Almond Journey

Devin Clarke has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to crop fertility, and is conducting some interesting trials at YARA’s Incubator Farm. The farm consists of 40 acres that they lease from an almond grower to compare various full season nutrition management strategies. In this episode, Devin discusses what they’re learning at the incubator farm, what’s going on with the volatile fertilizer market, and what insights he can share that might help growers get the most out of their fertilizer programs.

“If you're able to generate a more consistent year over year net return by employing a strategy that is focused on crop demand and uptake, then it's going to put you in a better position long-term to be able to cover some of (your) fixed costs.” - Devin Clarke

Devin began his career as a pest control advisor (PCA) with a local independent ag retailer. He soon found his biggest interest was on the agronomic side of the business, and was attracted to YARA’s focus on nature-positive solutions. Devin is also a graduate of the Almond Leadership Program and the chair of the Almond Board’s Strategic Ag Innovation Committee.

“We've been able to generate about 13% greater ROI net return on investment here with the My Almond Strategy compared to the baseline strategy over the last two years. So that represents about $752 an acre each year.” - Devin Clarke

In Today’s episode:

• Meet Devin Clarke YARA North America permanent crops manager
• Discover Devin’s journey to managing trials at the YARA Incubator Farm and the many strategies they are testing to improve titrated nutrition to trees and increase yields for producers
• Explore what Devin means by “on demand feeding” for the trees and the impact this research can make on input needs and yield values
• Learn more about YARA’s efforts towards providing education and incentives for nitrogen use efficiency by visiting the BetterSoil Alliance

“You're working with this unknown element of the soil, and you're trying to figure out how to not only get materials applied in a way that is most accessible to the plant, but also going to provide the most value to the plant….it's a really rapidly growing space. And so that's where I've found a lot of interest in exploring that more and essentially turning that into a career.” - Devin Clarke

 ABC Update

One of the trickier aspects to dialing in your fertilizer program is yield estimation. Almond Board of California associate director for agricultural research Sebastian Saa says yield estimation is a critical variable in determining your crops nitrogen needs. Saa also is part of the CDFA’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program where he reviews proposals in research and outreach in the areas of fertilizers. He says yield estimation, like any prediction, is not an exact science. It takes effort and often experience to do well.

For more information about this or any of the topics we discuss on this podcast, reach out to the Almond Board’s Field Outreach Team directly at [email protected]. 

The Almond Journey Podcast is brought to you by the Almond Board of California. This show explores how growers, handlers, and other stakeholders are making things work in their operations to drive the almond industry forward. Host Tim Hammerich visits with leaders throughout the Central Valley of California and beyond who are finding innovative ways to improve their operations, connect with their communities, and advance the almond industry.

ABC recognizes the diverse makeup of the California almond industry and values contributions offered by its growers, handlers, and allied industry members. However, the opinions, services and products discussed in existing and future podcast episodes are by no means an endorsement or recommendation from ABC. The Almond Journey podcast is not an appropriate venue to express opinions on national, state, local or industry politics. As a Federal Marketing Order, the Almond Board of California is prohibited from lobbying or advocating on legislative issues, as well as setting field and market prices.

 Darren Rigg is a field buyer and sales representative for Minturn Nut Company and a member of the Almond Board of California Board of Directors. Rigg, like other handlers in the industry, sees firsthand how transportation disruptions are impacting the almond supply chain. In this episode of the Almond Journey Podcast, Rigg talks about the current logistics, transportation, and shipping challenges that the industry is facing while trying to execute on the global demand for almonds.

“I feel like it’s a death by a thousand cuts. It’s not any one thing that is causing it…. And anytime we feel like we get a little momentum, something occurs that takes us back down to square one.” - Darren Rigg

Rigg grew up in Escalon and started his career in 2008 after graduating from Chico State. He joined Minturn Nut in 2017 where he manages sales and procurement of almonds including managing call pools, buyer and seller accounts, and developing new business.

