The California Walnut Board is announcing a new Board of Directors, which has been certified by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The Board of Directors consists of 10 growers and 8 handlers, which include three new individuals, who will serve a two-year term beginning Sept. 1, 2025, and ending Aug. 31, 2027:
DISTRICT 1
Grower Member: William D. Carriere, Glenn
Grower Alternate: Jeff Gallagher, Rio Oso
Grower Member: Ben Walsh, Orland
Grower Alternate: Michael Petz, Tracy
Handler Member: Jack Mariani, Winters
Handler Alternate: John Aguiar, Winters
Handler Member: Eric Heidman, Stockton
Handler Alternate: Dick Wolf, Stockton
DISTRICT 2
Grower Member: Brent Barton, Escalon
Grower Alternate: Daniel Bays, Westley (New)
Grower Member: Greg Wiersma, Visalia
Grower Alternate: Benjamin Crane, Merced
Handler Member: Frank Guerra, Hollister
Handler Alternate: Brock Middleton, Hughson
Handler Member: Mike Poindexter, Selma
Handler Alternate: Aaron Martella, Hughson (New)
AT LARGE
Grower Member: Michael Machado, Linden
Grower Alternate: John Heier, Live Oak (New)
“These newly elected board members bring valuable experience and fresh perspectives to the table,” said Robert Verloop, executive director of the California Walnut Board. “Importantly, they are not only committed to their own operations, but also to the broader success of the walnut industry. Their leadership will be critical as we work to create new opportunities for growth and ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry through our strategic plan developed in 2023, which aims to make California walnuts craved around the globe.”
The board certification concludes the election process that began in February when nominations opened for board positions. Growers and Handlers across California received nomination petitions, followed by ballots in mid-April listing eligible candidates for their respective districts and statewide positions.
The California Walnut Board members will help shape the future of the California walnut industry and guide its ambitious strategic plan, which focuses on six key priorities: product quality, global sales and marketing, innovation, sustainability, goal-oriented production and post-harvest research, and revitalizing the board and commission for industry cohesion.
About the California Walnut Board
The California Walnut Board (CWB) represents more than 3,700 California walnut growers and approximately 70 handlers, grown in multi-generational farmers’ family orchards. California walnuts, known for their excellent nutritional value and quality, are shipped around the world all year long, with more than 99% of the walnuts grown in the United States being from California. The CWB, established in 1948, promotes usage of walnuts in the United States through publicity and educational programs. The CWB also provides funding for walnut production, food safety and post-harvest research.
To explore recipes and learn more about California walnut growers, industry information and health research, visit walnuts.org.
California’s agriculture industry is mourning the loss of Jonathan W. Field who served as Manager of the California Tree Fruit Agreement for over a decade, led the Walnut Bargaining Association and served as the Compliance Officer for the California and Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreements and the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board.
Field, 77, of Lincoln, California, passed away peacefully August 5, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.
Field’s passion for agriculture began at age six when he received his first sheep on Christmas morning. A lifelong 4-H member, he spent nine months in Kenya, Africa with the 4-H and Peace Corps, teaching crop rotation and agricultural best practices. He always maintained his own sheep and cattle, fulfilling his lifelong dream of farming.
He attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo where he earned an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Business and then a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from University of California, Davis.
Field’s professional journey as part of California’s agricultural industry was as expansive as it was impactful. He began his career with California Agricultural Statistics Service and then as an economist for the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) where he worked on programs for iceberg lettuce, fresh tomatoes, carrots, celery, potatoes, cling peaches and processing pears. While at CDFA, Field wrote the first Marketing Agreement program and was the economist assigned to the first Commission laws created in California.
In 1981, Field became Assistant Manager for the California Tree Fruit Agreement (CTFA), a conglomerate of marketing order programs representing California-grown peaches, plums, nectarines and pears. He became Manager in 1987, serving until 2000 where he championed growers, strengthened industry standards and left a lasting mark on California’s tree fruit sector. Importantly, he was integrally involved in the litigation which went successfully to the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the legality of mandatory commodity programs.
