nov-dec-2020

San Joaquin, but it is not used as much in the north,” said Machado. “This can be good for kernel quality, because it tends to equalize the crop in the stockpile. However, problems can arise from excess moisture in piles.” Machado advises growers to be sure their crop is dry enough before stockpiling it. He cites the Almond Board’s Best Management Practices on stockpiling, which recommends inshell kernel moisture below six percent and hull moisture below 12 percent before stockpiling. Considering the difficulty in getting an accurate, usable moisture test on kernels, Machado recommends the following rule of thumb, “If you have to ask, they are too wet.” Doubles Increasing The incidence in doubles is on the uptick. Machado reported that all almonds have multiple embryos, but normally one withers leaving no trace. However, some varieties are prone to retain the double kernel, the Monterey in particular. Environmental factors can influence retention of the double, and so can growth regulators such as Retain. Monterey production is increasing and as a result, Blue Diamond is seeing more doubles in almond deliveries. Doubles create problems with slicing and slivering, do not blanch well and substantially increase processing costs. Efficient Almond Integrated Pest Management (IPM) “From a cost/return standpoint, almond growers face major challenges in 2020 and long term,” said Franz Niederholzer, UC Farm Advisor for Colusa, Sutter and Yuba Counties. “Net return per acre is shrinking as crop size and costs rise while returns per pound of crop decline. These trends compel growers to focus on efficiency in order to maintain economic stability.” Niederholzer advises making sure that dollars spent on inputs bring the highest possible return without harming future crops. “It’s important that growers recognize which practices are basic investments in almond growing and which ones can be addressed as needed.” This is where Integrated Pest Management comes into play in an important way, he said. “IPM focuses on long-term prevention of pests and pest damage in a way that allows the grower to stay in business,” he said. IPM uses cultural practices to help control pests with the application of pesticides only when economic thresholds are met. When sprays are used, it is done carefully and with materials selected for the least impact on beneficial organisms. “IPM efficiencies can help a grower’s net income and even provide a marketing edge as an increasing number of buyers show an interest in sustainable practices and IPM,” he noted. IPM practices that lower costs include careful monitoring to pinpoint where money has to be spent and approaching each orchard according to its needs instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. A complete program includes engaging good partners, such as PCAs, and Blue Diamond field staff who provide critical information for efficient operations. A key piece of efficiency is to carefully calibrate and maintain sprayers to put the material where it is needed to get the control that is needed. The advantage of biological control — the use of beneficial insects and mites — is that it can make a big difference in control of certain, important pests. “The beneficials work cheap while you are working on something else,” Niederholzer observed. “And with them, spray coverage is not an issue. They find the pests. And you don’t need to import them, just be careful with what you spray and they will show up.” NOW an Increasing Concern NOW damage is a major concern up and down the Central Valley as damage from the pest continues to rise, Niederholzer said. Control of the pest is challenging and expensive. NOW overwinters inside mummy nuts and there is no effective dormant spray control for it. Winter sanitation is the foundation of a NOW control program. As NOW damage has become the primary pest/reject concern for almond growers, standards for orchard sanitation have tightened, said Niederholzer. While two mummies per tree was the target some years ago, the standard today is less than one mummy per tree and only four grounders per tree. Those targets yield a 1.56 2 1 N O V E M B E R – D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0