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Pest/Disease Management

Bacterial blast/canker: What do we know?

Diseases caused by Pseudomonas syringae can affect tissue throughout the entire tree, including bacterial blast of flowers, leaves, and shoots as well as bacterial cankers that develop under the bark in cambial and wood tissues of trunks, scaffolds, and branches. The pathogen commonly exists on plant surfaces in an orchard without causing disease, but cold, wet weather can trigger damaging infections. Bacterial canker/blast …

Varroa Mites and Deformed Wing Virus Make Honeybees More Susceptible to Insecticides

Controlling for Varroa mites, the parasitic mites that feed on honey bees and serve as vectors for viral diseases like deformed wing virus (DWV), can help with improving honeybee populations and make bees less susceptible to harmful insecticides, according to a recent study published in Environmental Pollution. Foraging honey bees may be directly exposed to toxic insecticide sprays in the field or exposure may come …

Almond Board Launches New Website to Help Growers Coordinate NOW Mating Disruption Efforts

In effort to improve area-wide management of navel orangeworm, the number one pest of the California tree nut industry, the Almond Board of California has launched a new website to help growers and PCAs coordinate/collaborate on mating disruption efforts. Funded by a grant from the California DPR, the Almond Board has created this new online tool with support from Land …

Applying Herbicides Safely to Keep Residue Off of Harvested Almonds

While there has been research and work underway to move the almond industry to off-ground harvesting such as is done in pistachios, harvested almonds currently spend just enough time in the dust of orchard floors that they can pick up trace residues of herbicides.  Watch this brief interview with UC Cooperative Extension Weed Specialist Brad Hanson as he shares how …

How Late is Too Late for Winter NOW Orchard Sanitation?

The removal of nuts remaining on almond trees from the prior year’s crop is an important winter sanitation practice for the management of navel orangeworm (NOW), Amyelois transitella. Residual nuts are called ‘mummies’ and the process of removing the mummies is referred to as a ‘mummy shake’ because they are mechanically shaken from trees. This practice is conducted during the dormant …

Tightening CA Soil Fumigation Regulations Require Grower Attention

Are you considering fumigating your soil soon? California regulations are changing and there are some things growers should know about, and consider getting involved in the conversation. Watch this brief interview with Gabriele Ludwig from the Almond Board of California for more information. Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

Year-Round Effort Required to Defeat Navel Orangeworm in Tree Nuts

Although almond trees are at rest and dormant for the winter, growers were reminded at the recent Tree & Vine Expo that their work isn’t finished regarding the fight against Navel Orangeworm.  Watch this brief interview with David Haviland from the UC Cooperative Extension, as he shares year-round tools and practices to stay on top of managing the number one …

Invasive Stink Bug Habitat Could Expand with Climate Change

A foul-smelling, voracious, wide-spread pest of fresh fruits and tree nuts could become even more ubiquitous with climate change. A recent modelling study found that changing weather could increase suitable habitat for the brown marmorated stink bug in the United States by 70%. The study, published in Pest Management Science, draws on data from a three-year stink bug monitoring effort in …

Fumigation Considerations Before Replanting an Orchard

It’s that time of the year when orchards are being pulled and growers begin preparing their soil for future plans.  For growers looking to replant their orchards, watch this brief interview with UC Riverside Nematologist Andreas Westphal as he shares some considerations to take for fumigation when it comes to nematode pressure. Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

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