California Ag Network

Category: Nut Industry

  • Bees and Almonds: A Mutually Beneficial Relationship – From the Almond Board of California

    Modesto, Calif., (February 8, 2018) – Almonds depend on bees and bees depend on almonds. In fact, the link between bees and almonds is so important that the relationships between almond growers and their beekeepers often go back years or even generations.

    Between February and March each year, almond tree buds burst into beautiful light pink and white blooms in preparation for pollination. As the trees blossom, honey bees forage for pollen and nectar in the orchard. When the bees move from tree to tree, they pollinate almond blossoms along the way. Each fertilized flower will grow into an almond. After almonds, beekeepers bring their honey bees to different locations across the United States, pollinating over 90 other crops and making honey.

     

    While bees are essential to pollinate the almond crop, the bees benefit too. Almond orchards help strengthen bee hives because:

    • Almond orchards provide honey bees with their first natural source of food each spring.
    • Just like almonds are a nutritious snack for us, almond pollen is very nutritious for honey bees.
    • Honey bee hives routinely leave stronger after visiting during almond bloom.
    • Beekeepers can then split many of the hives to grow their apiaries

     

    Committed to Health

    A variety of factors have led to a widely documented and concerning decline in honey bee health, including activities associated with both beekeeping and crop production, putting at risk many of the foods we count on for a stable, nutritious food supply. While the total number of honey bee hives in the U.S. has remained stable for the past 20 years, maintaining healthy, stable hives is beekeepers’ big challenge. That’s why the Almond Board of California has taken extraordinary steps to be good partners to beekeepers in promoting bee health. We have funded more honey bee health research than any other crop group with more than 100 research projects since 1995.

    Almond industry-funded research, along with that of other universities, government agencies, and non-profits informed the Honey Bee Best Management Practices (BMPs) for California Almonds. Guidelines for everyone involved in the pollination process, the Honey Bee BMPs provide recommendations ranging from making the orchard a safe and welcoming place for honey bees to how to treat for pest and disease without harming bees.

    The Almond Board of California web site

     

     

     

  • Forage Crops Yield More Successful Almond Pollination

    THANKS TO THIS VIDEO’S SPONSOR

    As growers get into the 2018 almond growing season, they hope for a successful pollination period. According to Billy Synk from Project Apis m., almond growers can achieve better pollination when they plant a forage cover crop in the fall to trigger the bees into activity come spring. Watch this interview as Billy explains, and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • Get Ready for American Pistachio Growers 2018 Annual Conference

    Special Thanks to this Video’s Sponsor!

    Save the date for the American Pistachio Industry 2018 Annual Conference to be held at JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, in Palm Desert, CA on March 5-7. Watch this brief interview with Executive Director of APG Richard Matoian to learn more. Pacific Nut Producer Magazine is a proud sponsor of this event, so be sure to come and see us there!

  • 2018 Pistachio Crop off to a Poor Start

    Spring is coming and Central Valley growers are concerned about the lack of rain and chill portions their orchards have received this winter, shares Executive Director at American Pistachio Growers Richard Matoian. Watch this brief interview with Richard and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • State of the California Almond Industry Report

    If you missed the State of the State of the Industry presentation at the annual Almond Conference, watch this brief interview with Richard Waycott and Mike Mason from the Almond Board who shared their outlook of the future of the California almond industry. Read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine. Don’t currently receive it? Subscribe for free today!

  • Tony Campos, 2017 Almond Achievement Award Winner

    Modesto, Calif., (January 11, 2018) – Tony Campos, Campos Brothers Farms, accepted the 2017 Almond Achievement Award winner at the Almond Conference in Sacramento. Tony has been involved with Almond Board of California (ABC) for almost three decades, serving on multiple committees, including eight years as an ABC Board Member.

    From left: Kent Stenderup (vice chair, ABC),
    Tony Campos (award recipient), Mike Mason (chairman, ABC)
    and Richard Waycott (president and CEO, ABC)

    “Tony is someone in our industry that has dedicated his life to promoting, processing and developing markets for almonds,” said Lori Coburn, Hughson Nut, Inc., who nominated Campos. “He has been involved in the industry in different capacities for decades as a grower and processor.”

    Campos began growing almonds in 1971 with his brothers, Esteban and Fermin. In 1981, the brothers built the first Campos Brothers Farms almond huller, promising premium-quality processing.

    Campos has served volunteer positions with organizations such as ABC, Raisin Bargaining Association, Raisin Administrative Committee, National Farmers Organization, California Bean Advisory Board and Fresno County Farm Bureau.

    Tony and his family also support philanthropic organizations such as Valley Children’s Hospital, Catholic Charities Diocese of Fresno, Basque Cultural Center and Caruthers High School.

    Throughout Campos’ nearly 30 years serving the almond industry, he has participated in the following committees:

    • International Committee, ten years
    • ABC Board of Directors, eight years
    • Administration and Finance Committee, seven years
    • Public Relations and Advertising Committee, two years
    • Strategic Planning Committee, two years

    In addition to his service to the almond community, Campos has been involved in advancing the industry’s technologies and innovations. He has worked on plant engineering research and processing design research that utilizes the newest technology to improve capacities and qualities in processing.

