The Almond Alliance of California (AAC) has named Aubrey Bettencourt as its new President and CEO. She currently serves as Director for Sustainability for the California Cattle Council and Western United Dairies and has extensive experience dealing with a wide range of California agricultural and natural resource issues. Bettencourt succeeds Elaine Trevino, who has been nominated by President Biden to …
Plan for the worst, hope for the best. That’s a tough, solid, strategy as the 2021 season winds down and almond growers and PCAs look to 2022. The following are some considerations when following this strategy. Every operation is different, and growers must decide what works best for their business. Final decisions may not need to be made until early …
Have you had a chance to meet Evie Smith, one of our new Staff Research Associates with the UC Cooperative Extension? Watch her brief introduction here to learn about her and the almond, walnut and prune projects she is working on with Sacramento Valley farm advisors. Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
The European Union represents the California almond industry’s top export market; however, they also maintain the strictest standards regarding maximum residue levels (MRLs) for toxins of any kind. Herbicide residues have been the source for some recent MRL rejections, but how are they getting on the nuts? Watch this brief interview with Drew Wolter from the Almond Board of California …
Navel Orangeworm is not the only major pest of California almonds. Leaffooted bug damage is also leading to crop rejections, and unfortunately, growers do not have a lot of tools for managing this pest. Watch this brief interview with Drew Wolter from the Almond Board of California as he explains. Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
As almond growers diligently begin their Navel Orangeworm winter sanitation and “Mummy Shakes” as the Almond Board of California puts it, Modesto grower Bill Brush shares concerns about caring for young almond trees amidst these sanitation efforts. Watch this brief interview with Bill and read more about almond orchard practices in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine. Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for …
With a new $20 million federal grant, UC Merced becomes part of a multi-institutional research collaborative to develop artificial intelligence — or AI — solutions to tackle some of agriculture’s biggest challenges related to water management, climate change and integration of new technology into farming. The new institute is one of 11 launched this year by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and …
A tiny wasp may be the solution for managing an agricultural pest causing major economic damage to fruit, vegetable, and field crops in North America and Europe. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists are currently studying Trissolcus japonicus, commonly known as the samurai wasp, to see if this parasitoid wasp is the right biological control agent for reducing brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha …
Blue Diamond Growers Foundation is pleased to announce its 2021-2022 scholarship recipients. This year, scholarship funding is being awarded to 24 college students who are either dependents of Blue Diamond employees or are members of local communities pursuing agriculture-related fields of study at colleges and universities in California and throughout the country. “For agriculture to succeed for years to come, …
