Growers who would like to participate in the Seeds for Bees program have until Nov. 22, 2019 to submit their applications. Seeds for Bees is organized by Project Apis m. (PAm.), one of the nation’s leading honey bee research organizations. The program encourages the planting of bee forage as part of riparian areas or cover crops in and around California …
USDA’s Market Facilitation Program (MFP) is continuing for the second year, providing almond growers with an opportunity to apply for direct payments to help alleviate the damage resulting from the global trade situation. Unlike the 2018 program when payments were based on delivered pounds, the 2019 MFP program is based on bearing acreage. To learn more about the changes to …
With a growing almond industry and an increasing supply of coproducts, such as hulls and shells, researchers are searching for new and resourceful ways of utilizing the extra material as an asset. Breaking these coproducts down to a form that may be utilized back in the soil or as a feed supplement has been a challenge in the past; but …
Dear Industry Partner: Agriculture, water, trade and pest management policy decisions directly impacting the California almond industry are decided every day in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. Our industry continues to be in the national spotlight as elected officials debate issues regarding retaliatory tariffs, water, pest management and labor. In this unprecedented political climate, it is essential that the almond industry …
Farmers are some of the best people on the planet. They work hard and do their very best to keep food on the table in homes all over the world. Like anyone though, sometimes they make mistakes too and can overlook some of the ever-changing laws and requirements for their farm employees, and end up in court over violations …
Senate Bill 1 (Atkins) – California Environmental, Public Health, and Workers Defense Act of 2019 Summary: This bill makes current federal clean air, climate, clean water, worker safety, and endangered species standards enforceable under state law, even if the federal government rolls back and weakens those standards. The bill directs state environmental, public health, and worker safety agencies to take all …
As California almond growers hit the ground running with harvest, don’t miss this brief video reminder to collect some hull samples for boron testing. Watch this interview with UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor Franz Niederholzer to learn the WHY and the HOW. Boron levels can make a huge difference in yields. Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine …
As almond acreage and production continues to soar in California, almond processors and handlers are strengthening and increase their capacity to be able to take in the record crops to come. Blue Diamond Growers recently announced the construction of their largest almond storage facility yet. Watch this brief interview with Blue Diamond CEO Mark Jansen as he shares more details …
Once harvest kicks off, stockpiles of in-hull almonds become a favorite spot for Aspergillus mold as the moisture in almonds, combined with larger swings in air temperature from day to evening, result in elevated moisture levels and create a hospitable environment for the damaging mold to thrive. Aspergillus mold produces aflatoxin that causes significant food safety concerns that can put export …
While the onset of hullsplit signals that harvest season is near, it also marks the start of an unwelcomed orchard guest: hull rot. Almond hulls are susceptible to hull rot fungi from the beginning of hullsplit until the hulls dry, which is typically a month long, though the period may vary depending on fertilization and irrigation. Successful hull rot control …
