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Almond Facts
JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2016
Can’t Change This
Brush notes that a grower cannot change his soil’s exchange
capacity – the movement of negative and positive ions
among soil particles (sand versus clay, for instance). If you
are on sand, it will always be sand. You can spend a fortune
adding organic matter, for instance, but it will not make
much difference, he says – a few percentage points in the
analysis, perhaps. It will oxidize and disappear or if you add
too much, it could cause a toxic reaction in the plants. Nor
can you change the climate or location you are in, water
availability or what other people are doing. Most people
will just keep on doing what has worked for them, but Brush
advises to always be open-minded to new and better ways of
doing things.
What You Can Change
Brush points out that you have control over the soil
structure by sampling it regularly and acting accordingly.
You can modify micronutrient levels by measuring them
and adding amendments. Also water penetration is
manageable and biological activity can be encouraged.
These critical components are within your control and have
critical impacts on orchard health and productivity, he says.
New Pesticide Rules
for 2016
Growers packed the seminar room for Kelle Schroeder’s
discussion of new regulations for closed mixing systems and
personal protective equipment. Schroeder, Deputy Agricultural
Commissioner for Stanislaus County, gave themwhat they came
for and more. She expanded the discussion to include new rules
for chlorpyrifos and non-fumigant volatile organic compounds,
and gave a heads-up on coming changes in notification
requirements for applying pesticides in the vicinity of a school.
Schroeder began with a reminder on maintaining safe
equipment, including protecting all external sight gauges
against breakage. In addition, sight gauges must be equipped
with valves so the pipes or tubes connected to the sight gauges
can be shut off in the event the sight gauge is broken.
Closed Mixing Systems
Current regulations (CCR 6746) require employers to provide
closed systems for employees who mix or load liquid pesticides
