Cover crops! They’re not just for almonds (despite the bulk of California orchard cover crop research being in that crop). Daniele Zaccaria has been conducting research on cover crops in California pistachio orchards and shares what he has found, including some interesting possibilities as to why they found higher yields in orchards with cover crops. Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom) Mention of an agrichemical does not constitute a recommendation, merely the sharing of research findings. Always follow the label. The label is law ..read more

Luke Milliron and Ken Shackel (UC Davis) sit down to talk about the decade plus of research investigating when to start irrigation in the spring for walnut orchards. If you want to learn more about incorporating the pressure chamber to improve orchard health and cut costs - contact your local farm advisor or Luke at (530) 828-9666 Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom) The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material a ..read more

In a world where it feels like we have a new invasive pest every month, sometimes it’s hard for an arthropod to stand out. Last year, the nut industries were put on notice by Carpophilus truncatus, a tiny beetle that has commandeered big attention. Lucky for us (and unluckily for the Australians), we aren’t alone in trying to figure out how to keep this beetle under control. Houston Wilson shares what we know about its spread in the state, and what we can learn from Down Under. Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom) Mention of an agri ..read more

Sarah Castro (UC Davis) discusses how new prune varieties can improve a grower’s bottom line! scastro @ ucdavis.edu Insta: @cali.prunebreeder Initial episode on the prune breeding program with Sarah Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom) The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "University of California" name and all forms and abb ..read more

Phoebe and Sam discuss the water outlook for 2024. Some things have changed since last year, but some things have stayed the same. Listen to the entire episode to hear a public service announcement about tequila and agave production in the state! Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom) Mention of an agrichemical does not constitute a recommendation, merely the sharing of research findings. Always follow the label. The label is law. Find out more at ipm.ucanr.edu. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do ..read more

While we posted this episode all the way back in 2018, we thought we would dust it off since the information is still timely. Phoebe interviews Craig Kallsen, the now emeritus subtropical and pistachio tree crop advisor for Kern County, to talk about what we know and don’t know about dormancy in pistachios. Craig also talks about a paper he published back in 2017, looking at the correlation between winter and spring temperatures and current season’s yield. This is an ongoing area for research and there are still more questions than we have answers. This episode is a direct followup to “Chill w ..read more

Brittney Goodrich provides an update on what almond growers can expect in the 2024 pollination season. You can find the economic calculator here. Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom) Mention of an agrichemical does not constitute a recommendation, merely the sharing of research findings. Always follow the label. The label is law. Find out more at ipm.ucanr.edu. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and inf ..read more

Navel Orangeworm (NOW) wreaked devastating impacts on the California almond industry in 2023. I sat down with Dr. Franz Niederholzer (UCCE Colusa) after harvest to discuss what had happened and what needs to be done to win the war against NOW in 2024. Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom) Mention of an agrichemical does not constitute a recommendation, merely the sharing of research findings. Always follow the label. The label is law. Find out more at ipm.ucanr.edu. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own an ..read more

Call or text 530-487-5991 to ask questions for Phoebe and Luke to answer or provide feedback about adapting the 1 Minute Challenge   Upcoming Field meetings: Introduction to Orchard Irrigation Management in three locations Madera: Monday, November 7, 2022, 7:30 AM—12:00 PM Bakersfield: Monday, November 14, 2022, 7:30 AM—12:00 PM Modesto: Wednesday, November 16, 2022, 7:30 AM—12:00 PM   Best Management Practices for Soil Health Wednesday, November 16, 2022, 8:00 AM--1:00 @ Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier, California: Register here. Mention of pesticide u ..read more

Franz Niederholzer (UCCE Colusa and Sutter-Yuba) and Luke talk about March almond, prune, and walnut tasks in the Sacramento Valley.   Sac Valley Meetings: https://www.sacvalleyorchards.com/events/ Cover Cropping in Conventional Orchards and Vineyards: Arbuckle Area Tour March 8 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Southern Sacramento Valley Walnut Meeting – March 22nd at Norton Hall in Woodland from 8 AM to Noon San Joaquin Valley Meetings: https://www.sjvtandv.com/ 2022 Fungicides, Bactericides, Biocontrols, and Natural Products for Deciduous Tree Fruit and Nut, Citrus, Strawberry, and Vine Crops in C ..read more