The Groundwater Extraction Annual Reporting System (GEARS) is now open for reporting under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA.) Pumpers in the Tulare Lake and Tule subbasins will need to file their first groundwater extraction reports to the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board or Board) by May 1, 2026, except for pumpers who were granted an exclusion from reporting and fees.
The State Water Board designated both the Tulare Lake and Tule subbasins as probationary in 2024. Consequently, most groundwater pumpers in the Tulare Lake and Tule subbasins are required to track groundwater use, submit annual groundwater extraction reports, and pay extraction fees to the Board.
Reporting Support
Visit the GEARS Resources webpage to access a user guide, videos, and information about events to help with reporting.
The State Water Board mailed letters to known groundwater pumpers with unique Correspondence IDs. If you are subject to reporting requirements and do not receive a letter by March 18, please contact Board staff at sgma@waterboards.ca.gov.
Reporting Exclusions
The following pumpers are not required to submit extraction reports to the State Water Board:
Pumpers who extract two acre-feet or less per year for domestic purposes only (de minimis pumpers), or
Pumpers who extract groundwater only within the boundaries of Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) or Kern-Tulare Water District GSA in the Tule Subbasin, provided they comply with the corresponding GSA’s groundwater management requirements.
Before May 1, 2026, pumpers who fall within one of these two categories and receive letters about reporting should use the GEARS system to notify the Board that they are exempt from reporting to avoid receiving further communications regarding reporting requirements.
Potential Exclusions
On April 7, the State Water Board will consider adopting resolutions to exclude groundwater pumpers in the Tulare Lake and Tule subbasins who extract no more than 20 acre-feet of groundwater per year from the reporting and fee requirements on the basis that these groundwater pumpers have a minimal impact on overall subbasin groundwater extractions. View the Tulare Lake Subbasin Notice and Tule Subbasin Notice for more information.
The Board may adopt, modify, or reject these proposed exclusions. If the Board rejects the potential exclusions, pumpers who are not otherwise exempt from the reporting requirement will be required to report. Board staff will send an update regarding any decisions on potential exclusions to the SGMA Groundwater Management email list.
Fee Waivers
Low-income residents, water systems serving disadvantaged communities, and public schools may be eligible to have their fees waived. To be eligible for a fee waiver, pumpers must report their extractions by the May 1, 2026, deadline. For more information on eligibility and how to request a fee waiver, visit the SGMA Reporting and Fees webpage.
With the ongoing conflict with Iran, supply issues have emerged due to shipping obstructions in the Strait of Hormuz. This includes fertilizer, with The Fertilizer Institute reporting U.S. import prices up 30% between February 27 and March 6.
Matt Morelli, a crop advisor for Nutrien, says the situation right now is not critical, but they are starting to feel the impact — and things could become more serious if not resolved soon.
“It’s not too severe as of right now, but we definitely could experience some supply issues coming up,” Morelli said. “And we could even see some pricing issues with things moving forward, but it’s hard to say this early.”
Morelli believes there could be issues with getting important fertilizers like UAN-32. As planting begins in the Midwest, there is the possibility that demand could outpace supply if the Strait is not reopened in time. This will also mean higher prices and lower availability for growers in California.
“If availability becomes an issue, pricing goes up,” Morelli said. “It will get difficult for growers and we’ll have to look at other options. Once UAN-32 becomes tight, it creates issues for everyone.”
The pistachio industry is seeing unprecedented success, but there are still headwinds to look out for as high demand means that growers and processors alike are having a hard time keeping up with the consumers. At the American Pistachio Growers Conference, President and CEO Zachary Fraser urged everyone to stay “humble and hungry” as they meet any upcoming challenges head-on. Fraser spoke with Matthew Malcolm with California Ag Network to talk about what’s new in the pistachio industry, and what to expect moving forward. Watch this video and read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine. (Editors Note: Since the filming of this interview, Zachary Fraser has departed from American Pistachio Growers.)
Please thank this video’s sponsor Kingman Ag for their industry support.
