California Ag Network

Category: Nut Industry

  • Preparing for Almond Hull Split

    Almond experts say there is only one proven way to know when hull split begins: inspect your trees from the top down, starting in the southwest corner of the canopy.

    The importance of knowing precisely when hull split occurs is critical because it signals the proper timing for treatments to control navel orangeworm (NOW) and, as appropriate, hull rot. Whether growers use a ladder, climb atop a pruning tower or lop off a few high branches with extension pruners, the goal is to understand what’s happening in the top of the tree, where nuts mature at a faster rate.

    Simply looking up into a tree’s canopy from the orchard floor is a sure fire way to miss the advent of hull split. When hulls split, a scent is released into the air, attracting female NOW moths to lay their eggs on the suture of the splitting hull. As the hull splits, fungal spores also can enter and spawn hull rot infections.

    Missing the beginning of hull split and allowing NOW or pathogens to gain a toehold in an orchard can wreck a grower’s entire season and reduce the value of the crop, costing growers in returns if nuts are rejected after harvest.

    Summer split invites unwanted guests

    Growers can determine if hull split has occurred – and if it’s time to spray – if, when they squeeze the end of the hull, the entire suture opens up, exposing the shell within.  Almond hulls split as the fruit ripens, and timing varies based on weather conditions and variety. For instance, the variety Nonpareil typically splits in early- to- mid-July, earlier than some other varieties.

    However, it’s at the stage before this, when the hull is split in a deep “V,” that susceptibility to NOW and wound pathogens that cause hull rot (Rhizopus, Aspergillus, and Monilinia) increase, making it vitally important that growers actively monitor their trees.

    Vice President of Member Services for Blue Diamond Growers Mel Machado advises growers to look for blank nuts – those without a kernel inside – as those hulls are the first to split, several days ahead of the “sound” nuts (those with a full kernel).

    Mel Machado, Blue Diamond Growers

    “The blanks are like the warning shot, signaling the start of hull split,” he said. “When full hull split does occur, the nuts at the top of the canopy will open up first.”

    Experts say growers should pay attention to trees on the edge of their orchards as they often ripen more quickly. Growers should also closely monitor the upper and outer portions of the canopy, particularly the southwest quadrant of the orchard block where the hot afternoon sun aids in the splitting and drying process.

    “Better to be too early than too late”

    Hull split applications should be made no later than at 1% hull split. This is the most effective time to spray for NOW as it often coincides with initiation of the second NOW flight.1

    Once growers identify hull split in their orchard, their next step should be to initiate timely treatment. Experts warn that waiting too long to begin spraying will cost growers, as will performing a poor spray job.

    Machado advised, “It’s better to be a bit on the early side than late” when spraying. Once hull split begins, he recommended the entire orchard be sprayed in five days or less. “If it takes 10 or 15 days, that’s too long,” he said.

    Planning ahead – especially for smaller growers who rely on custom applicators – is essential.

    “Watch your fields closely and be in contact with your operator early on,” Machado advised.

    In larger orchards, Machado advises growers consider starting with aerial sprays, recognizing that ground-based sprays don’t always provide complete coverage at the tops of the trees.

    “We’re seeing growers effectively incorporate aerial applications into their treatment programs for the first application in order to cover the acreage in a timely manner,” Machado said.

    The best time to spray is early in the morning or at dusk.

    “Do not spray in the heat of the day – your application will evaporate into thin air and you won’t get the material where it needs to go. That’s a waste of time and money, as you’re not only wasting spray material but you also won’t achieve the coverage necessary to combat crop damage,” Machado said.

    Finally, growers should ensure their ground-based sprayers are properly calibrated, the nozzles are unplugged and that air flow isn’t restricted. Once it’s time to spray, growers should remind applicators to drive no more than two mph through orchards to ensure optimum coverage and to drive down each row to ensure the trees are equally covered.