“A big part of it is being that conduit to the grower and having that market discovery…. Understanding the nuances and the intricacies in every market and position Minturn and also our growers best into those markets so we can try to have success.” - Darren Rigg

In Today’s episode:

• Meet Darren Rigg, a field buyer and sales rep with Minturn Nut and Board Member for the Almond Board of California.
• Discover what impacts handlers are experiencing from transportation disruptions
• Explore the global almond market and how the industry is getting through the challenges they are facing.

“It’s made us be a lot more in tune with who are logistics partners are…. If things get smoothed out, if anything, we should be more equipped…we should be able to get ourselves out of pickles a little more quickly the next time. We hope there will be some residual value from this, even though it has been miserable as hell.” -Darren Rigg

ABC Update

Around 70% of all California almonds are exported, and there are a number of factors causing backlogs and working against the handlers who are trying to get those almonds shipped. Almond Board of California Senior Analyst for Government Relations Brock Densel said to understand the economic impacts of these issues at the handler level, they conducted a handler survey. He said the survey results can be summed up in three categories: shipping costs, administrative costs and storage costs.

Resources:

●    "Transportation Challenges Continue, Cost Industry in Multiple Ways"

●    "Training Tuesday Part Two - Transportation Survey and China Facility Registration"

The Almond Journey Podcast is brought to you by the Almond Board of California. This show explores how growers, handlers, and other stakeholders are making things work in their operations to drive the almond industry forward. Host Tim Hammerich visits with leaders throughout the Central Valley of California and beyond who are finding innovative ways to improve their operations, connect with their communities, and advance the almond industry.

ABC recognizes the diverse makeup of the California almond industry and values contributions offered by its growers, handlers, and allied industry members. However, the opinions, services and products discussed in existing and future podcast episodes are by no means an endorsement or recommendation from ABC. The Almond Journey podcast is not an appropriate venue to express opinions on national, state, local or industry politics. As a Federal Marketing Order, the Almond Board of California is prohibited from lobbying or advocating on legislative issues, as well as setting field and market prices.

In this episode we visit with almond grower and retired Air Force officer Alec Earle. Alec and his wife each spent over 30 years in the Air Force, first in active duty then civil service. In 2014, they bought 20 acres in partnership with his wife’s sister and her husband to form E&S Farms, LLC. Alec used the skills he had developed in the military to research extensively and organize his small orchard to operate at peak performance. He has fine-tuned his irrigation program and tapped into grants to buy equipment and improve his efficiencies. 

“I know the Almond Board has a place where they have links to these different websites and different services, but you really have to go out and do some research. There's help out there and there's money out there. If you go out and look for it.” - Alec Earle

In Today’s episode: 

• Meet Alec Earle, an almond grower and retired Air Force officer
• Discover Alec’s introduction into agriculture and almond producing
• Explore the research and grants Alec found and utilized to build and expand his operation

“There's a lot of paths to success in farming. There's not one right answer, every farm and every location has its own challenges depending on where you happen to be. So you have to take all the information that you can find, whether it's from the almond board, whether it's from other farmers, whether it's from your PCA…. and make decisions that you feel are best.” - Alec Earle

Contact the Almond Board field outreach team to access more available resources by sending an email to [email protected] 

ABC Update

Alec shared the benefits he found from soil moisture probes and pressure chambers for irrigation scheduling. Almond Board senior manager for field outreach and education Tom Devol says there’s an even more basic problem many growers could pay more attention to: cleaning and maintenance of irrigation systems. 

The Almond Journey Podcast is brought to you by the Almond Board of California. This show explores how growers, handlers, and other stakeholders are making things work in their operations to drive the almond industry forward. Host Tim Hammerich visits with leaders throughout the Central Valley of California and beyond who are finding innovative ways to improve their operations, connect with their communities, and advance the almond industry.

ABC recognizes the diverse makeup of the California almond industry and values contributions offered by its growers, handlers, and allied industry members. However, the opinions, services and products discussed in existing and future podcast episodes are by no means an endorsement or recommendation from ABC. The Almond Journey podcast is not an appropriate venue to express opinions on national, state, local or industry politics. As a Federal Marketing Order, the Almond Board of California is prohibited from lobbying or advocating on legislative issues, as well as setting field and market prices.

