

decade has led some hazelnut growers to increase use of nonselective materials that inadvertently are harming the aphid predator community and the parasitoid wasp Trioxys pallidus, Wiman said.

“Growers have to use a material that is effective against the stink bug, and there is nothing really selective available that they can use that will get both the filbert worm and the brown marmorated stink bug,” he said. “So that means that they have to select usually a pyrethroid to go after the stink bug, which can aggravate the aphid problem.”

The occurrences harken back to a day before the parasitoid wasp was introduced in hazelnuts three decades ago, back when aphids were a considerable problem and required regular treatments, to the point where insecticide resistance developed in the aphid population.

We’re

The wasp’s introduction in the 1980s served to dramatically reduce the need for aphid insecticide treatments, Wiman said, and largely kept populations of the filbert aphid

Heavy hazelnut aphid damage on a nut cluster is shown in an OSU Orchards Program research trial sponsored by the Oregon Hazelnut Commission (all photos courtesy OSU Orchards Program.)

Moderate hazelnut aphid pressure is shown in this shot from an OSU Orchards Program research trial.

familiar with the challenges of agri-business. You’re not just growing crops, you’re running a sophisticated business requiring legal, accounting, insurance, and scientific skills as well as business acumen. We can help.

ContinuedfromPage44

under control.

“It is kind of a cool biological control success story,” Wiman said.

Wiman noted, however, he is seeing more aphid pressure in recent years as

growers target the stink bug with nonselective materials. And, he said, the increased use of broad-spectrum insecticides and overreliance on neonicotinoids for aphid control raises concerns that resistance issues could once again develop in aphid populations.

“Historically, they had a lot of in-

secticide resistance in the filbert aphid population, so I’m worried we’re going to see those problems again,” Wiman said.

Crop Damage

Aphids damage hazelnuts in several ways, according to literature. High populations of aphids will reduce kernel fill and nut size, and honeydew produced by aphids can impede photosynthesis and retard growth. Heavy filbert aphid damage to leaves can result in significant orchard defoliation. Further, longterm exposure to aphids can reduce the overall productivity of a tree.

The two aphid species that inflict damage on hazelnut trees have differences that compound control difficulties, Wiman said. And less is known about the hazelnut aphid, which first appeared as a hazelnut pest in the 2000s, than the filbert aphid, which has been a known pest in hazelnuts for as long as the crop has been produced in Oregon.

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However, Wiman said, it has long been known the aphid problems are induced by insecticide use against other pests such as filbertworm and BMSB. “One older study that examined the hazelnut pest complex in unsprayed orchards found filbert aphid was not a true pest because the natural enemy complex naturally kept them in check,” he said.

In research backed by the Oregon Hazelnut Commission, Wiman is looking into whether there is a synergistic effect on a tree’s productivity when both aphid species are present. “We don’t really know how to assess the combined effect of those two species acting together when we look at their activity over the course of a field season,” he said.

And there is the question of whether one aphid is more damaging at different times of a season than the other.

“They have different peaks and valleys where they’re really active. So, they may be more or less important at different times of the year. And they also have different natural enemies. I mean, there’s some overlap, but they also have some differences between the two species,” he said.

Also, to date, growers have no

Filbert aphids and hazelnut aphids cohabitate leaves in the early season. The filbert aphids are the lighter greenish blue color aphids around the periphery of the leaf. Hazelnut aphids are the bigger, greener aphids concentrated around the main leaf vein and leaf petiole.

way of assessing population levels of hazelnut aphid once the pest works its way from a tree’s leaves to its stems and ultimately husks.

“Early in the season, they’re both on the leaves, and you can use the filbert aphid action threshold to determine whether treatment is warranted,” he said. “But we don’t have a methodology for an action threshold when we have filbert aphids on leaves and hazelnut aphids have moved to the stems and husks.”

In some cases, Wiman said, treatment decisions for aphid are obvious.

“The thing to watch for is the honeydew that they’re producing,” he said. “The leaves tend to get shiny from the honeydew, and you don’t want to see a tree that’s dripping with honeydew because that honeydew will end up getting colonized by the sooty mold fungus, which turns the leaves a dark color and impacts the productivity of the tree by reducing photosynthetic potential.”