In a time of increasing water scarcity and regulatory complexity, enhancing irrigation efficiency and improving on-farm water management practices are critical for California agriculture. Microirrigation – using highly efficient, low-flow and low-pressure systems that deliver water and nutrients close to plants’ roots – is one key solution.
“Microirrigation is no longer optional in many agricultural production regions worldwide,” said Daniele Zaccaria, professor of agricultural water management for Cooperative Extension at University of California, Davis. “It is essential for producing more food per unit of water and for achieving higher fertilizer use efficiency, relying on greater application precision and pursuing improved environmental stewardship.”
Zaccaria is organizing the 2026 Advanced School on Microirrigation for Crop Production, offered in California for the first time, from March 30 to April 3 (register by March 25).
This comprehensive program combines three days of classroom instruction at UC Davis with two days of field visits, including fruit and nut production systems in the San Joaquin Valley and vegetable, berry and wine-grape systems along the Central Coast. There is also an online option for the first three days of the program.
The school is designed for a broad audience, including farmers and ranch managers, crop consultants, water resource planners and irrigation practitioners, as well as scientists, educators, students, and personnel from a variety of agencies and sectors.
“This offers a unique, hands-on opportunity to learn directly from global leaders in the field, combining cutting-edge science, real-world applications and field experience,” Zaccaria said. “It’s an excellent investment of time for anyone committed to the future of crop production in semi-arid and arid environments.”
The educational event is co‑organized by the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Chilean Water Technology Consortium and the California Irrigation Institute.
Lectures – presented by prominent experts from UC Davis, UC Cooperative Extension and other academic, agency and private partners – will draw on the latest research, technologies and practical applications.
Topics include:
Technical aspects of water delivery systems to allow for successful adoption and management of microirrigation systems
Soil-water movement and soil-plant-water relations with microirrigation
Microirrigation systems design, operation, maintenance, automation and performance evaluation
Methods and tools for microirrigation scheduling
Managing microirrigation for different crops (field and agronomic crops, vegetable crops, berry crops, fruit crops, nut crops, vineyards)
Chemigation and fertigation
Salinity management with microirrigation
All participants will receive:
A UC Certificate of Completion
A copy of the book Microirrigation for Crop Production, recently published by Elsevier
Continuing Education Units (18.5 CEUs for lectures and 9.5 CEUs for field visits) from the American Society of Agronomy, as well as CEU credits from the Irrigation Association
Register soon to secure your spot, as class size is limited to 100 participants to ensure an optimal learning environment.
Zaccaria’s work in organizing the Microirrigation School is made possible by his Alexander and Elizabeth Swantz Endowed Specialist Position and related funds from the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources brings UC information and practices to all 58 California counties. Through research and Cooperative Extension in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, economic and youth development, our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. Learn more at ucanr.edu.
As input costs continue to rise and regulatory pressure around nutrient management intensifies, almond growers are looking for tools that help them apply fertilizers more precisely — without sacrificing yield or tree health. A new Nitrogen and Potassium Calculator, developed through a partnership between the Almond Board of California and UC Davis’ Fruit and Nut Center, is designed to do exactly that.
Hosted by the Fruit and Nut Center and available through Almonds.org, the calculator helps growers estimate how much nitrogen and potassium to apply, and when to apply it, based on orchard-specific information and expected yield. The goal is straightforward: improve nutrient use efficiency, reduce unnecessary applications, and limit money spent on product the crop doesn’t need.
Built on Efficiency and Economics
Nitrogen and potassium are among the largest input costs in almond production, accounting for a significant share of annual expenses. They are also essential to kernel development and protein formation, making precise management critical.
“Kernels are full of protein,” said Sebastian Saa, Associate Director of Agricultural Research at the Almond Board of California. “That also means that they demand a significant amount of nitrogen.”
But applying more fertilizer than necessary doesn’t improve outcomes. Instead, it can reduce efficiency, increase costs, and create additional challenges. “If you have too much nitrogen, it could leach into groundwater aquifers” Saa said, “but you are also making your trees more susceptible to diseases like hull rot.”