“During the 1990s, the California Tree Fruit Agreement was extremely fortunate to have Jonathan Field as its Manager,” said Melvin Enns, a tree fruit grower-shipper who served on the CTFA Board for many years.“Jon was well-versed in the intricacies of government regulations. He formed a diverse team of experts in the areas of merchandising, export development, communications and grower relations to create programs that complied with these directives. And, together with the 1500+ growers of California peaches, pears, plums, and nectarines, Jonathan and his team built a federal and state marketing order that was the envy of tree fruit growers in every other state.”
Not only did Field leave a lasting impression on the California fruit industry, but he championed several causes impacting California agriculture in general. Working with a group of marketing order and commission managers (who are now retired) including:Bruce Obbink, California Table Grape Commission; Dennis Balant, California Walnut Board; Rich Peterson, California Prune Board; Terry Stark, California Raisin Advisory Board, and Dave Riggs, California Strawberry Commission, Field was instrumental in founding the Alliance for Food and Farming, the Agricultural Issues Forum, the Minor Crop Farmer Alliance, the California Specialty Crop Council and the Buy California Marketing Agreement, or “California Grown”.
After leaving CTFA, Field formed Paradigm Consulting Company where he worked for several organizations including as Executive Director of the Walnut Bargaining Association, a cooperative of California walnut growers.
“Jon Field was a true representative for our industry,” said Donald Norene, Chairman of the Walnut Bargaining Association (now known as the Walnut Alliance of California.). “He was committed to empowering walnut growers with the financial information necessary to successfully negotiate a fair return for their walnut crop and his analysis was highly regarded by bankers, growers and handlers.”
In 2007, Field began working as the first Compliance Officer for the newly formed California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) and its sister organization the Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement to help ensure leafy greens growers are following stringent food safety practices. In 2012, he began performing these same functions as the Compliance Officer for the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board. Field finally retired in 2023.
“I had known Jon for many years prior to bringing him on at the LGMA as our very first Compliance Officer,” said Scott Horsfall, former president and CEO of the California LGMA. “He was the perfect person for this role with his strong background in working with CDFA, his knowledge of marketing orders and agreements and his strong desire to help the agricultural industry through challenges. He will be missed.”
Jon is survived by his wife, Christine, of 52 years; and children Erin, Jonathan and Heather; seven grandchildren, sister, Shirley and many nieces, nephews and cousins.The family will provide more information about a Celebration of Life at a later date.
As pistachio growers gear up for harvest, American Pistachio Growers has partnered with restaurants all over California to celebrate Pistachio Week with both novel and classic pistachio-inspired culinary delicacies. Hannah Young from American Pistachio Growers met with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network during their Pistachio Insights Day to share what growers and consumers alike have to look forward to during Pistachio Week. Watch this brief interview and learn more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
California almond growers are facing an unprecedented challenge this season as a severe roof rat infestation sweeps through orchards across the Southern and Western San Joaquin Valley. An early survey indicates the outbreak has impacted well over 100,000 acres, a number that has likely grown, causing widespread damage and significant economic losses.
What the Almond Board of California Has Learned
Almond growers across Merced, Fresno, Kings, and Kern counties have reported an alarming spike in rodent populations. Over the last several months, ABC has participated in tours and meetings about the severity of this rat infestation, and field observations indicate that these rodents are using irrigation canals and other waterways as corridors, enabling them to rapidly spread between orchards and diverse agricultural fields. This mobility is exacerbating the extent of damage and complicating containment efforts.
Roof rats are arboreal, meaning they spend a considerable amount of their life above ground, often building nests in trees. However, for several years, researchers have noted that in almonds and other tree nuts, they use burrows extensively.Although it’s undetermined as to why, some believe it’s the lack of cover in the winter months that drives this behavior.
According to preliminary findings from a CDFA-led surveyconducted in the fall of 2024, monitoring efforts revealed particularly high densities of rats in the reported areas, with up to 32 rats captured per night at some locations. Direct damage to the trees occurs through consumption of nuts, girdling of small and large limbs, and burrowing in the root zone. Additionally, damage to irrigation systems, equipment and other infrastructure within orchards is often greater than direct crop loss.