    “There are some guys who spray every other row, and that’s not a good idea,” Machado said. “There are two sides to the tree; you need to spray both of them.”

    Machado reinforced that hullsplit sprays offer the final chance to manage NOW populations before harvest. Still, these applications are only part of a coordinated, year-round, integrated pest management plan to combat NOW that also must include winter sanitation and mating disruption, both of which are performed earlier in the crop year. — By the Almond Board of California

  • Whole Orchard Recycling Benefits and Incentives

    Almond Board of California — Exciting research shows that conducting Whole Orchard Recycling (WOR) in almonds can increase crop yields in subsequent orchards, provide long-term benefits to soil health (such as improved water retention and nutrient levels) and increase carbon sequestration.

    Conducted by researchers from the University of California (UC) Davis and UC Agricultural and Natural Resources, with funding in part by the Almond Board of California (ABC), this study identifies significant advantages to practicing WOR, the breadth of which are detailed in a report published in the journal PLOS ONE.

    The study spanned over a decade and compared plots within a nine-year-old orchard where WOR took place with plots where trees had been burned and their ashes tilled into the soil. At ninth leaf, researchers also tested the impact of deficit irrigation mid-growing season by reducing the amount of water applied by 20% for some of the trees.

    When the results were placed side-by-side, the plots where WOR took place consistently bested the plots where old trees’ ashes were tilled into the soil. Among other benefits, researchers discovered a:

    • 19% increase in yields at ninth leaf and 15% increase in cumulative yield over five years, 
    •  30% increase in soil water holding capacity (water retention), and 
    • 17% increase in total soil nitrogen levels. 
      • To note: Subsequent research found that additional nitrogen is needed in the first year.

    “Almond growers have long been told that implementing practices to improve soil health will provide all these benefits, but until now there had been very little data demonstrating that a focus on feeding the soil with organic matter can make a meaningful difference in yield and crop quality,” said Gabriele Ludwig, Ph.D., director of Sustainability and Environmental Affairs for the Almond Board.

    Study shows significant yield increases
    Key among the multiple positive outcomes discovered by this WOR study is the potential for increased yields. This finding not only brings good news for a grower’s bottom line, but it also has positive implications on the industry’s effort to produce “more crop per drop,” an effort it is striving to achieve as part of its Almond Orchard 2025 Goal to reduce the amount of water used to grow a pound of almonds by an additional 20%.

    “The increased water holding soil capacity that occurs as a result of Whole Orchard Recycling means that trees are subject to fewer extremes in terms of water availability, as more water is held in the upper layer of the soil where the majority of the tree’s roots are, and where tree uptake takes place,” Ludwig explained.

    Research shows that WOR increased water retention in the soil by up to 30%. While Ludwig cautioned that this data does not lend itself to a recommendation that growers can use less water if they practice WOR, it does indicate that applied water is used more efficiently by trees in orchards where WOR has occurred.

    Amélie Gaudin, Ph.D., an associate professor of agroecology in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences and a co-author of the WOR research report, said that by allowing more water to penetrate and the remain in the soil, WOR also reduces potential irrigation-related losses caused by runoff or evapotranspiration.

    “In plots where WOR occurred, water was more likely to reach and be used by the trees, allowing for increased yields as trees experienced less short-term stress and therefore achieved greater water use efficiency,” Ludwig said.

    A hedge against deficit-induced tree stress
    This study also demonstrates that by increasing soil organic matter, WOR helps insulate orchards from negative impacts of deficit irrigation, which involves a delicate balance between stressing one’s trees just enough to prevent too much moisture and potential for disease in the orchards with not overstressing the trees to a point where their yields and overall health are compromised. According to the research, the deficit-irrigated trees in the WOR plots maintained higher stem water potential compared to the deficit-irrigated trees in the burn plots, indicating trees in the WOR plots were less water stressed.