The new calculator is designed to help growers avoid both sides of the problem, deficiency and excess, by matching nutrient applications more closely to actual crop demand.
From Research to a Practical Tool
The calculator reflects more than a decade of almond production research and builds on guidance already familiar to many growers, including the Almond Board’s Nitrogen Management Guide. “We have been working on this topic for about 20 years,” Saa explained. “This calculator reflects the latest of our thinking and includes potassium calculations, which we had not done before.”
Rather than requiring users to answer every possible question up front, the calculator uses a stepwise process. Growers can enter basic information, such as orchard age and expected yield, to generate a preseason nutrient plan. As the season progresses and more data becomes available, the same plan can be revisited and refined.
Yield plays a central role in the calculation, but the tool also accounts for nutrient contributions from other sources, such as irrigation water or organic amendments, helping growers avoid double-counting nutrients they already have. “How much to apply doesn’t only depend on yield,” Saa noted. “If you use soil amendments, some of those amendments contain nitrogen and thus reduce the need for fertilizer. All this is included in the calculator.”
Adjust as the Season Unfolds
As previously mentioned, one of the key advantages of the new calculator is its ability to adapt as the season progresses. Growers can save a unique link to their initial plan, return mid-season (end of April/beginning of May), and update inputs as yield estimates improve or new information, such as leaf tissue analysis, becomes available. “This allows the user to fine tune their former fertilization budget even further,” Saa noted.
The calculator is hosted by UC Davis’ Fruit and Nut Center, which already supports a range of decision-support tools used by California growers. Growers can access the calculator directly through the Fruit and Nut Center website or by visiting the Grower Tools page on Almonds.org, where tools can be filtered by focus area, resource type, or host organization.
Getting Nutrient Management Right
Ultimately, the calculator is about helping growers make confident, informed decisions — balancing productivity, environmental stewardship, and cost control.
“Getting it right is fundamental,” Saa said. “From an economic point of view, from an environmental point of view, and from an efficiency and productivity point of view.”
With the new Nitrogen and Potassium Calculator, growers now have a practical, research-based tool to help do just that. “The sooner you make your fertilization plan, like at the beginning of the season, the higher the ROI is going to be,” Saa said.
Growers in Cochise County, Arizona are fighting back against a proposed tax increase on land used for permanent crops like pistachios, pecans and wine grapes. Growers like John Heuler have fought back and won in tax and appeals courts, but the county is taking the dispute to the State Supreme Court. At the American Pistachio Growers’ Annual Conference, Heuler spoke with Matthew Malcolm from Malcolm Media Ag Publishing to go over the latest details. Watch this quick video and learn more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Kingman Ag for their industry support.
The 2026 almond bloom is winding down almost as quickly as it started this season. The weather for this period was significantly drier and warmer than that of the previous week. Temperatures reached as high as 80 degrees in the San Joaquin Valley, and the Sacramento Valley saw temperatures swing from lows in the 20’s last week to highs in the 70’s this week. Despite warmer and drier conditions, wind and clouds suppressed bee activity for much of the week in the Sacramento Valley. Bee activity in the San Joaquin Valley was fair to good for most of the period.
Bloom in the Sacramento Valley has consistently stayed slightly ahead of the rest of the growing regions this season and continued its progress through petal fall and into jacket and early nutlet stages. Only Butte Padre plantings there have any significant bloom remaining at this point.
Bloom continued its decline for Nonpareil, Monterey, Independence, and California varieties for this period in the San Joaquin Valley as well. Most of the remaining bloom is in Butte Padre plantings, though even these have passed their peak by the end of this period. Bees were more active in the milder weather there and worked whatever viable bloom they could still find.
Ranvir Tung, a grower in Fresno County, summed up the week by saying, “The remaining bloom progressed rapidly after the storms, and with leaf-out now underway, the next round of fungicide applications are being applied.”