In other cases, growers need to weigh the benefits of treatment versus the detriment of removing food for predators. The key, he said, is to tolerate a low to moderate level of aphids in an orchard. “You have to have the aphids as a food source for the natural enemies, and you can’t expect your biological control to wipe out the aphid populations,” he said. “Judicious insecticide use will promote your natural enemies to take care of the problem.”

Stink Bug Sprays

Like with the hazelnut aphid, researchers have yet to develop an action threshold for BMSB in hazelnuts.

“In a four-year study, we did not find a clear relationship between the density of stink bugs on a trap and the amount of crop damage they will inflict,” Wiman said. “So, we are just using the traps as an indicator of presence. But that means a lot of growers don’t have confidence in the traps as a management tool.”

Also like with aphids, there are cases when treatment decisions are made easy for the stink bug, Wiman said.

“Some growers will have thousands of stink bugs overwintering in their outbuildings and on alternative hosts

around their farm and so when the spring hits, the bugs go right into the orchard,” Wiman said.

In other cases, decisions are more complex and Wiman is concerned that there are times when growers pull the trigger too quickly.

“A lot of growers just don’t want to take the risk, so they are going to be preventatively applying material, because basically, we haven’t given them the tools they need to be more discriminating with their sprays at this time,” he said. “We need to get better IPM tactics for the stink bug so that we can use sprays against stink bug more judiciously.”

Wiman added concerns over stink bugs are quite valid. “It can be really, really damaging,” he said, noting that packers have recently added stink bug into their insect-damage-sampling protocols.

Wiman said he hopes to provide better answers to questions of whether to

spray for the BMSB and has applied for a USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant to develop an action threshold for stink bug based on trap counts and gain a better understanding of risk factors driving stink bug populations in hazelnut orchards.

“That’s where all our big strides have been made is with those national Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant projects. We just tried for a third time under new leadership,” he said in June, noting the last two attempts were unsuccessful. “Hopefully this time we’ll hear a positive result.”

In the meantime, he said, judicious use of insecticides and use of selective materials when possible are two keys to preserving the natural enemies in orchards.

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

NEW DAWN FOR ALMOND TRADE: BENEFICIAL IMPACT OF INDIA LIFTING RETALIATORY TARIFFS

By AUBREY BETTENCOURT | President/CEO, Almond Alliance

On June 22, 2023, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai made a groundbreaking announcement. The U.S. and the Republic of India agreed to dissolve six standing disputes at the World Trade Organization in a move toward harmony. Consequently, India also agreed to remove the retaliatory tariffs on certain U.S. products including almonds. This decision was in response to U.S. Section 232 national

security measures on steel and aluminum.

This crucial decision comes from President Biden’s warm welcome to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the significance of the U.S.-India bilateral relationship. The new agreement marks an intensified bilateral engagement that will deepen and diversify economic and trade ties between these two nations.

The U.S. produces 80% of the world’s almond supply, with 70% of the yield being exported. A cornerstone of U.S. agriculture, almonds have consistently ranked among the top five agricultural exports from the country. Our most significant markets have traditionally been India, the Middle East, Europe and China. However, retaliatory tariffs from India, Turkey, and China

The Almond Alliance is attempting to replicate the lifting of India tariffs in other key markets such as Turkey (photos by C. Parsons.)

ContinuedfromPage48

have heavily impacted the industry.

Initially designed to protect American workers, these tariffs inadvertently penalized another crucial sector of the American workforce: our farmers and farm workers. A perfect storm of tariffs in the largest and emerging markets, supply chain disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a record yield of almonds led to falling prices despite persistent global demand.

The tariffs also opened a gateway for Australia, our chief competitor, to step in and establish advantageous trade agreements with our key markets. Australia now enjoys duty-free access to India and China and is gradually infiltrating Europe with a new agreement with the UK.

The lifting of India’s tariffs promises a beacon of hope. Almonds, previously subjected to punitive tariffs and supply chain disruptions, can again flow unimpeded into one of their largest markets. The agreement will restore and expand market opportunities for U.S. agricultural producers and manufacturers and fortify the integrity of the U.S. Section 232 measures.