This National Almond Day episode travels down to Shafter, California to chat with 4th generation California farmer Jenny Holtermann, who some of you might know from her online presence as Almond Girl Jenny. Holtermann grew up farming almonds in the Chico area, and now raising the fifth-generation family farmers with her husband in Kern County. In this episode Holterman details her journey into industry advocacy, the benefits of sharing your story, and the need for more people from the industry to connect and build trust with consumers.

“The more we can share those daily, everyday little things, the better. Right now, the orchards are full of blooms. What a better time to share a little glimpse into what you get to see on a daily basis?” - Jenny Holtermann

In today’s episode: 

● Meet Jenny Holtermann, 4th generation California farmer, blogger and advocate for the agriculture industry.

● Learn why Jenny has made it a priority to engage publicly with anyone who has questions, concerns or misconceptions about the almond industry.

● Hear how she deals with negativity online.

● Discover how she has turned her online presence into a direct-to-consumer business.

● Find ways to get involved in industry leadership through the Almond Board of California, Farm Bureau, the Almond Alliance or other organizations.

ABC recognizes the diverse makeup of the California almond industry and values contributions offered by its growers, handlers, and allied industry members. However, the opinions, services and products discussed in existing and future podcast episodes are by no means an endorsement or recommendation from ABC. The Almond Journey podcast is not an appropriate venue to express opinions on national, state, local or industry politics. As a Federal Marketing Order, the Almond Board of California is prohibited from lobbying or advocating on legislative issues, as well as setting field and market prices.

In today’s episode, independent PCA and crop consultant, Justin Nay, shares advice and experience for your almond orchard’s integrated pest management program. Justin’s company, Integral Ag Incorporated was formed in 2008. Before that Justin earned his Ph.D. in entomology from UC Riverside, where he worked with the carob moth, a cousin to the almond industry’s biggest pest: the navel orangeworm. Justin walks us through a year of pest management in almond orchards beginning with winter sanitation, followed by monitoring during the growing season and finishing with harvest sampling. He has so much knowledge to share as a scientist, business owner, and PCA with many years of almond experience. 

“We can come up with a population estimate as well as when that population is going to emerge in the field based on the size and the ages of the larvae…And that sets our baseline… Does the farmer have 20 navel orangeworm females per acre or does he have 200 and that's going to set what mitigation we're going to be dealing with for the rest of the season.” - Justin Nay

In Today’s episode: 

• Meet Justin Nay, independent PCA and crop consultant with Integral Ag Incorporated
• Explore the different practices Justin employs to manage navel orangeworm and what producers can do to be most effective
• Discover the best times and sampling methods for monitoring population levels

“In doing (harvest sampling), we can determine not only how well we did with our program for the season, but we also get to see all the different types of damage that occur…So it allows us to really see firsthand how we did with our pest management for the season. It's probably the most important thing I think that we do.” - Justin Nay

Contact the Almond Board field outreach team to access more available resources by sending an email to [email protected] 

ABC Update

Advancements in integrated pest management are really an important part of ensuring growers can grow almonds profitably while meeting the highest quality standards. Almond Board Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Josette Lewis says IPM is as much about cost effectiveness as it is about pest control.

The Almond Journey Podcast is brought to you by the Almond Board of California. This show explores how growers, handlers, and other stakeholders are making things work in their operations to drive the almond industry forward. Host Tim Hammerich visits with leaders throughout the Central Valley of California and beyond who are finding innovative ways to improve their operations, connect with their communities, and advance the almond industry.

ABC recognizes the diverse makeup of the California almond industry and values contributions offered by its growers, handlers, and allied industry members. However, the opinions, services and products discussed in existing and future podcast episodes are by no means an endorsement or recommendation from ABC. The Almond Journey podcast is not an appropriate venue to express opinions on national, state, local or industry politics. As a Federal Marketing Order, the Almond Board of California is prohibited from lobbying or advocating on legislative issues, as well as setting field and market prices.