Bee hives began to be removed from the most advanced orchards at the end of this period. As orchards continue to dry out, growers will conduct maintenance activities such as mowing and removing trees that were downed in last week’s storms. They will also look to begin nutrient applications and pest management discussions. — By Anthony Scudder, Regional Manager, Blue Diamond Growers
The Almond Board of California (ABC) announced the 2026 class of its Almond Leadership Program (ALP), welcoming 18 new professionals in the cohort. These industry professionals are committed to strengthening California almond farming and advancing the future of the industry through collaboration, leadership development and innovation.
The ALP program brings together emerging leaders from across the almond value chain. From growers and agronomists to marketers, processors, field representatives and allied partners, this immersive experience is focused on building leadership skills, industry insight and solving real-world challenges facing California agriculture. Participants will be provided with in-depth exposure to the social, economic, environmental and regulatory forces shaping the future of the California almond industry. Each class member will complete a yearlong, self-directed capstone project focused on addressing a real-world challenge or opportunity for the industry.
“This program is about preparing the next generation of leaders to navigate complexity, lead with integrity and represent the almond community with confidence,” said Rebecca Bailey, senior specialist overseeing ALP for ABC. “The 2026 class reflects the diversity of perspectives and expertise that will be essential for the long-term success of our industry, and we’re proud to invest in their growth and leadership.”
Members of the 17th class will not only be working at their full-time jobs but will be involved in every aspect of the industry, including ABC activities in global marketing, production, nutrition research, food safety and more. The program is intended to sharpen their communications skills and build relationships with industry leaders, ABC staff and each other.
“I joined the Almond Leadership Program because the future of California agriculture depends on thoughtful, engaged leaders who understand both on‑the‑ground realities and the policy landscape,” said Daniel Frea, class member and farmer/attorney at Wanger Jones Helsley PC. “ALP offers a unique opportunity to deepen my industry knowledge, build meaningful relationships and better serve the almond community.”
Class members also have mentors, many who are ALP graduates, helping them to strengthen their industry knowledge, perspective and skill development.
“I came into the almond industry without much of an agricultural background. In my first role, I was fortunate enough to work alongside some seasoned almond professionals. I enjoy being a resource to those that are new to or growing in the almond industry,” said Jereme Fromm, mentor and vice president of business development at California Nut Co. “The Almond Leadership Program gives participants an in-depth look into the many facets of the almond industry. Participants are exposed to everything from nutrition research, regulation and trade to market development and on-farm innovation. They also build some great relationships along the way.”
Continuing a long-standing tradition of service, class members will also raise funds to support California Future Farmers of America (FFA), with a collective goal of raising more than $25,000 in scholarships for high school students pursuing agricultural studies in college. Since the program’s inception, ALP participants have raised more than $320,000 for FFA to help support the next generation of agricultural leaders.
John Unzueta, Procurement Manager, Cache Creek Foods LLC
Alyssa Valdez, Grower Relations, RPAC LLC
James Williamson, Investment Associate, PGIM Real Estate
For more information about the Almond Leadership Program and the Almond Board of California, visit almonds.org.
About California Almonds
California Almonds make life better by what we grow and how we grow. The Almond Board of California promotes natural, wholesome and quality almonds through leadership in strategic market development, innovative research, and accelerated adoption of industry best practices on behalf of the more than 7,600 almond farmers and processors in California, most of whom are multi-generational family operations. Established in 1950 and based in Modesto, California, the Almond Board of California administers a grower-enacted Federal Marketing Order under the supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture.
Eastern filbert blight is an ongoing and costly problem for hazelnut growers, but researchers at the Oregon State Extension are researching newer and more efficient ways to combat it. At the Nut Growers Society’s Winter Meeting, Jay Pscheidt spoke with Matthew Malcolm at Malcolm Media Ag Publishing and shared their findings on drenching. Watch this quick video and read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
This work was partially funded by the Stockton East Water District — Crown rot and root rot caused by Phytophthora species are diseases of great concern for almond growers. Many people believe that irrigating with surface water puts your trees at risk of Phytophthora, and that irrigating with groundwater is the best way to prevent these diseases. However, a recent study of Phytophthora in irrigation water and orchard soils tells a different story.
