Growing the Valley

California pear production has a rich history and continues to be an important part of agriculture in the North Coast and Delta regions. Rachel Elkins (UCCE Lake County) discusses the highlights of her research in pear production over the years, and specifically organic production.

Sampling is the crux of figuring out if you have a nematode problem and whether nematicides you employed to fix the problem worked. Dr. Andreas Westphal a UC Riverside nematology specialist based at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center discusses nematode sampling best practices.

Phoebe got the chance to interview former orchard systems advisor Dani Lightle on band canker. There’s a lot we don’t know about infections, but she shares what we know about survival, disease latency, and ages of infection. She also runs through some past and ongoing research.

Mention of a trade name is not an endorsement or recommendation.

Thank you to the Almond Board of California and the California Pistachio Research Board for their support. Music by Muriel Gordon.

Phoebe interviews Kent Daane, the entomology specialist at UC Berkeley, about his early research findings on BMSB’s feeding behavior and survival when feeding on pistachios. We still have a ton of questions to be answered on BMSB in general, so our understanding will continue to evolve.

Thank you to the Almond Board of California and the California Pistachio Research Board for their support. Music is by Muriel Gordon.

On her second to last day with UC Cooperative Extension before heading to Oregon State University, Dr. Dani Lightle reflects on a perplexing series of farm calls with ants and 1st leaf almond orchards.

On one of her last days with UC Cooperative Extension before heading to Oregon State University, Dr. Dani Lightle reflects on her diagnosis process when called out on farm calls. Dani Lightle was masterful at methodically working through difficult orchard diagnoses.

What does adding all that carbon through whole orchard recycling do to the availability of nitrogen for newly planted almond trees? Farm advisors Dr. Mae Culumber and Dr. Brent Holtz share their new research findings on the challenges and potential benefits when it comes to nitrogen management in recycled orchards.

Dr. Brent Holtz (UCCE San Joaquin) shares his pioneering studies on the benefits of incorporating almond trees back into the soil once they have reached the end of their productive life and before a new orchard is planted.

Phoebe and Luke are back with walnut, prune, almond and pistachio tasks for September!

Does painting young almond tree trunks help protect the trees from herbicide damage? Farm advisor Dani Lightle set out to answer this question and shares the early results.