    “We forget that trees can get stressed enough to shut down photosynthesis, whether that’s because they can’t keep up with water demand in the hot afternoons, for a day or two before irrigation, or during harvest,” Ludwig said. “So, when the upper layers of the soil can hold more water, the trees are better buffered from those stresses.” 

    Gaudin said that by improving water holding capacity, WOR also helps orchards retain nitrogen, one of almond trees’ most necessary nutrients. This has positive implications for groundwater quality in areas where nitrogen leeching is a concern. It also may contribute to yield increases as trees in the WOR plots were shown to have greater access to nitrogen for longer periods of time.

    Another supplementary benefit, Ludwig noted, is that over time, as microorganisms in the soil break down the woody biomass, both macro- and micronutrients contained within the wood are released for reuse by the next generation of trees. This allows growers to “recycle” those nutrients so that they may be used throughout the lifetime of their newly planted orchard.

    Next steps for researchers working on this WOR research, Gaudin said, include further study of carbon sequestration and its implication for greenhouse gases, gaining a better understanding of nitrogen retention, optimizing WOR in different soil conditions and the impacts of integrating WOR with other responsible growing practices such as cover crops or anaerobic soil disinfestation.

    Support for those seeking to conduct WOR
    Growers may be eligible to receive incentive funding to conduct WOR if they apply for funds far enough in advance of conducting the practice.

    • WOR is now a practice eligible for co-funding through CDFA’s Healthy Soil Incentives Program. Payments cover about 50% of the cost of WOR, according to CDFA Senior Environmental Scientist Geetika Joshi. The next round of funding for the program begins in July 2021.
    • USDA-NRCS offers Conservation Stewardship Program funds to growers who find alternatives to burning old trees, providing $783.29 per acre for chipping (used for animal bedding or applied as mulch on another piece of ag land) and an additional $242.09 per acre for Whole Orchard Recycling. While applications are accepted year-round, funding for 2021 has already been announced. Still, growers can submit their applications now to apply for 2022 funding.  
    • For those in the San Joaquin Valley, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District provides cost-share funds to reduce ag burning through its Alternative to Agricultural Open Burning Incentive Program. Growers participating in this program are eligible to receive $300-$600 per acre, with a maximum of $60,000 per grower. Incentive recipients are typically paid four-to-six weeks after their completion of WOR, and after an invoice has been sent to the district.

    For general questions about incentive programs, industry members may contact ABC’s Jesse Roseman at jroseman@almondboard.com.

    Those interested to learn more about how WOR may be practiced on their operation are encouraged to download or request a physical copy of the Whole Orchard Recycling Guide for California Almond Growers, created in partnership by ABC and UC ANR. Growers are also welcome to watch the     Whole Orchard Recycling Overview and Whole Orchard Recycling – A Grower’s How-To videos, which are hosted on YouTube and found on ABC’s website. Finally, UC Davis provides a robust website dedicated to Whole Orchard Recycling, which offers a deep dive into the research findings, grower testimonials, and more. 

    In addition to Gaudin, co-authors of the study include Kelsey Brewer and Emad Jahanzad of UC Davis; Brent Holtz, Sean Hogan and Cameron Zuber of UC Cooperative Extension; and David Doll, a former UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor.

  • Preparing Almond Growers for Another Drought

    Drought is a serious concern for farmers this year, and in this interview with Daren Williams from the Almond Board of California, he shares some complimentary resources from the Almond Board to help growers weather another dry year, as well as some other insights. Watch this brief video with Daren and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Trece for their industry support.

  • Almond Market Update Highlights New Records & Opportunities

    Despite international tariffs, port disruptions and a global pandemic, the California almond industry continues to produce and ship record-setting crops.  Watch this brief video with Richard Waycott as he shares this year’s to-date trends on shipments and what can be expected of orchard production this year.  Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Trece for their industry support.