    “The Campos Brothers have shared industry processing information back and forth openly over the years,” said Coburn. “He is a leader in the industry and it is great to see him being recognized for his contributions.”

    Since 2011, the Almond Achievement Award has been awarded to an industry or allied-industry member who has been an integral part of the California Almond industry through long-term service, contributions or innovations.

    Past Almond Achievement Award recipients include Dave Phippen, Ned Ryan, Martin Pohl, Joe McIlvaine, Dave Baker and Jim Jasper. Nominations are accepted between August and October each year.

  • Almond Board Conference Wrap up with Richard Waycott

    The 45th annual Almond Board Conference brought thousands of almond growers and industry members together at the Sacramento Convention Center for another great event featuring the latest production and market research funded by the industry through the Almond Board of California. Watch this brief video for Richard Waycott’s final remarks at the conclusion of the three day event as growers move into a new year.

    Calagnet & YARA
    Special thanks to this video’s sponsor!

     

  • UCCE Verifies Efficacy of Mating Disruption Technology for Navel Orangeworm Control

    Mating disruption technology for Navel Orangeworm Control has been around for a while now, but today there are a lot more products on the market available to tree nut growers. UCCE Entomology Farm Advisor in Kern County, David Haviland shared in an interview with California Ag Network that his research trials prove that not only is mating disruption technology a worthwhile investment for growers, but growers have several effective options to choose from. Watch this interview and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Calagnet & YARA
    Special thanks to this video’s sponsor!

  • Almond and Walnut Pest Management Guidelines Revised Just in Time for the Holidays

    Davis, Calif., (December 27, 2017) – ‘Tis the season for baking lots of tasty treats. Breads, cookies, cakes, and candy are just a few that come to mind. What makes many of these treats so tasty is the addition of almonds or walnuts to the list of ingredients.

    California is the top almond producer in the world, accounting for about 80% of all almonds grown. (Photo: Jack Kelly Clark)

    In California, we are lucky to be at the center of almond and walnut production. According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA’s) latest Agricultural Statistics Review, more than 99 percent of the almonds and walnuts produced in the United States are grown in California.

    Almond and walnut growers work tirelessly to supply enough nuts to not only satisfy domestic demand, but also for export. Worldwide, almonds rank as the largest specialty crop export. California is the top almond producer in the world, accounting for about 80 percent of all almonds grown. For walnuts, California ranks as the second largest producer in the world. To keep up with this demand, almond and walnut growers must be constantly aware of pests, diseases, and abiotic problems that can affect the tree and growing nuts.

    The University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM) has recently published revised Pest Management Guidelines for almonds and walnuts, helping growers prevent and manage pest problems with the most up-to-date information.

    Bacterial spot on almond, a new disease of almond in California. (Photo: Brent A. Holtz)

    Revisions in the Almond Pest Management Guidelines include:

    • A new section on bacterial spot, a new disease of almond in California found in the Sacramento and northern San Joaquin valleys
    • A renamed section on fruit russeting, revised from the old powdery mildew section
    • Significant revisions made to the management section of navel orangeworm, one of the major pests attacking California almonds
    • Improvements on how to do dormant spur sampling section with easier-to-understand information on monitoring and thresholds
    • Revisions in the Walnut Pest Management Guidelines include:
    • Updated information on the association between walnut twig beetle and thousand cankers disease
    • New sections for Botryosphaeria and Phomopsis cankers, branch wilt, and paradox canker
    • Significant changes to the walnut husk fly management section
    Male (left) and female walnut twig beetles. (Photo: Larry L. Strand)

    Both the almond and walnut revised Pest Management Guidelines also include updated information on fungicide efficacy, weed management, and vertebrate management.

    Authored by University of California specialists and advisors, the Pest Management Guidelines are UC’s official guidelines for monitoring and managing pests in California crops. For more information on pest management in these or other crops, visit the UC IPM website.

  • Almond Board of California Announces 2018 Election

    Modesto, Calif., (December 26, 2017) – Almond Board of California (ABC) announced January 20, 2018 as the deadline for filing nomination petitions for two independent grower member positions and two independent grower alternate positions on the ABC Board of Directors. To be considered for the position, each candidate must be a grower and must submit a petition signed by at least 15 independent almond growers (verified by the Almond Board). The petition should state the position for which the candidate is nominated and be filed with Almond Board of California at 1150 9th Street, Suite 1500, Modesto, California 95354.

    Additionally, two independent handler member positions and two independent handler alternate positions are available. Handlers must declare their candidacy, in writing, to the Almond Board no later than January 20, 2018 to be considered for these positions.

    A cooperative grower member and alternate nominee will be selected through their cooperative association.

    Almond Board of California is the agency established to administer the Federal Marketing Order for almonds. The Almond Board assures industry compliance with marketing order regulations and is responsible for administering all aspects of the marketing order. It also serves the almond industry in other major areas, including production research, generic advertising and public relations, and accumulation, compilation and dissemination of statistical information.

    The Almond Board encourages eligible women, minorities and people with disabilities to consider running for a position on the Board of Directors as it believes this committee should reflect the diversity of the industry it serves.

    For further information call Sue Olson, Associate Director, Marketing Order Services, at (209) 343-3224.