Economic analyses from the CDFA report estimated total on-farm losses ranging from $109 million to $311 million. Major expenses contributing to these figures included drip line replacements, which alone accounted for losses between $56 million and $168 million, and yield losses resulting from disrupted post-harvest irrigation, estimated at $43 million to $129 million. Additional significant costs stemmed from direct tree damage, farm equipment repairs, machinery cleaning due to rodent contamination and replacement of damaged trees.
The lower-end estimates assumed less extensive damage, such as 25% of affected acreage needing drip line replacement and 10% tree damage. Conversely, the higher-end scenario accounted for more severe conditions, including drip line replacements on 75% of impacted acreage, 15% tree damage, and substantial farm equipment repairs and maintenance.
Photo Caption: Irrigation line damage from rats
Drip line damage and yield reductions alone represented nearly 90% of the anticipated financial impact. Furthermore, CDFA cautions that these numbers may underestimate the true financial burden, as broader impacts, including newly planted orchards and extensive post-harvest cleanup beyond farm machinery, were not fully quantified in the preliminary analysis.
During ABC’s learnings, one grower noted the replacement of an entire drip irrigation system was estimated at $20,000, and the rodents also chewed through irrigation wiring causing fires. A second almond grower detailed extreme damage that was estimated at a 50% crop loss, even while he was exterminating between 50-100 rats a day.
Photo Caption: Aside from equipment and tree damage, rats are eating the nuts themselves on the tree.
UC ANR’s IPM Recommendations
Farm managers, PCAs, and growers are expressing growing frustration and concern over their ability to sustain operations. Management strategies currently in use include bait stations and aluminum phosphide treatments of burrows in the winter, and less conventional methods such as snap traps, owl boxes and applying carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide into burrows as another fumigation option. However, many growers report these tactics are labor-intensive, costly, and insufficient for the scale of this infestation. Additionally, growers noted that rotating bait flavors has become necessary as rodents quickly grow wary and “bait shy.”
Based on research led by UC ANR scientists Niamh Quinn and Roger Baldwin, growers are advised to implement a comprehensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy tailored specifically to roof rat behavior in tree nut orchard environments. The cornerstone of effective IPM is rigorous monitoring with the use of tracking tunnels and ink cards. Strategically placed game cameras can pinpoint rat activity hotspots, while also providing information on how rat numbers are changing over time.
Using that information, growers can then implement targeted baiting programs. Elevated bait stations containing diphacinone-treated oats, positioned every 165 feet, align with roof rats’ natural climbing behavior while minimizing risks to non-target species. For tree nuts, bait stations strategically placed on the ground could also help, although this application is limited to dormant seasons. To have a significant impact, growers must keep stations full of fresh bait over a period of about four weeks. In situations where rat densities are very high, a longer period may be needed.
Again, monitoring is important during the bait program period and growers should stop the program when bait consumption becomes minimal. As a reminder, rodenticide regulations are ever-changing, and applicators should always read the label carefully to ensure compliance.
Strategically placed snap traps in protective trapping tunnels, spaced approximately 245 feet apart, form a crucial component of long-term rat control post-baiting. Regular maintenance and monitoring of these traps are necessary to sustain effectiveness. Collaboration among neighboring orchards can further enhance the efficacy of these integrated pest management measures.
During the dormant season, broadcasting zinc phosphide bait or applying zinc phosphide within burrows is also an option, although the efficacy of this bait for rats in California orchards is unknown. Burrow fumigation with aluminum phosphide, gas cartridges or carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide injection devices are also options. UC ANR advises growers to be aware that if using aluminum phosphide, in addition to normal requirements that apply to all restricted-use fumigants, you also now need to have a Burrowing Vertebrate Pest Fumigation Certificate (PCA license) to use this product.Also note that any diphacinone-treated bait for use in bait stations must be bought from a County Ag Commissioner’s office.
Based on the level of infestation learned from using the tracking tools, multiple overlapping strategies may be necessary to reduce the populations.And if possible, rotating to a non-diphacinone option is a good decision to avoid diphacinone-resistance.
Additional Support and Resources on the Horizon
Industry groups are mobilizing to provide tangible support for growers facing ongoing rodent pressures. CAPCA, in collaboration with the Almond Board of California and other agricultural partners, is pooling funds to purchase and distribute abatement stations or owl boxes to affected regions, depending on CDFA recommendations.