In today’s episode we visit with Carl Evers and Jeremy Olday of AgIS Capital. AgIS Capital is an employee-owned management firm that invests in farmland on behalf of and alongside their investors. AgIS then oversees the management of those farm properties which are located nationwide with the majority being in California and the Pacific Northwest. 

Carl Evers is the director of sustainability at AgIS Capital, and Jeremy Olday is a farm manager for the company. The two discuss their efforts to make sustainability work in almond orchards on three levels: economically, environmentally, and socially. 

“Now it’s kind of hard to say no [to Whole Orchard Recycling] if it’s going to cost the same as burning, but you’ve got all of your environmental health benefits, plus probably some slow-release fertilizer that you’ve recovered and been able to put back into the ground.” - Carl Evers

In today’s episode:

• Meet AgIS Capital
• Carl and Jeremy’s experiences getting started with cover crops and the Seeds for Bees program
• How they have approached Whole Orchard Recycling, how they are making it pay, and some lessons they have learned along the way
• Their involvement with Leading Harvest

“If you’re going to spend $20 or $30 to sort of fortify your bee habitat per acre when you’re spending $200+ per acre to rent bees every year, it’s just a hedge that makes sense.” - Carl Evers

Contact the Almond Board field outreach team to access more available resources by sending an email to [email protected] 

ABC Update

At the end of an orchard’s productive life, almond growers must decide what to do with their old trees: either replant immediately or wait a year. Whole Orchard Recycling is an innovative and sustainable practice that contributes to the success of the subsequent orchard by not only putting everything grown in the previous orchard to optimal use, but also providing value back to the grower by delivering nutrients, improving soil quality and ultimately, potentially, increasing yields. There’s a cool story behind the development of whole orchard recycling, and Almond Board Senior Manager of Industry Relations and Communications Jenny Nicolau says there’s a new mini-documentary coming to share this story. Visit www.Almonds.com/WOR to learn more. 

The Almond Journey Podcast is brought to you by the Almond Board of California. This show explores how growers, handlers, and other stakeholders are making things work in their operations to drive the almond industry forward. Host Tim Hammerich visits with leaders throughout the Central Valley of California and beyond who are finding innovative ways to improve their operations, connect with their communities, and advance the almond industry.

ABC recognizes the diverse makeup of the California almond industry and values contributions offered by its growers, handlers, and allied industry members. However, the opinions, services and products discussed in existing and future podcast episodes are by no means an endorsement or recommendation from ABC. The Almond Journey podcast is not an appropriate venue to express opinions on national, state, local or industry politics. As a Federal Marketing Order, the Almond Board of California is prohibited from lobbying or advocating on legislative issues, as well as setting field and market prices.

In this episode we visit with almond grower and Hughson Nut Field Representative Donny Hicks. Donny manages a small 18-acre orchard, which helps him keep a grower’s perspective in everything he does. Donny shares how he’s offering up his acreage for experiments in areas such as fumigation, pruning, and subsurface irrigation. Then we talk about his role with Hughson Nut, and what he learns from the growers he works with day to day.

“It's really nice to be able to farm and do what I'm doing because I'm going through the same thing that my growers are going through whether it be water issues or price. It really helps me to relate to my growers.” - Donny Hicks

In Today’s episode:

• Meet Donny Hicks, almond grower and Hughson Nut Field Representative
• Explore the different trials being performed on his farm and some of the preliminary results he has observed
• Discover the benefit Donny has as a producer and a field representative and how he brings that to his customers

“Farmers, we’re by nature optimistic people. Otherwise I don't think some of us would be doing it if we didn't think that there was something better down the road .” - Donny Hicks

Contact the Almond Board field outreach team to access more available resources by sending an email to [email protected]

ABC Update

It’s the end of December, which is a great time to take a breath, spend time with family, and reflect on the past year. 2021 has been a challenge for many, but Almond Board chairman and co-owner of Sperry Farms Brian Wahlbrink echoes Donny’s optimism about the future ahead and delivers holiday greetings to the almond industry.