With the support of Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA) and other leaders, the Almond Alliance effectively persuaded the Biden Administration of the necessity to reduce the tariffs on American Almonds. This shift in trade policy promises to inject life into the almond industry, enabling farmers to continue their essential work and averting a socio-economic catastrophe.

This is just the beginning of a broader, concerted effort to

India is one of the major existing and emerging markets for California almonds (photo courtesy Almond Board of California.)

reduce trade barriers and encourage the export of American almonds. The Almond Alliance, in collaboration with the Almond Board of California, is actively pursuing opportunities to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers, scrutinizing existing trade agreements and future opportunities to eliminate hurdles.

The practical impact of India’s tariff reduction is yet to be fully assessed. However, the Almond Alliance is

already attempting to replicate this success in other key markets. We are urging similar tariff reductions in Turkey, suspended duties in various European markets, and exploring expanded outlets for American almonds through USAID, UN World Food Aid, DOD meal programs and more.

The decision by India to remove its retaliatory tariffs marks a new dawn for the almond industry. It is not just a win for the almond industry but a testament

to the power of collaborative international diplomacy in fostering economic growth and prosperity. Today, we celebrate; tomorrow, we get back to work. The future of American almond farming looks a bit brighter.

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India nut tariffs intended to protect U.S. workers had the inadvertent effect of hurting farmers and farmworkers in the U.S.

Walnut Dust Combustible? Study Says Otherwise...

By CHRIS MCGLOTHLIN | Director of Technical Services, Western Agricultural Processors Association

Explosions and fires at agricultural facilities have long been an issue for various commodity processing plants. A quick google search of “Food Processing Explosions” will pull hundreds of articles over the past 25 years, detailing the impacts of processor dust reacting with catastrophic results. The same google search is littered with numerous examples of grain elevator explosions occurring throughout the Midwest and Southern regions of the U.S. While most notable events typically occur at grain elevator facilities, other areas noted for potential explosion risk include flour production, spice processing and sugar processing. With most of the risk being held by various dry processing commodities, would it make sense to include the wet process of walnut hulling as a potential avenue to create combustible dust?

According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), walnut dust, and therefore hulling, is included in their stringent requirements. So how did this designation occur? Unfortunately, many commodities experienced blanket applicability to the NFPA standard as the process of hulling walnuts can generate smaller pieces of organic material and dust. Additionally, combustibility designations are made at the federal level by Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA). Facilities that handle or generate potentially combustible materials must abide by NFPA - Standard

654. With this designation, what are the requirements for facilities subject to the NFPA guidelines?

To summarize basic requirements, facilities must install expensive sprinkler systems, costing anywhere between $100,000 and, in some cases, over $1 million within the building. Fire detection monitors are also required in and around equipment. Facilities must also employ approved vacuum systems to collect accumulated dust. Employees will not be able to use air compressors to blow the dust off the ledges within

the building as this creates a higher potential for combustible dust clouds moving throughout the facility. Employees in charge of dust control would need to be vigilant as dust accumulation on ledges or equipment surfaces exceeding 1/32 of an inch would be deemed non-compliant with control measures. The local government impact is felt when local Fire Marshalls refuse to approve building permits due to the combustibility designation made by OSHA. Additionally, many insurance providers have indicated that fire

WAPA is working to get walnut dust removed from the OSHA listing for combustible materials.

New, unnecessary sprinkler requirements could cost in excess of $1 million for walnut hulling facilities.

suppression and detection systems are necessary to insure the equipment in use.

For walnut hullers, Western Agricultural Processors Association (WAPA) stepped up to prove whether the organic material generated is actually combustible or even flammable for that matter. Partnering with USDA-ARS researchers in Las Cruces, N.M. and following NFPA Standard 652, walnut organic material was collected from six different sites located throughout the state of California. The researchers were able to sieve the material to 500 microns or less which the Standard 652 guidelines state is traditionally used to define dust. Once the material was filtered and formed into a 10-inch-long narrow pile, re searchers applied a blow torch for a specified amount of time and observed whether the material burned along the length of the pile. The organic material glowed from the torch and smoldered for a short time but did not burn along length of the pile for the duration of the test, and thus, according to the Stan dard, should not be considered flam mable or combustible. This research proved that organic material and dust collected from walnut hullers is not flammable, let alone combustible. With this information, researchers are writ ing out their findings to publish them for peer review.