Additionally, CDFA is actively working to facilitate updates to pesticide labels for rodent control materials. Specifically, updates and approvals for the use of zinc phosphide and diphacinone are in progress, which could expand application options for growers if finalized. These advancements would provide growers with additional chemical tools to integrate into their rodent management programs.
Furthermore, the latest information and assistance opportunities are being planned for informative sessions at the 51st Annual CAPCA Conference in October and The Almond Conference in December. UC Cooperative Extension’s Roger Baldwin will be presenting Monday, October 20, at the annual CAPCA conference in Reno, Nevada. ABC’s Gabriele Ludwig will be leading a discussion about rodent control in the face of changing regulations at The Almond Conference December 10-12 in Sacramento, CA. — By the Almond Board of California
A new article appearing in the current issue of the peer-reviewed Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry explores the concept of “superfoods” and makes a case that fresh grapes have earned what should be a prominent position in the superfood family. The author, leading resveratrol and cancer researcher John M. Pezzuto, Ph.D., D.Sc., Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Western New England University, brings forth an array of evidence to support his perspective on this issue.
As noted in the article, the term “superfood” is a common word without an official definition or established criteria. Mainstream superfoods are typically part of the Mediterranean Diet and generally rich in natural plant compounds that are beneficial to a person’s health. Pezzuto addresses the broader topic of superfoods in detail, then makes the scientific case for grapes, noting that fresh grapes are underplayed in this arena and often not included with mention of other similar foods, such as berries.
Grapes are a natural source of over 1,600 compounds, including antioxidants and other polyphenols such as flavonoids, anthocyanidins, catechins, phenolic acids, resveratrol, and more. Polyphenols are credited with the health benefits of grapes, via antioxidant activity and influencing cellular processes. It is the whole grape and the unique matrix of these compounds within it that creates the biological effects, not a single component.
Over sixty peer-reviewed studies have been published in the scientific literature on grapes and health. The role of grapes on cardiovascular health is well established, including promoting relaxation of blood vessels and healthy circulation, as well as modulating cholesterol levels. Clinical trials also show that grapes support brain health (help maintain healthy brain metabolism and beneficial impacts on cognition), skin health (enhanced resistance to UV radiation and DNA damage in skin cells), gut health (modulating the gut microbiome and increasing diversity in the gut), and eye health (retinal impact via increase in macular pigment optical density). Finally, in the realm of nutrigenomics – the study of foods on gene expression in the body – grape consumption has been shown to positively alter gene expression in relevant body systems. Pezzuto suggests that it is these activities at the genetic level that are likely the
driving force behind the health benefits of grapes.
“Dr. Pezzuto shows that based on the science, grapes are indeed a superfood, and should be recognized as such,” said Ian LeMay, president of the California Table Grape Commission, “and we are hopeful that using this nomenclature in association with grapes becomes common practice. Luckily, whether consumed for health or sheer enjoyment as a healthy snack, eating California grapes is a win for consumers.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is now accepting applications for its upcoming agribusiness trade mission to Mexico City, Mexico, scheduled for November 3–6. U.S. exporters interested in exploring trade opportunities in Mexico’s dynamic agricultural market must apply by Thursday, July 31.
“Strengthening export opportunities for American farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses is a top priority of USDA,” said Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Michelle Bekkering. “This trade mission will connect U.S. producers with key buyers in Mexico, expanding economic opportunities, supporting rural prosperity, and keeping American agricultural products globally competitive.”
Mexico was the largest export market for U.S. agricultural products in 2024, with sales totaling more than $30 billion, supporting approximately 190,000 U.S. jobs. Agricultural trade between the United States and Mexico under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) reached nearly $79 billion in 2024 and has shown consistent growth over the last decade.
To ensure the protection of U.S. livestock herds, in June, Secretary Rollins launched a Bold Plan to combat New World Screwworm (PDF, 434 KB) by protecting our border at all costs, increasing eradication efforts in Mexico, and increasing readiness. USDA also announced the groundbreaking of a sterile fly dispersal facility in South Texas. This facility will provide a critical contingency capability to disperse sterile flies should a NWS detection be made in the southern United States.