  • Almond Alliance Holds Convention, Recognizes Outstanding Members

    Among the first agriculture conventions to take place in the post-COVID era, 350+ almond growers, hullers and processors gathered in Las Vegas to convene the long-awaited 39th Annual Almond Alliance Convention. Themed “All In 2021”, Almond Alliance membership and leaders demonstrated their commitment to the continued success of the almond industry by engaging in important discussions on current issues threatening the industry.  Topics included drought and water policy, alternatives for ag burning and almond biomass, avoiding costly mistakes as ag employers, and much more.

    They say, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”, but that cannot be the case for the important discussions that were had at this annual convention.  Attendees had the great opportunity to meet with California Assembly Members and policy makers to discuss the concerns and needs of the almond industry. Attendees were also advised to continue involvement in the legislative and regulatory arena through trade associations such as the Almond Alliance of California.  As one put it, “If we don’t get engaged in discussions on these important issues, the decisions will be made for us,” and “If you are not at the table, you are on the menu”.

    At the convention, Almond Alliance leadership also took the opportunity to recognize some outstanding members that have been greatly involved in supporting the association’s efforts to protect the livelihoods of almond growers, hullers and processors.  Board member John Wynn was proud to announce the Member of the Year Awards for both 2019 and 2020, due to the inability to meet in-person last year.  The 2019 Member and Associate Member of the Year recognitions were awarded to Cortez Growers and Exact Corporation. “Cortez Growers continues to support the work of the Almond Alliance and has hosted several of our huller/sheller training events. They furthered their commitment to advocacy for the California almond industry by becoming the 2nd huller grower member of our association. We are extremely grateful for their commitment and support,” shared Wynn.

    He continued, “Exact Corporation continues to be engaged in advancing the equipment used by the almond industry.  We are thankful that they continue to support our association and have been a key partner in all our advocacy efforts, especially parking their low dust harvester at the steps of the California Capitol for the Almond Festival in Sacramento.”

    Golden Empire Shelling and Premier Trailer were announced as the recipients of the 2020 Member and Associate Member of the Year awards. “We are very thankful to Golden Empire Shelling for be the first Huller Sheller Grower Member and setting the trend for a new level of investment in the Almond Alliance and has the alliance provide updates to his growers every year at their annual dinner,” shared Almond Alliance Chairman Mike Curry.

    Regarding Associate Member of the Year, Curry stated, “Premier Trailer Manufacturing was founded in 1996 by Gene Cuelho. Premier Trailer Manufacturing has an experienced team of craftsman, specializing in the manufacturing of critical transportation for the California almond industry. They are one of California’s most distinguished companies and best-known commercial haulers.  Not only does Premier Trailer show up to Almond Alliance events, but also always willing to help when needed.  Thank-you for your support and dedication.”

    Pacific Nut Producer Magazine is proud to be the Almond Alliance’s official Media Partner and sponsor of the Convention, and for more in-depth proceedings of the annual event, read all about it in the coming issue of Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • Larger CA Almond Crop Forecasted This Year

    Almond Board of California — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is predicting an increase in the California almond crop. The USDA-NASS 2021 California Almond Subjective Forecast estimates California almond orchards will produce 3.2 billion pounds of nuts this year, up 3 percent from last year’s 3.12 billion-pound crop. Forecasted yield is expected to reach 2,410 pounds per acre, 3 percent lower than the 2020 yield of 2,490 per acre.

    This forecast comes about three weeks after USDA-NASS released the 2020 California Almond Acreage Report, which estimated total almond acreage for 2020 at 1.6 million acres, up 5.3 percent from 2019. Bearing acres – orchards mature enough to produce a crop – were reported at 1.25 million acres, up 5.9 percent from the previous year. USDA-NASS also estimated preliminary bearing acreage for 2021 at 1.33 million acres.

    “What we’re seeing with this report is a forecasted continuance of high yields,” said Richard Waycott, president and CEO of the Almond Board of California (ABC). “Water availability will be the principal concern on growers’ minds as they continue to grow this crop. We look forward to the outcome of the Objective Report to see if it corroborates this estimate.” 