While the process to get walnut dust removed from the official OSHA listing

would take time lobbying the agency, WAPA has a short-term fix to assist with any county government trying to impose a sprinkler requirement. With these findings, WAPA has the tools to combat local governments should any decide to require expensive, and un-

necessary, fire suppression and control systems at walnut hulling facilities.

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USDA-ARS researchers applied a blow torch for a specified amount of time to sieved walnut organic material and observed whether the material burned along the length of the pile. The organic material glowed from the torch and smoldered for a short time but did not burn along length of the pile for the duration of the test (photos courtesy Western Agricultural Processors Association.)

Walnut Husk Fly Research Focused on Improved Monitoring

By KRISTIN PLATTS | Contributing Writer

AUCCE Tree and Vine IPM meeting in Modesto in June presented growers with the results of recent walnut husk fly research on new monitoring lure trials and bait efficacy. The walnut husk fly, which lays its eggs below the surface of the walnut husk, does the most damage to crops through nutshell staining, which can be a big problem for commercial growers who sell their product in-shell. An early season infestation can also result in shriveled, moldy kernels.

Monitoring of walnut husk fly typically begins in mid-June and continues through September or until husk split when the fly damage is no longer an issue, according to Bob Van Steenwyk, entomologist at UC Berkeley, who presented his team’s findings to about 30 people at the meeting.

The size of a housefly, the walnut husk fly dons colorful, spotted wings. Females are slightly larger in size than males, have a pointed abdomen with an ovipositor, and straw-colored first leg segments. A male’s first leg segment will be brown or black.

Controlling Females

Monitoring for pregnant females is the best way to control walnut husk fly, Van Steenwyk explained, noting the technique to determine if a female has eggs is by dissecting or squeezing on her abdomen; if she has eggs, then you need to treat.

“The whole idea for the insecticide control is to kill the females before oviposition,” he said. “After oviposition, there’s only one, maybe two materials that can have any impact on the young

larvae in the husk.”

UC research being done to monitor walnut husk fly more efficiently has seen some recent promising results. There could even be a new pheromone lure available at some point soon for growers, according to Van Steenwyk. The new pheromone was published by a French researcher in 2000 and Van Steenwyk’s group started work on the pheromone last year.

The research group had very little information about how long the pheromone lasted, how much to put in the lure, or even what type of lure to use.

“Last year we did a lot of exploring,” he said, “but it does look like the pheromone will increase your fly catch.”

Commercial Lures

Studies with 100 mg of hexalactone, heptalactone and a combination of both in polymeric plug lures have been evaluated with Trécé yellow sticky panel traps compared to ammonium bicarbonate lures and blank traps. The study also compared the French septa lures containing 50 mg of hexalactone, heptalactone and a combination of both.

The studies were conducted in Hilmar, Calif., which had a very high population of the fly, and in Patterson, Calif., where a standard population exists. Van Steenwyk added Alpha Scents and a French company are currently working to develop a commercial lure and he is hopeful Trécé will also work with them as they move forward.

Results from the study showed the combination of the hexalactone lure and ammonium bicarbonate lure in the

same trap was more effective than either when used alone. While researchers on the trial are enthusiastic about the findings, Van Steenwyk said it is important to remember the trial is still in the very early stages of research.

“We don’t want to get people too excited for it right now because we’re just in the second year of research on it, and we don’t know how important it’s going to be for growers, but we are excited. It’s something very unique,” he said.

The lure project is funded by the California Walnut Board, and the team

Husk fly insecticide control should focus on killing females before oviposition (photo courtesy UCCE.)

Researchers are working on developing improved bait for trapping walnut husk fly (photo courtesy John Post.)

hopes to have the study wrapped up this year and progress to grower/PCA evaluation the following year.

Bait Efficacy

Another focus for Van Steenwyk’s team has been on bait efficacy for walnut husk fly and researching various methods to find the most economical yet effective bait for growers. He said as they were beginning to develop new baits several years ago, they discovered mixing a very small amount of GF-120 Naturalyte Fruit Fly Bait, a nitrogen source, with molasses worked well to boost fly catch. They also realized using urea in the bait as a nitrogen source may also boost fly catch. Urea is commonly used by growers as a foliar nitrogen application.