Growing U.S. exports to Mexico are supported by factors such as rising disposable income among Mexico’s upper middle class, familiarity with U.S. products and food trends, and strong demand for high-quality agricultural goods.
Consumer-oriented products represent the largest share of U.S. agricultural exports to Mexico and have increased by more than 75 percent between 2020 and 2024. USDA anticipates strong export opportunities across several product sectors, including:
•Beef, poultry, and related products
•Dairy products
•Seafood
•Tree nuts
•Pet food
•Baking and food processing ingredients
Additional opportunities exist for U.S. products such as animal feed, rice, pulses, seed potatoes, and livestock genetics.
During the trade mission, U.S. agribusiness representatives will connect directly with buyers from Mexico City and surrounding regions through business-to-business meetings, market briefings, site visits, and networking events led by FAS staff and regional experts.
The Mexico trade mission is part of USDA’s broader 2025 export promotion strategy. Recent trade missions to Thailand, Guatemala, Hong Kong, and Peru have delivered measurable success for U.S. exporters. Applications are now closed for the trade mission to Taiwan. To learn more about FAS agribusiness trade missions, visit https://www.fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions.
The 2025 California Almond Objective Measurement Report published Thursday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS) estimates that the crop harvested in 2025 will come in at 3.0 billion meat pounds.
The Objective Estimate is up 7 percent from USDA-NASS’s Subjective Forecast in May and 10 percent higher than last year’s crop of 2.73 billion meat pounds.
“The Objective Measurement reflects the hard work by California almond growers during uncertain times,” said Clarice Turner, president and CEO of the Almond Board of California. “While shipping has remained consistently strong, we know uncertainty remains surrounding future trade policies. We continue to engage with trade partners and stakeholders to encourage constructive solutions that support fair and stable trade so California almonds can continue to be enjoyed by consumers around the world.”
The 2024 harvest yielded 2.73 billion pounds, 2.5% below the 2024 Objective Report estimate, reflecting the difficulty of precisely forecasting crop size given the current fluctuations in weather and economic factors.
The report shared the 2025 almond crop experienced variable weather during bloom, which began in early February and peaked in the middle of the month. Storms brought rain, wind and hail, which hindered bee hours and blossom growth. Conditions improved in early March with warm temperatures accelerating the crop’s progress through the end of bloom. Mild temperatures and timely rain in spring supported nut growth and continued through early summer, lessening heat stress in orchards. Lower than normal pest and disease pressure have been reported. Harvest is expected to begin on time.
USDA-NASS’ forecasted yield is 2,160 pounds per acre, up from 1,980 in 2024. The forecast for the average nut set per tree is 4,364, an increase of 7 percent compared to 2024. The Nonpareil average nut set of 4,526 is 9 percent higher than last year. The average kernel weight for all varieties sampled was 1.60 grams, down 0.6 percent from the 2024 average weight. The Nonpareil average kernel weight was 1.60 grams, down 2 percent from the 2024 average weight.
The 2025 Objective Report is based on actual almond counts using a statistically rigorous methodology. The survey was conducted from May 24 to June 28 and 1,892 trees were sampled in 946 orchards. USDA-NASS conducts the annual Objective Report, Subjective Forecast and Nursery Survey to provide the California almond industry with the data needed to make informed business decisions.
California walnuts are shedding their traditional image and emerging as a must-have ingredient for health-conscious young consumers. The California Walnut Board & Commission has launched its bold new “Feel Good” campaign – an integrated marketing effort designed to drive consumer demand and reposition walnuts as a vibrant, versatile offering within the fresh produce space.
Grounded in extensive consumer research, the campaign introduces a modern, energetic look and feel designed to connect with millennials and Gen Z audiences, demographics that increasingly shape food trends and purchasing behaviors. At its core, “California Walnuts. Feel Good.” reintroduces walnuts as a fresh, versatile produce item that supports feel-good eating moments across consumers’ lifestyles.
“This isn’t just a new marketing campaign – it’s a complete repositioning of California walnuts for a new generation of consumers who prioritize nutrition and versatility in their food choices,” said Christine Lott, director of integrated communications for the California Walnut Board & Commission. “By reaching younger consumers, we’re building future generations of walnut consumers and supporting California farmers for decades to come.”
