Growing the Valley
This is a podcast that goes over new research and basic information about growing orchard crops in the Central Valley of California
Episodes
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/
Southern Sacramento Valley Walnut Meeting – March 22nd at Norton Hall in Woodland from 8 AM to Noon
San Joaquin Valley Meetings:
In this episode, Phoebe talks with Sam Sandovol Solis, a professor of water management at UC Davis, about the 2023 water outlook. It’s looking a lot better than the previous years, but we aren’t out of the woods yet.
A previous episode on irrigation system maintenance with Tom Devol has an anecdote about how much water can be lost with a few leaks. Listen to it to learn tips on irrigation system maintenance and where Tom sees the m...
Phoebe discusses the 2023 bee outlook with Brittney Goodrich, an agriculturlal economics Professor of Cooperative Extension at UC Davis. Like in previous years, there are some issues affecting the health and size of the bee colonies in the United States, and Brittney shares some work she’s done to help growers possibly save money while ensuring they meet the bee stocking rate to satisfy crop insurance requirements. Listen to find...
IPM Advisors David Haviland, Dr. Jhalendra Rijal, and Dr. Sudan Gyawaly look back on the 2022 almond, walnut, and pistachio highlights from the south, middle, and north of the Central Valley respectively.
Learn from these IPM Advisors and other great UC researchers at our winter meetings!
Sac Valley Meetings: https://www.sacvalleyorchards.com/events/
San Joaquin Valley Meetings:
Leaffooted bugs are a sporadic pest in orchards, but when they appear they can cause serious damage. There are few management guidelines as it is believed that this insect was less of a pest in the past due to widespread useage of broad spectrum insecticides. As the nut crop industries have moved to more selective insecticides, an IPM success to be sure, plant bugs have increased in prevalence, or so it is believed. Houston Wilso...
Roger Duncan discusses his research over several years showing that in some situations compost may not improve orchard performance and grower bottom line.
Roger’s article on how “Compost May Not Improve Orchard Performance”.
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 gene...
Leslie Holland, Assistant Professor at University of Wisconsin, Madison, shares the results of some of her work examining fungicides to suppress Botryosphaeria infections in almond pruning wounds as a Ph.D. student at UC Davis. Leslie shares what works, as well as the key tip to dealing with fungal infections in orchard crops: preventing the infection from occurring in the first place.
Bacterial canker can be a serious disease affecting young Prunus species. It is closely connected to weather and tree health. Mohammad Yaghmour discusses what conditions lead to bacterial canker and what growers can do to lessen its severity.
Thank you to the Almond, Pistachio, Prune, and Walnut Boards of California for their kind donations. Thank you to Muriel Gordon for the music.
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the...
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
Luke discusses the recent history of sudden autumn walnut frost events in California’s Central Valley, how to prevent damage ahead of the next sudden frost, and how to rehabilitate damaged orchards.
Recorded Zoom webinar: Practical Canker Management in Almond and Prune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4JwrMGKros&t=3s
Articles referenced in the podcast:
Six steps to prepare for the next sudden autumn frost:
Measuring soil moisture by hand with the “feel” method, or with modern senor technology can be a powerful irrigation management tool. I sit down with Allan Fulton (UCCE Irrigation Advisor) to discuss how to measure and interpret orchard soil moisture.
You can lean more about soil moisture sensor selection at: http://www.sacvalleyorchards.com/blog/soil-moisture-sensor-selection-is-confusing/
Thanks to the Pistachio Board of California...
Kadie Britt discusses research results from a project examining the effects of cover crop on overwintering NOW larvae mortality.
Upcoming meetings: Introduction to Irrigation Management series to be held in Madera (Nov 7), Bakersfield (Nov 14), and Modesto (Nov 16). Best Management Practices for Soil Health to be held at the Kearney Ag Center in Parlier (Nov 16).
Thank you to the Almond, Pistachio, Prune, and Walnut Boards of Cali...
It’s October, the year is almost over! Phoebe and Luke compete to see who can go over the month’s tasks, using whatever metric they feel is the best way to declare themselves the winner. They then discuss current activities.
Upcoming meetings: Introduction to Irrigation Management series to be held in Madera (Nov 7), Bakersfield (Nov 14), and Modesto (Nov 16). Best Management Practices for Soil Health to be held at the Kearney A...
Dr. Ben Faber (UCCE Ventura County) discusses the effects of heat damage in orchard crops and practices to help manage high temperatures that are occurring more frequently with climate change.
Upcoming events:
Zoom webinar: Practical Canker Management in Almond and Prune: Register here
Thursday, September 29, 9–10:30 AM PST
The webinar will feature UC plant pathologists Florent Trouillas and Themis Michailides discussing the latest ...
Dr. Themis Michailides has been seeing increased mold in walnut pathology samples in recent years. The UC Davis Plant Pathologist at the Kearney Ag Center discusses his lab’s research on the biology and management of the disease.
An article based on this episode, can be found at: sacvalleyorchards.com/walnuts/diseases/managing-mold
Mention of a pesticide does not constitute a pesticide recommendation. Always follow the pesticide labe...
Houston Wilson (Entomology Specialist with UC Riverside) gives Phoebe an update on a project examining whether sterile NOW moths can be an effective addition to navel orangeworm management.
Upcoming webinar: “Practical Canker Management in Almond and Prune” Thursday, September 29 from 9 – 10:30 AM PST. The webinar will feature UC plant pathologists Florent Trouillas and Themis Michailides discussing the latest best management prac...
Phoebe and Luke discuss important tasks for September, orchard observations, and other thoughts.
Upcoming webinar: “Practical Canker Management in Almond and Prune” Thursday, September 29 from 9 – 10:30 AM PST. The webinar will feature UC plant pathologists Florent Trouillas and Themis Michailides discussing the latest best management practices for almond and prune cankers, respectively. There will be lots of opportunity for Q&A...
Dr. Rich Rosecrance and Becky Wheeler-Dykes (CSU Chico) discuss their latest findings on the mechanical pruning of prune trees. You can learn more at: sacvalleyorchards.com/prunes/year-round-management-prunes/mechanical-pruning-in-french and sacvalleyorchards.com/photos-from-the-field/box-hedging-decrease-prune-sunburn.This critical research is made possible by generous support from the Prune Board of California and the CSU Agricul...
In this encore episode Dr. Themis Michailides (UC Davis Plant Pathologist) discusses his lab’s advances against Cytospora cankers, a disease that can devastate prune orchards.
Upcoming webinar: “Practical Canker Management in Almond and Prune” Thursday, September 29 from 9 – 10:30 AM PST. The webinar will feature UC plant pathologists Florent Trouillas and Themis Michailides discussing the latest best management practices for almon...
Phoebe discusses irrigation pumps, including their capacity and maintenance, with Jon Chilcote, a USDA NRCS team engineer for the Southern San Joaquin Valley.
The website for the Department of Water Resources groundwater data: http://wdl.water.ca.gov/waterdatalibrary/
There are several additional resources you can find on our episode page.
Thank you to the Almond Board of California and the California Pistachio Research Board for thei...
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