A study conducted last year on olive fruit fly in Napa showed a mixture of granulated white sugar, Nu-Lure, Brandt Insect Bait and water worked quite well, Van Steenwyk explained.

“We made this witch’s brew and it worked fantastic,” he said, adding the Nu-Lure and Brandt Insect Bait provides a nitrogen source.

Following the Napa study, they began work this year to produce a new bait to be composed of molasses or sugar, Nu-Lure, Brandt Insect Bait and urea. Van Steenwyk shared the preliminary results of the study, which was conducted by setting up a box with a target filter paper dipped in the test solution in the center of the box containing a walnut husk fly and two cameras filming. Data collected in the study was the result of monitoring in 15- to 30-minute increments to observe how many flies landed and how long they stayed.

Van Steenwyk stated that the sex of the flies, their age and the feeding state caused huge variances in their results.

“It makes a heck of a lot of difference if you have male or female flies, your flies have been previously fed, if they’re old or young flies,” he explained. “You get different results depending on your experimental design.”

However, based on early results it appears the addition of urea to the bait may result in increased feeding by the flies.

As the research on baits continues, Van Steenwyk said they eventually hope to have more extensive data that might

help growers save money.

“Hopefully next year we’ll have some more data to say you can change your baits to something cheaper that will work better,” he said.

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“

Last year we did a lot of exploring,” he said, “but it does look like the pheromone will increase your fly catch.”—Bob Van Steenwyk, UC Berkeley

WAPA Annual Conference Hits on Key Issues for the Nut Industry

By MARNI KATZ | Editor

Western Agricultural Processors Association members and affiliates shared their hopes and concerns during the three-day annual meeting held in June. As usual, WAPA got down in the weeds about the regulatory and legislative issues on its plate, in essence so its members don’t have to.

In fact, attendees agreed that the value of an organization like WAPA is in its presence at hearings and the halls of government so that its 181 huller/ processor members can go about the business of handling and moving nuts.

As an example, CEO Roger Isom spent one day away from the event to testify on a proposed new OSHA indoor heat illness rule. He also engaged with legislators to help secure a labor agreement that should stave off a potential labor dispute at the ports.

Michael Kelley, president of Central California Almond Growers Association, said implementing this rule could cost an average nut sheller $6 million and yet there has not been a history of indoor heat illness in a nut sheller facility.

“As an independent handler, if I went to OSHA to discuss this I would never get an audience. There’s strength in numbers because Roger is representing us all,” Kelley said. He noted that Isom and the WAPA staff also lead on issues

where there can be a positive outcome.

“He doesn’t just stave off harmful regulations, he helps implement positive change,” Kelley said.

Don Barton with GoldRiver Orchards said that having that representation as rules are being made is invaluable.

“Farmers just want to farm,” he said, “But in Sacramento, if you don’t have a seat at the table then you are on the menu.”

Isom and staff listed a number of additional important issues where the WAPA staff and board of directors are currently working to give the industry that seat at the table. You can read about those issues at the West Coast Nut web site wcngg.com or in WAPA’s monthly column in West Coast Nut magazine.

Among them the Advanced Clean Fleet Rule; Proposed Pesticide Notification Requirements; liability insurance caps, Electric Forklift Rule, which would require that all forklifts be electric by 2029, and others. All will have a significant impact to the industry’s bottom line.

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WAPA’s Roger Isom and Chris McGlothlin talk shop at the WAPA/West Coast Nut booth with board members Mike Kelley and Kirk Squire.

Assemblymen Heath Flora, left, and Carlos Villapudua of the legislative Problem Solvers Caucus explain the power of bipartisanship to get things done.

Ali Amin with Primex, at left, visits with industry members during a break in sessions.

Exhibitors shared the latest in hulling, shelling and processing during the WAPA trade show.

WAPA’s executive team, from left Priscilla Rodriguez, Roger Isom and Chris McGlothlin ran through the myriad issues WAPA is addressing on its members’ behalf.

Outgoing Chair Kim Keyawa-Musselman passes the gavel to new Chair Pat Andersen of Andersen and Sons Shelling Inc.