The cornerstone of the campaign is relationships with social media influencers. With 77% of Gen Z and 50% of millennials following social media personalities who strongly shape their purchasing decisions, according to KS&R Entercom Landscape Tracker, this strategy is intended to reach consumers where they spend their time: social media. As part of the campaign, the California Walnut Board & Commission is partnering with more than 20 cooking, wellness, lifestyle and hosting influencers who collectively reach millions of potential consumers.
The California Walnut Board & Commission will also showcase trend-driven, authentic content designed to resonate with younger consumers. Paid media efforts will extend the campaign’s reach across social platforms, streaming services and online video – channels where these shoppers spend their time.
Beyond digital, the campaign includes experiential marketing with sampling at wellness events nationwide, allowing potential consumers to taste and experience the convenience and versatility of California walnuts in environments that reflect their values and lifestyles.
Discover recipes, industry insights and the latest on California walnuts at walnuts.org.
About the California Walnut Board and Commission
The California Walnut Board (CWB) and California Walnut Commission (CWC) represent more than 3,700 California walnut growers and approximately 70 handlers, grown in multi-generational farmers’ family orchards. California walnuts, known for their excellent nutritional value and quality, are shipped around the world all year long, with more than 99% of the walnuts grown in the United States being from California.
The CWB, established in 1948, promotes usage of walnuts in the United States through publicity and educational programs. The CWB also provides funding for walnut production, food safety and post-harvest research. The CWC, established in 1987, is involved in health research with consuming walnuts as well as domestic and export market development activities.
To explore recipes and learn more about California walnut growers, industry information and health research, visit walnuts.org.
Leaffooted bug is a sporadic pest in almond, but damage can be significant in years when pest pressure is high. The pest may evade early detection by growers and PCAs because it overwinters as adults in vegetation outside of the orchard and tends to colonize the upper tree canopy, rendering it generally out of sight. As a result, pest pressure is often realized after damage has occurred. The damage may vary considerably between almond varieties, adding yet another challenge for diagnosis.
In Tulare County, heavy leaffooted bug damage was observed in May 2025 in almond orchards surrounded by citrus.Adult leaffooted bugs (Figure 1A) overwintered in the citrus and then entered the neighboring almond orchards in March and April. By early May, symptoms of infestation included extensive nut drop (Figure 2A) and gummosis on the nuts (Figure 2B). Although the adults were not observed in the orchard, the pest was identified based on the observation of the characteristic egg strands of leaffooted bug (Figure 1B). In orchards with Nonpariel and Aldrich, both varieties were affected; however, the nut drop was more extensive in Aldrich than Nonpareil (Figure 2A).
The full impact of the pest may not be realized until harvest because the quality of affected nuts remaining on the tree may also be compromised, thus reducing crop value. Nuts that are stung in late April to early July can be severely shriveled, have sunken lesions, or a brown spot depending on how developed the kernel was prior to feeding (Fig. 3, row 2-5).These nuts stay in the tree, are harvested, and can significantly increase the percentage of nuts classified as inedible during nut quality assessments.When examining a library sample of damaged kernels at harvest, nuts damaged by leaffooted bug fall into the same category as stink bug damage, as kernels damaged by these two pests are indistinguishable.
In 2007, UCCE Kern County Farm Advisors David Haviland and Mario Viveros had the opportunity to evaluate the relative susceptibility of 15 almond varieties to leaffooted bug damage. That year, leaffooted bug invaded a Kern County variety trial research block that included 15 varieties planted in replicated, randomized blocks. This unique situation allowed for unbiased evaluation of the performance of varieties under equivalent pest pressure. Results indicated that the average number of aborted nuts per tree ranged from 0 to 33% of the total crop. Additionally, at harvest, the estimated rejects from leaffooted bug damage ranged from 0 to 30% of the harvested yield. Researchers also noted that crop loss varied by variety, with Fritz exhibiting the highest crop loss at 63%, followed by Sonora, Aldrich, Livingston, Monterey and Carmel.The other varieties in the block had 3% or less total damage from the pest.