The Bottom Line:
Irrigation management is Phytophthora management. This study showed that Phytophthora is common in orchard soils. Regardless of whether they are irrigated with surface water or groundwater, over 30% of tested orchard soils were positive for Phytophthora. Since water (either standing water or saturated soil) allows Phytophthora to cause disease, good irrigation management is crucial to prevention, no matter what your water source.
— Reduce ponding: irrigation application rate should not exceed soil infiltration rate.
—Reduce length of soil saturation: run shorter sets (24 hrs max) more frequently.
— Avoid water on the trunk of the tree and avoid soil saturation at the trunk: plant on berms, use stream splitters, choose microsprinkler wetting patterns that avoid the trunk, move drip emitters away from the trunk.
Using a resistant rootstock is an excellent tool to help limit Phytophthora disease if you are planting a new orchard (see this chart for rootstock info) or putting in replants. Even with a resistant rootstock, good irrigation management is crucial because no rootstock is immune.
The Details:
Phytophthora is a genus of fungus-like organisms which contains over 200 different species. Many of these species are important pathogens of orchards, causing root rot or crown rot (for example Phytophthora cinnamomi, Phytophthora cactorum, and Phytophthora mediterranea) or pruning wound cankers (mainly Phytophthora syringae). Many previous studies have shown that Phytophthora species are common in surface sources of irrigation water, such as rivers, canals, and sloughs. Phytophthorahas not been found in groundwater from wells, unless that well has been contaminated with surface water. From this, people have assumed that irrigating with surface water puts an orchard at risk of Phytophthora root or crown rot, and that irrigating with groundwater is ”safe.” However, biology is rarely that simple: in my experience, orchards irrigated with groundwater can struggle with Phytophthora, and many orchards irrigated with surface water do not show symptoms of Phytophthora disease.
In 2021 and 2022, collaborators and I conducted a study to look at the effects of Phytophthora in irrigation water from a broader perspective. This study took place in the Stockton East Water District (SEWD), a local water agency that manages both groundwater and surface water use by agricultural producers east of Stockton, CA. The study had three objectives:
— Test SEWD surface water for Phytophthora during the irrigation season.
— Test for live Phytophthora coming through irrigation emitters.
— Test orchard soils for Phytophthora, comparing orchards irrigated with surface water vs groundwater.
Objective 1. Test SEWD surface water for Phytophthora during the irrigation season
During the 2021 irrigation season, we sampled water from surface water irrigation sources throughout the SEWD. Some locations (core sites) were sampled monthly from June through October, and some locations (additional sites) were sampled twice during the season, in July and October. Samples were taken back to the lab and tested for Phytophthora using DNA sequencing.
Overview of the Stockton East Water District (SEWD) with water sampling sites marked.
We found that Phytophthora species were common in SEWD waterways. Over the course of sampling, we found 39 Phytophthora species, 10 of which are known pathogens of orchards crops grown in the SEWD. Many of these species were found throughout the irrigation season. We did find that different waterways had different Phytophthora species, and some waterways had more orchard pathogens than others. However, every waterway, and nearly every site, had at least one Phytophthora species of concern to orchards. These results are consistent with many previous studies, which have determined that Phytophthora species are common in surface sources of irrigation water.
Phytophthora species detected in Stockton East Water District waterways throughout the irrigation season.
The Phytophthora species listed in this table are reported to cause disease on walnut (W), cherry (C), almond (A), or pistachio (P). If the crop is bold, the Phytophthora species is particularly aggressive on that crop. A plus (+) indicates that the Phytophthora species was detected at least once in that waterway. A period (.) indicates that the species was not detected in that waterway. Nineteen other Phytophthora species (not listed) were detected, but these are not known to cause disease on orchard crops.
Objective 2. Test for live Phytophthora coming through irrigation emitters
In objective 1 we determined that Phytophthora is common in the SEWD waterways. However, very few studies have looked at whether Phytophthora in a waterway can get into an orchard through the irrigation system. This is especially true of drip irrigation systems, which require substantial filtration of surface water to keep emitters from plugging.