North State Tree Nut Harvest Perspective

By FRANZ NIEDERHOLZER | UCCE Farm Advisor, Colusa and Sutter/Yuba Counties

August means the start of harvest. This translates to long days if everything goes smoothly. The focus will be on current practices for a clean harvest with a quick look at the fall and next year.

Irrigation

As always, water comes first. The basic almond irrigation plan through July and into August is to limit water stress as much as possible up to preharvest irrigation cut off (apply 100% ET with target pressure chamber readings between baseline and -4 bars below baseline.) This could be called the “just enough plan.” Irrigating to refill the entire root zone with water each irrigation set could lead to slower, uneven dry down going into harvest and trunk damage (“barking”) in wetter areas across the orchard. On the other hand, final kernel size is less in trees with extended moderate to high water stress in the weeks before shaking compared to adequately watered

trees. Protect the long-term health and productivity of the orchard (avoid/minimize shaker damage) and maintain nut size and income for this crop, and keep the trees adequately watered (no less than -4 bars below baseline).

Restart irrigation as soon as possible after shaking but don’t allow water to reach the nuts on the orchard floor. This minimizes water stress during harvest when buds for next year are starting to develop. Soon after shaking, sweeping and conditioning nuts into wide, thin windrows is becoming a common practice where growers can keep irrigation water off the windrows. In these windrows, nuts dry quickly yet some water can be applied. Once nuts are up, the goal is to return the trees to between -2 and -4 bars below baseline and keep that level through the fall.

Shaker Timing

When to shake? A whole article is needed for this topic (see links to articles

at the end of column). However, here are some points to consider. Shaker damage shortens the life of an orchard. Bark naturally tightens over time from August into September. Wet trees can be delayed in maturity compared to dry trees in the same orchard and more vulnerable to shaker damage.

Consider shaking young orchards later in the harvest window and allowing a longer dry down time. Inshell nuts have been more valuable than meats in recent markets (but check with your processor for status in the current market.) Nuts with dry hulls (later shake) hull more easily than earlier harvested nuts but are more vulnerable to navel orangeworm (NOW) while drying on the tree.

Some varieties (e.g., Padre, Independence, Winters) are hard to shake cleanly and should be harvested when 100% hull split has occurred, but hulls are still green. Finally, someone with skin in the

game and the authority to shut down the harvest should be on-site during shaking, especially early in harvest for a variety when trunk damage risk is highest.

Almond Pest and Disease

Major pests to consider this time of year are navel orangeworm (NOW) and ants. Talk with your PCA about ant populations in your orchard and materials, rates and timing if needed. For best results with all ant-baits, use only newly opened, fresh material to dry ground and don’t irrigate for 48 hours.

NOW pressure varies even within a district, so check with your PCA about trap catch timings and numbers in your orchard(s) so you can consider harvest timings based on estimates of NOW flight and egg laying. Cracking out early split (drier) nuts as harvest approaches helps get a handle on damage potential and harvest timing. A nut on the orchard floor is much safer from NOW than a sprayed nut in the tree.

A timely harvest any time after all nuts in the orchard are at 2c hull split stage (see picture) is an excellent, free tactic to limit damage. Nuts on the orchard floor are much harder for female moths to find and infest with their young (lay eggs). Preharvest interval for pesticides is based on shake date, not pickup, and most insecticides require at least 7 to 10 days between spraying and shaking. Exceptions include B.t. (Javelin Dipel®, etc.) and Danitol® with PHIs of zero and three days, respectively. Select ing insecticides that don’t flare mites can

mean less leaf loss at shaking and so help shorten nut drying time on the orchard floor. Check out UC IPM information on pesticide impact on beneficials at link below.

How a spray is applied makes a significant difference in NOW control, especially under higher NOW pressure. Sprayed using 2 MPH sprayer speed and high volume (200 GPA) sprays reduced NOW damage compared with 100 GPA. Spraying during cooler temperatures (<80 degrees F) and higher relative humidity (<40%) reduced spray droplet evaporation and increased spray coverage by 50% in the treetops, where there are more nuts.

August is a very dry month in California, so foliar disease issues should be generally low. However, El Nino conditions are expected to last through the fall, and that may mean a wet winter (depending on where you farm). Make a note to talk with your PCA after almond harvest regarding Phytophthora management after harvest.