    The first of two production reports for the upcoming crop year, the Subjective Forecast is based on opinions from a phone survey of randomly selected almond growers located throughout the state. It was conducted from April 19 to May 6. USDA-NASS asks individual growers their total almond yield per acre from last year and their expected yield for the current year based on field observations. 

    The sample of growers interviewed is grouped by size of operation, and different people are surveyed each year to ensure grower representation throughout the Central Valley. USDA-NASS combines all the yield estimates and extrapolates the numbers reported in the Subjective Forecast.

    In July, USDA-NASS will release its second production estimate, the 2021 California Almond Objective Report. While the Subjective Forecast provides an initial 2021/2022 crop estimate, the Objective Report will provide an estimate based on actual almond counts using a more statistically rigorous methodology to determine yield.

    The 2021 California Almond Objective Report will be released on Monday, July 12, at 9:00 a.m. PT. USDA-NASS produces the Objective Report, the Subjective Forecast and the Acreage Report to provide the California almond industry with the data needed to make informed business decisions, and thanks all farm operators, owners and management entities for their time in providing the information necessary to create these reports.

  • Japan Lifts Aflatoxin Inspection Order on Walnuts

    On April 1, 2021, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) suspended a mandatory aflatoxin inspection regime imposed on walnuts from the United States and other exporting countries. The suspension marks the first time Japan lifted a 100 percent inspection requirement for aflatoxin- vulnerable imports since 2004 when the current monitoring plan was implemented. In 2020, the United States exported $114 million of walnuts to Japan.

    General

    Japan’s Food Sanitation Act designates the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) as the country’s competent authority for food safety. In that role, MHLW develops and enforces aflatoxin regulations for domestic and imported food products. Since 1996, MHLW has mandated a 100 percent hold-and-test approach (called “inspection order”) for imported tree nuts, including walnuts, due to aflatoxin concerns. MHLW justified the inspection order as a response to violations of Japan’s aflatoxin action limit (i.e., 10 parts per billion for walnuts).

    According to Japan’s “Imported Foods Monitoring Plan”, MHLW may lift an aflatoxin-related inspection order for an exporting country, whether under a country-specific or global inspection order, if one of the following conditions is met:

    1. No aflatoxin violations for two years OR for one year or longer with 300 compliant shipments

    2. Bilateral discussion after exporting country

      -Completes root–cause investigation

      -Implements preventive measures based on investigation

      -Confirms effective implementation of the preventive measures through bilateral discussions, on–site inspections, and/or a series of non–violative inspection results.

      • On April 1, 2021, MHLW lifted the global aflatoxin inspection order on walnuts because all exporting countries satisfied the first condition described above. Therefore, MHLW’s inspection schedule for U.S. walnut exports to Japan now follows Schedule 1 of the Imported Foods Monitoring Plan.

        According to MHLW, a single aflatoxin violation in walnut imports from the United States would lead to the immediate resumption of the inspection order on U.S. walnut exports. On the other hand, aflatoxin violations in shipments from other exporting countries would not impact inspection frequency for U.S. walnuts. MHLW indicated that the suspension of the aflatoxin inspection order on walnuts represents the first time since the implementation of the monitoring plan in 2004 that MHLW lifted a global inspection order imposed on imports due to aflatoxin concerns. — By Tomohiro Kurai, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service

  • Four Steps for Planting Containerized Almond Trees

    The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service recently reported a record 1.25 million acres of almonds across California’s landscape, up 5.9% from 2019. More almond orchard continue to be planted as we speak, due in part to the reduce labor needs associated with this crop and a healthy global market for this versatile product.  With increased almond acreage anticipated to be planted this year, we wanted to share this brief interview with Tia Russell from Duarte Nursery who shared and demonstrated for steps for planting containerized almond trees.  Watch this video and read more about growing almonds in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine. Don’t currently receive the publication? Subscribe for free today at PacificNutProducer.com.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Trece for their industry support.