During the 2021 and 2022 irrigation seasons, we collected water directly from irrigation emitters during a normal irrigation and tested this water for the presence of live Phytophthora. This was done in three surface-water-irrigated orchards, two with drip emitters and one with sprinklers, as well as two groundwater-irrigated orchards, one with drip emitters and one with sprinklers.
Orchard sampling stations used to detect live Phytophthora in water from A, sprinklers and B,
drip emitters.
We found that Phytophthora commonly survives the journey from surface water sources into the orchard, and that the irrigation system type did not seem to matter. Also, the presence of a sand media filter did not seem to affect how regularly we detected live Phytophthora coming through irrigation emitters.
Summary of Phytophthora detections in water collected from irrigation emitters
Objective 3. Test orchard soils for Phytophthora, compare orchards irrigated with surface water vs groundwater
In objectives 1 and 2 we determined that Phytophthora is common in SEWD waterways and that it can survive the trip through an irrigation system and into the orchard. However, in most cases Phytophthora must survive in the soil to infect the orchard when conditions are right. Even though we knew that irrigation with surface water is bringing Phytophthora into orchards, we didn’t know if this affects the incidence of Phytophthora in orchard soils.
In 2021, we collected soil from 20 SEWD orchards exclusively irrigated with groundwater for at least 60 years and from 20 SEWD orchards mainly or exclusively irrigated with surface water over the same timeframe. This soil was tested for the presence of Phytophthora species using both the DNA sequencing from objective 1 and the live detection methods from objective 2.
We found that Phytophthora is common in orchard soils, with 32.5% of sampled orchards (13 out of 40) testing positive. We also found that the source of irrigation water did not affect the chances of finding Phytophthora in the soil: groundwater irrigated orchards were as likely to have Phytophthora as orchards irrigated with surface water. This indicates that irrigation with surface water was not the main factor determining whether Phytophthora was present in orchard soils and that irrigation with surface water may not increase risk of Phytophthora disease in orchards.
Hytophthora species in bold are particularly aggressive on orchard crops
The results from this study confirm that Phytophthora is common in surface water but show that irrigating with surface water was not the main factor determining whether Phytophthora was present in an orchard. Where is the Phytophthora coming from? It is hard to know, but historical flooding may play a role. We also know that Phytophthora can be moved into an orchard on planting material and in soil on equipment. Where does this leave us in terms of management? This study shows that Phytophthora is very common in orchard soils, regardless of the source of irrigation water. Since over 30% of tested orchards were positive for Phytophthora, it would be prudent to assume you have Phytophthora in your orchard. Saturated soil allows Phytophthora to infect and cause disease, so good irrigation management is crucial to prevention. By “good irrigation management”, I mean that you want to reduce the length of time that orchard soils are fully saturated and avoid having standing water. This can be done by using irrigation emitters with output volumes suited for your soil infiltration rate and by irrigating more frequently for a shorter duration (24 hrs maximum). In addition, you want to apply irrigation water in the root zone but away from the trunk to reduce the opportunity for infection of the trunk or major roots. This can be done using stream splitters with sprinklers to protect the trunk, choosing a microsprinker wetting pattern that avoids the tree trunk, or moving drip emitters away from the trunk of the tree. At planting, consider using a resistant rootstock, and plant on berms. Note that even if you are using a resistant rootstock, good irrigation management is crucial because no rootstock is immune.
I want to leave you with this thought: irrigating well is much more important for preventing Phytophthora than the source of your irrigation water. I have been to many surface-water-irrigated orchards with no symptoms of Phytophthora. Some of the worst orchards I have seen, in terms of Phytophthora disease, were irrigated with groundwater with the driplines right against the trunk on 3rdleaf trees. Irrigation management is Phytophthora management.
Thank you to my collaborators on this project, Greg Browne (USDA-ARS) and Mohamed Nouri (UCCE San Joaquin County). Special thanks to Justin Hopkins with the SEWD for his help planning and executing this project. Thank you also to the SEWD growers who welcomed me into their orchards for sampling. This work was partially funded by the Stockton East Water District. — By Jaime Ott, UC Extension Tehama, Shasta, Glenn, and Butte Counties