The Almond Journey Podcast is brought to you by the Almond Board of California. This show explores how growers, handlers, and other stakeholders are making things work in their operations to drive the almond industry forward. Host Tim Hammerich visits with leaders throughout the Central Valley of California and beyond who are finding innovative ways to improve their operations, connect with their communities, and advance the almond industry.

ABC recognizes the diverse makeup of the California almond industry and values contributions offered by its growers, handlers, and allied industry members. However, the opinions, services and products discussed in existing and future podcast episodes are by no means an endorsement or recommendation from ABC. The Almond Journey podcast is not an appropriate venue to express opinions on national, state, local or industry politics. As a Federal Marketing Order, the Almond Board of California is prohibited from lobbying or advocating on legislative issues, as well as setting field and market prices.

In this episode we visit with Kyle McClintock. Kyle is the vice president and general manager of San Joaquin Fertilizer. He is also an almond grower at IB Farming, his family’s farming operation. On the fertilizer side, they specialize in crop fertility recommendations and foliar nutrients as well as a couple of proprietary liquid soil amendments. Kyle is also a current participant in the Almond Leadership Program. Kyle shares a little bit about crop fertility in almonds, the current situation with fertilizer prices and what changes he’s seen in his 11 years in both the fertilizer and farming businesses.

“I know what it's like to be on one side of the desk and try to come in and discuss with a grower what we can do to help them out and help their operation. And then I also know what it's like to be behind that desk as the farmer and make those decisions on what is best for myself and my operation and how we optimize things. So it gives me a pretty cool perspective about the whole thing.” - Kyle McClintock

In Today’s episode: 

• Meet Kyle McClintock, the vice president and general manager of San Joaquin Fertilizer and also an almond grower at IB Farming
• Explore Kyle’s background and the scope of his operations as both a producer and fertilizer manager
• Discover the benefits and process of the Almond Leadership Program

“In this industry, or anywhere, building relationships and networking is extremely important. You've got to expand your horizons and learn new things and meet new people. And so I figured, this is my opportunity and I should take it and run with it. So that's what we did.” - Kyle McClintock

Contact the Almond Board field outreach team to access more available resources by sending an email to [email protected] 

ABC Update

You heard Kyle describe how he waited years before applying for the Almond Leadership Program, because initially he wasn’t sure if it was for him. Almond Board Senior manager of industry relations and communications Jenny Nicolau describes who the Almond Leadership Program is designed for. If you apply and are admitted into the one-year program, you’re in for a tremendous year of learning, meeting new people, and gaining access to new ideas that you can use for the benefit of your work and the industry overall. 

Register now for the Almond Conference December 7-9

The Almond Journey Podcast is brought to you by the Almond Board of California. This show explores how growers, handlers, and other stakeholders are making things work in their operations to drive the almond industry forward. Host Tim Hammerich visits with leaders throughout the Central Valley of California and beyond who are finding innovative ways to improve their operations, connect with their communities, and advance the almond industry.

ABC recognizes the diverse makeup of the California almond industry and values contributions offered by its growers, handlers, and allied industry members. However, the opinions, services and products discussed in existing and future podcast episodes are by no means an endorsement or recommendation from ABC. The Almond Journey podcast is not an appropriate venue to express opinions on national, state, local or industry politics. As a Federal Marketing Order, the Almond Board of California is prohibited from lobbying or advocating on legislative issues, as well as setting field and market prices.

Today’s episode takes us to Bakersfield, California, where we talk to Bret Sill who you heard from on episode 008. We’re revisiting Bret for a bit of a different story on today’s podcast, one that’s perfect for the Thanksgiving holiday that’s happening this week. We have the chance to share a great story of an almond grower impacting his community. 

In 2013, Bret felt led to be of service to the people of Bakersfield. He felt called to deliver fresh food directly from growers to people in need of quality food. Since that time, Morning Star Fresh Food Ministry has grown tremendously and served thousands of people. 