  • Trials of New Almond Varieties Pay Dividends

    In the 1970s, the Almond Board of California began supporting Regional Variety Trials (RVTs) to provide a mechanism to test the performance of new varieties across the diverse almond growing regions in the State of California and to extend that information to local growers. Previous and current RVTs have been designed to evaluate new varieties or selections in a semi-commercial (20 to 40 trees per variety) manner and compare them to standard varieties such as Nonpareil, Mission, and currently accepted pollinizer varieties.

    One of the main outputs of the first two generations of RVTs was to fully document the performance of the top 14 out of 15 varieties most currently adopted in California. These first two RVTs identified good pollinizers for Nonpareil, collected key horticulture and almond quality data, and discarded many undesirable pollinizers before they were widely adopted.

    The third, and current generation of RVTs started in 2014 and is already in the process of identifying top performers. For instance, the USDA breeder recently released selection Y116-161-99, as the new variety ‘Yorizane’ variety due to the consistent novelties of the variety, including self-fertility, high yields and good kernel quality recorded in the current RVT. The current RVT brings key novelties in comparison to the previous generations such as the fact that all the trees were planted in the same year (2014), in multiple locations (Butte, Stanislaus & Madera Counties) and with statistical repetitions.

    For nearly 50 years the Almond Board has partnered with the University of California (UC) to conduct Regional Variety Trails (RVTs) that provide a mechanism by which ABC, researchers and industry members can evaluate new varieties across the diverse almond-growing regions in the state.

    Due to the contribution of these RVTs, our industry has been able to adopt a wide range of varieties that offer a versatile supply of almond kernel and confer competitive advantage to growing almonds in California. Thanks to the outputs of these RVTs, our industry counts on multiple pollen compatible varieties (i.e. Fritz, Price, Aldrich, Wood Colony, Monterey, etc) that adequately cover Nonpareil bloom. The RVTs have identified varieties that are more resistant to pests and diseases such as NOW (i.e. Price and Butte) and Hull Rot (i.e. Monterey, Carmel, and Fritz), respectively. RVT outputs have expanded our harvesting and processing operations by identifying the Sonora group (harvested 7-13 days after Nonpareil), the Price group (harvested 15-21 days after Nonpareil), and the Carmel group (harvested 29-34 days after Nonpareil), among others. Also, the data collection in these RVTs have served to group varieties by their ease of nut removal (i.e. Butte, and Price fall in the easy category while Merced falls in the difficult category), hull split date, vigor, etc.

    This investment in varietal research has resulted in the commercialization of new UC varieties in the past 20 years such as: Kester, Sonora, Sweetheart and Winters. And thanks to the RVTs and the ongoing collaboration with the USDA breeder Craig Ledbetter, we can now add Yorizane – another self-compatible variety with many intriguing characteristics — to the mix. It is the latest example of ABC research and collaboration with the UC coming to fruition, with many other new varietals potentially still in the pipeline from the current RVT.

    Understanding the benefits, trade-offs

    At The Almond Conference (TAC) 2020 breakout session in December, ABC Associate Director of Agricultural Research Sebastian Saa told growers that evaluating more self-compatible varieties like Yorizane remains a priority. Self-compatible varieties potentially require fewer pollinators in the orchard because the pollen only has to move a short distance – from one blossom to another blossom of the same tree – rather than from one blossom to another blossom a tree row or more away.

    There are other advantages, Saa said: “Self-compatible trees can be grown in blocks of the same variety, allowing for more efficiency at harvest time. ‘One shake, one harvest,’” he said.

    Many of the most recent new varieties created in California and around the world are also are self-compatible. Saa said that CA new varieties typically bloom about the same time as Nonpareil but are harvested a couple of weeks later and therefore could be viable options for growers seeking to transition to off-ground harvesting.