Other Considerations

With a wet winter possibly on the way, this could be a good year to wait until January to prune young orchards. January pruning produced lower pruning wound disease infection rates compared

(Topsin-M®, etc.) spray immediately after pruning consistently delivered the lowest infection rates in all UC trials in almond.

Speaking of chances for a wet winter and steps to help manage intense rainfall, state funding is available through CDFA’s Healthy Soils Program (see link at the end of this column) to help growers with costs of organic matter mulches (compost, shells, etc.) and/or cover crops. These practices can help soil health and reduce soil erosion/improve infiltration of rainwater into and through orchard soils. Some practices (legume cover crops, almond shell, etc.) can deliver significant amounts of essential nutrients. Applications close August 25.

Sample dry hulls from windrows of different varieties, keep the samples separate and send to the lab for boron analysis. A fall B spray can increase yield of well managed almonds by 100 to 200 kernel pounds per acre if hull B levels are below optimum. If hull B levels are 100 ppm or lower, talk with your CCA about B fertilizer programs for next spring. In my experience, where needed, B fertilization delivers the best return on investment ($ back for $ spent) of all nutrients. However, fall applied soil B fertilizer won’t get into flowers in time to help improve nut set next spring. Note: Hull B levels at or above 300 ppm indi

trees is September (no postharvest N, period). In early to mid-September, temporarily shut off irrigation to stop shoot growth and set a terminal bud in young, non-bearing walnuts. Once the buds are set, return to regular irrigation timed by tree or soil monitoring. Bearing trees may set a terminal bud when irrigation is shut off for harvest dry down. Critical point: start irrigation again once the terminal bud is set (or harvest is complete). For freeze management practices later in the fall plus pictures and more detail, see the referenced link.

Looking Ahead

The objective almond crop estimate came in at 2.6 billion pounds, which would mean the lowest yield/acre since 2008 without (probably?) much chance of major price relief. With good water availability this year and generally more healthy orchards, chances are better for a big crop state-wide in 2024. While the future is unknown (bloom weather?), this possible scenario means growers could face continued low nut prices.

Here are a couple of planning points to ponder.

Good to high yields will be needed to maintain income if 2024 is another low-price year, yet low prices for several years have already forced input cutbacks. One source of partial relief could be alternative sources of nutrients, particularly big-ticket items such as nitrogen and potassium. These inputs could help reduce fertilizer rates and overall costs while delivering essential nutrients (see

referenced links on alt nutrient sources.) California can help with costs of these practices through the Healthy Soils program.

Many growers have been practicing IPM for many years. This approach to pest management helps manage certain pest pressures, with reduced input in many cases, which is important during times of low prices and high input costs.

It’s best to have someone on site who is invested in the orchard during shaking to oversee activities and avoid shaker damage.

While I realize that IPM doesn’t solve all pest problems, this approach can help limit damage from many damaging pests such as spider mites and Phytophthora. A knowledgeable PCA can help with IPM practices and help growers find the best ROI for what inputs can be made. The UC IPM ag web site (ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/) is a great resource.

Continued “small ball” may be the path to staying in

business in the short term. Alternative nutrient sources and focus on IPM could be part of the future of successful almond growing.

Wishing all growers and their advisors a safe and successful harvest.

References

Irrigation

sacvalleyorchards.com/manuals/stem-water-potential/advanced-swp-interpretation-in-almond/ anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8503.pdf

When to shake almond trees

thealmonddoctor.com/shaking-almond-trees-when-to-start/ sacvalleyorchards.com/blog/almonds-blog/when-do-youshake/

Stockpiling Best Management Practices

sacvalleyorchards.com/almonds/horticulture/stockpiling/

Ant management

ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/almond/ants/ Pesticide impact on beneficial insects and mites ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/almond/

CDFA’s Healthy Soils Program https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/

Alternative sources of nutrients sacvalleyorchards.com/blog/almonds-blog/applying-amendments sacvalleyorchards.com/blog/common-concerns/alternative-nutrient-sources/

Walnut fall freeze protection sacvalleyorchards.com/walnuts/horticulture-walnuts/preparefor-next-sudden-autumn-freeze/

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When all the nuts in the orchard are at least at this stage (2C), the orchard is ready for a timely harvest.