“I knew how to buy, I knew how to pack and I knew how to distribute and just to take that for a food ministry and that we could do everything fresh, and with the growers that I knew and the connections that I had….. it was really just taking what I knew and say let's use it for something better and something for our community.” - Bret Sill

In Today’s episode: 

• Meet Bret Sill, founder of the nonprofit Morning Star Fresh Food Ministry
• Explore the successes and good that Bret is able to share with his community
• Discover how producers and others can contribute to this worthy cause

“We want to give a hand up instead of a handout. And then that way they have some skin in the game and they want to contribute back to society.…..So that's what's really exciting to see, a person that was receiving a box and now they're doing so well that they're contributing back to the ministry. ” - Bret Sill

Contact the Almond Board field outreach team to access more available resources by sending an email to [email protected] 

ABC Update

A few years ago the Almond Board created a video called “The Mummy Shake” which was a song about winter sanitation set to the music of the song “Monster Mash”. The popularity of “The Mummy Shake”  led to an annual competition of growers submitting videos of them dancing to the song. Senior manager of industry relations and communications Jenny Nicolau says the contest is back this year, but a little different from years past. The deadline for The Mummy Shake Holiday Song Competition is Friday, December 17th. 

Register now for the Almond Conference December 7-9

The Almond Journey Podcast is brought to you by the Almond Board of California. This show explores how growers, handlers, and other stakeholders are making things work in their operations to drive the almond industry forward. Host Tim Hammerich visits with leaders throughout the Central Valley of California and beyond who are finding innovative ways to improve their operations, connect with their communities, and advance the almond industry.

ABC recognizes the diverse makeup of the California almond industry and values contributions offered by its growers, handlers, and allied industry members. However, the opinions, services and products discussed in existing and future podcast episodes are by no means an endorsement or recommendation from ABC. The Almond Journey podcast is not an appropriate venue to express opinions on national, state, local or industry politics. As a Federal Marketing Order, the Almond Board of California is prohibited from lobbying or advocating on legislative issues, as well as setting field and market prices.

Today’s episode introduces us to George Goshgarian. George is an almond grower and also the chairman of the Almond Board of California’s Nutrition Research Committee. We unpack the important role nutrition research continues to play in growing the global consumption of almonds. George shares some of the successes and challenges of the past 15+ years that he has been involved with the committee. Through our discussion listeners will gain even more of an appreciation for how important this work is for all almond growers and handlers, and how much effort goes into this by people like George who volunteer their time to serve the industry.

“To me that's the only reason this committee exists and should exist is to do research that will assist this industry in promoting sales in almonds.” - George Goshgarian

In Today’s episode: 

• Meet George Goshgarian, an almond grower and also the chairman of the Almond Board’s Nutrition Research Committee.
• Discover the scope, process and effectiveness of the Almond Board’s Nutrition Research Projects
• Explore what future projects and research efforts are in progress to encourage consumption of almonds

“My opinion has been that the work that we have accomplished in nutrition research has been one of the major reasons for the increased sales of almonds over the years.” - George Goshgarian

Contact the Almond Board field outreach team to access more available resources by sending an email to [email protected] 

ABC Update

To bring in more perspectives on how the valuable work of the Almond Board’s Nutrition Research gets done, we talk to Dr. Swati Kalgaonkar. She has a Ph.D. in Nutritional Science and extensive nutrition clinical research experience. Her primary focus is oversight of ABC contracted nutrition research, public policy analysis and synthesis, and information dissemination in support of the almond industries global strategies. 

Register now for the Almond Conference December 7-9

The Almond Journey Podcast is brought to you by the Almond Board of California. This show explores how growers, handlers, and other stakeholders are making things work in their operations to drive the almond industry forward. Host Tim Hammerich visits with leaders throughout the Central Valley of California and beyond who are finding innovative ways to improve their operations, connect with their communities, and advance the almond industry.

ABC recognizes the diverse makeup of the California almond industry and values contributions offered by its growers, handlers, and allied industry members. However, the opinions, services and products discussed in existing and future podcast episodes are by no means an endorsement or recommendation from ABC. The Almond Journey podcast is not an appropriate venue to express opinions on national, state, local or industry politics. As a Federal Marketing Order, the Almond Board of California is prohibited from lobbying or advocating on legislative issues, as well as setting field and market prices.