    During the online discussion at the breakout session, a grower asked Saa if there is an increased risk of resiliency to diseases or pests with self-compatible varieties, especially if there is less genetic diversity within an orchard.

    “If we adopt one self-compatible variety, then there is a potential risk,” Saa acknowledged, “but if we adopt multiple self-compatible varieties from different genetic background, then the risk remains low, and our resilience is improved. Our goal is to enhance variety diversification for the California almond industry by adopting better almond varieties that respond to different market demands as well as provide enhanced traits such as self-compatibility.”

    In addition to learnings around self-compatible varieties, TAC attendees also had an opportunity to hear from Phoebe Gordon, a UC Cooperative Extension orchard crops farm advisor in Merced County. Gordon manages one of the RVT sites in Madera County (others are located in Butte and Stanislaus counties). Since 2017, she and her peers have tested various pollinator varieties paired with alternating rows of Nonpareil trees.

    “We test all varieties for bloom timing, bloom profusion, hullsplit timing, yields, defects and insect damage, and observe any disease issues,” Gordon explained.

    She said early results in the RVT indicate that some of the pollinator varieties may have higher yields than Nonpareil, but cautioned that “we need to look at entire lifespan of these varieties.”

    Research requires patience

    Developing a new variety can take many years, if not decades. Craig Ledbetter, a research geneticist with the Agricultural Research Service, based at the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center in Parlier, was directly involved with the development of Yorizane.

    He said the first seedling was planted in 1999. Its kernel attractiveness and ease of cracking – combined with self-fertilization — quickly separated it from other alternatives, Ledbetter said. Annual tests on roller crackers also showed its kernels damage less often than Nonpareil. Then, the RVT that began in 2014 revealed Yorizane’s heavy yield potential.

    “Yorizane provides a varietal option to growers to establish a more efficient single-variety orchard,” Ledbetter explained. “As a part of the RVT, it has been evaluated in blind tests by industry personnel for kernel attributes and has been found to have excellent kernel appearance and marketing potential.”

    Limited quantities of Yorizane already are available at many of California’s leading tree nurseries.

    Partners key to long-term success

    Yorizane is just one example of the ongoing value and importance of the Almond Board’s long-term investment in research, development and real-word, in-the-orchard testing of new varietals. It is a critical partnership between the industry and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS), the University of California system, and private breeders and nurseries in California.

    Chuck Fleck, director of horticulture research at Sierra Gold Nurseries near Yuba City, said there are many other exciting scientific advances on the horizon. Although Sierra Gold’s variety development program is relatively young, he said its team plans to eventually release almond varieties and rootstocks that provide growers with many advantageous genetic characteristics.

    Fleck pointed to the work of two researchers – Malli Aradhya of the USDA and Tom Gradziel of UC Davis – as being especially promising. Aradhya’s has focused on helping growers overcome abiotic (atmosphere, chemical elements, sunlight/temperature, wind and water) as well as biotic (soil, floom, leaves and wood) challenges in their orchards. Gradziel is working to bring new germplasm into almonds’ fairly narrow genetic base as well as exploring alternative rootstock options to more effectively deal with abiotic and biotic issues.

    “Perennial crop breeding takes years to see successes and breakthroughs,” Fleck explained. “Because it can take decades before such successes come to light, the resulting varieties — and therefore the breeding program’s true value — is not easily discerned until long after their inception.”

    Factsheets will inform growers

    It hasn’t always been easy to efficiently communicate breakthroughs in the genetic world or promising results from RVTs to growers. That’s why so many industry officials are excited about the rollout of varietal fact sheets co-created by the Almond Board, UC-ANR, and the Fruit and Nut Center (FNC) at UC Davis.. These factsheets  are housed on a new website that will launch later this year at the FNC center. The first fact sheet debuted is on Yorizane and can be viewed here.