The underlying basis for the differential susceptibility of almond varieties to leaffooted bug is unknown. Damage does not appear to be related to harvest date or shell hardness at harvest. Other factors such as plant volatiles, hull thickness, or shell hardness in April and May when the bugs are present may play a role in varietal susceptibility. Haviland and Viveros also noted that varietal susceptibility is somewhat relative, explaining that Wood Colony exhibited low susceptibility to leaffooted bug in the research plot, but significant damage was reported on Wood Colony in commercial orchards when combined with less susceptible varieties (ie. Nonpariel and Carmel).These observations indicate that leaffooted bug prefers certain varieties, but in the absence of a preferred variety, the pest will remain in the orchard and feed on the most preferable variety of the less-preferred varieties present in the orchard.
The 2025 observations in Tulare County, taken in consideration with the 2007 data from the UCCE variety trial suggest that the best way to monitor leaffooted bug is to focus attention on the most susceptible variety in the field. Gummosis and nut drop in the most susceptible variety will serve as an indicator of pest pressure in a given orchard. Growers with Fritz, Sonora, Aldrich, and Livingston should be extra vigilant in monitoring pest pressure.Haviland and Viveros note that orchards composed of relatively unsusceptible varieties will have characteristically lower risk of leaffooted bug damage. Additionally, growers and PCAs should consider pest pressure from surrounding orchards and landscape plants that may serve as overwintering sites for the adults, thus contributing to the cryptic nature of the pest.
Management programs for leaffooted bug consist of monitoring for the pest and spraying primarily with pyrethroids, when needed. Pest management guidelines for leaffooted bug and other pests can be found at www.ipm.ucanr.edu and reports of Almond Board of California-sponsored research can be found at https://www.almonds.com/research-database. — By Elizabeth Fichtner, UCCE Farm Advisor, Tulare County, and David Haviland, UCCE Entomology Advisor, Kern County
Figure 2. Aborted nuts were prevalent on Aldrich, but the neighboring Nonpareil exhibited minimal damage (A). Gummosis and egg strands on aborted nuts indicated leaffooted bug damage (B).
Figure 3. Leaffooted bug predation affects the quality of nuts remaining on the tree. Unaffected nuts are represented in row 1; affected nuts of varying quality are represented in rows 2-5.
Figure 1. Leaffooted bug adults (A) are difficult to scout. Pest pressure is evident by the gummosis at feeding sites and the deposition of eggs in strands (B). Alternate hosts may harbor overwintering populations of leaffooted bug (C and D). Photos A, C, and D: W. Bentley.Figure 2. Aborted nuts were prevalent on Aldrich, but the neighboring Nonpareil exhibited minimal damage (A). Gummosis and egg strands on aborted nuts indicated leaffooted bug damage (B).Figure 3. Leaffooted bug predation affects the quality of nuts remaining on the tree. Unaffected nuts are represented in row 1; affected nuts of varying quality are represented in rows 2-5.
The Almond Board of California (ABC) has announced the Board of Directors election results, and the names of the following nominees have been submitted to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for selection to terms of office beginning Aug. 1, 2025:
Grower Position #1, Member: 1-year term
Paul Ewing, Atwater
Grower Position #1, Alternate:
Tobin Barth, Esparto
Grower Position #2, Member: 3-year term
Brandon Rebiero, Modesto
Grower Position #2, Alternate:
Brad Klump, Escalon
Handler Position #1, Member: 3-year term (only one year of term remaining)
Chad DeRose, McFarland
Handler Position #3, Member: 1-year term
Darren Rigg, Le Grand
Handler Position #3, Alternate:
Dinesh Bajaj, Orland
Co-op Handler Position #1, Member: 3-year term
Laura Gerhard, Sacramento
Co-op Handler Position #1, Alternate:
Mel Machado, Modesto
The Independent Handler Position #1 is normally a 3-year seat but was vacated part way through the term. The elected candidate for the member seat will only serve the remaining one year of the term. This position will be up for election again in 2026. The alternate position was not up for election.
The ABC board is made up of five handler and five grower representatives, each with an alternate. It sets policy and recommends budgets in major areas, including marketing, production research, advertising, public relations, nutrition research, statistical reporting, quality control and food safety.