    “The data that is being generated is important and frequently actionable, but to date there has not been a particularly convenient way to access the results from these research projects,” said Julia Stover-Blackburn, director of Fruit and Nut Center. “ABC and UC-ANR do a great job of communicating findings at The Almond Conference and other meetings throughout the year, but we anticipate that making these results findable in the same place will help extend the reach.”

    She said the website will have an overview of various almond-breeding resources but primarily will serve as a repository for the findings of the most recent Regional Variety Trial. A second site is under construction to serve as a repository for almond rootstock trial findings. The hope, Stover-Blackburn explained, is that the sites “will be a resource for both researchers and growers looking to see how various varieties and rootstocks compare in these extensive trials.”

    “These data are valuable for growers making decisions about new plantings and for researchers making decisions about what varieties to include in other projects,” she said.

    The importance of RVTs cannot be overstated. Saa said 14 of the 15 most popular almond varieties in California are the product of trials. Initiation is already under way for the next RVT, which Saa expects to plant on the ground late in 2022 or early in 2023 and continue for a decade or more. He said the next trial likely will include many novelties in comparison to the current regional trial and that ABC is already working to identify the ad hoc research team.

    “Having third-party data collection about how that variety performs in different regions of the state is very valuable to growers, nurseries and handlers,” Saa said. “We need to know the weaknesses and strengths of varieties. There is no perfect variety. Some growers are looking for different things, like harvest times or kernel characteristics. There is no doubt that we need a diverse supply of almonds varieties.”

    Gordon said RVTs allow horticultural characteristics like yield, bloom overlap and harvest timing to be compared in an unbiased setting.

    “If there are conditions that are conducive to disease development, they can also be a way to compare relative susceptibilities to diseases,” she said. “They also allow growers and PCAs to see new varieties in person before committing.”

    Industry members interested to learn more about ongoing research should stay tuned for a report that will be issued this spring summarizing the RVT data collected in the past four years.

    In addition, industry members are encouraged to check out this session from The Almond Conference 2020 during which Gordon and other experts provide information on the latest varieties and selections under evaluation, in addition to discussing ABC’s overall breeding strategy.

    Finally, in 2020, the Almond Board published a comprehensive breeding report that provides an evaluation of national and international varieties and selections currently under evaluation or available in the market. Those interested in sinking their teeth into this topic are welcome to review this report. —     Almond Board of California

  • California Walnut Commission Electing New Members

    This year the California Walnut Commission will be holding elections for members and alternates for the term beginning September 1, 2021 and ending August 31, 2023.

    “The diversity of our growing and evolving membership brings valuable perspective to the industry. The CWC in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) welcomes participation of women, minorities and people with disabilities,” said Michelle McNeil Connelly, CEO of the California Walnut Commission.

    Following are the specifications for the election:

    Every two years the Commission law provides for the nomination of 13 members and 13 alternates that will be appointed by the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture.

    The following is a list of the member and corresponding alternate positions for the Commission:

    Eight Producer Members (four from each district, see below)

    Four Handler Members

    One public member (nominated by 12 elected members)

    All producers and handlers participating in the election must complete a nomination form in order for their name to appear on the ballot. The nomination period is May 1-31. All producer candidates must return the form with at least 15 eligible grower signatures. All handler candidates must submit a petition with at least five other handler signatures.

    We anticipate that ballots will be mailed to growers and handlers in late June. The election results will most likely be announced in August.

    District 1 is comprised of counties in the state that lie north of a line drawn on the south boundaries of San Mateo, Alameda, San Joaquin, Calaveras and Alpine counties. District 2 consists of all other walnut producing counties in the state south of this boundary line.

    If you have any questions please feel free to call the CWC office at (916) 932-7070.

    About California Walnut Commission

    The California Walnut Commission, established in 1987, is funded by mandatory assessments of the growers. The CWC represents over 4,800 growers and over 90 handlers (processors) of California walnuts in export market development activities and conducts health research. The CWC is an agency of the State of California that works in concurrence with the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). For more industry information, health research and recipe ideas, visit www.walnuts.org.