As biopesticides become more available to the grape industry, growers and PCAs may wonder how to best go about incorporating them in the integrated pest management programs. This was a topic addressed by Dan Rodrigues from Vina Quest and the Cal Poly Viticulture & Enology Department at Malcolm Media’s recent Central Coast Grape Expo. Watch his brief interview here and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
Good news for the grape industry. Growers now have access to more nematode resistant rootstocks than ever before. UCCE Viticulture Farm Advisor Karl Lund recently talked about the characteristics and availability of these rootstocks at Malcolm Media’s Tree & Vine Expo in Turlock, CA. Watch his brief interview and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
Almond pollination is underway in California and growers are hoping for another good crop this year. How can you monitor the progress of your bees during almond pollination and determine when it is time to remove the hives? Watch this brief interview with Billy Synk from Project Apis m. for some answers, and read more about it in the March issue of Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
The Almond Board of California recently unveiled their vision of industry in 2025 and set some ambitious goals on how to get there. These goals were not just made for the sake of pleasing the consumer and community, but also for the longterm success and viability of the industry moving forward. Watch this brief interview as Daren Williams from the Almond Board of California explains, and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine. Don’t currently receive the magazine?
How do you maximize the efficacy of your investment in bees for a successful almond pollination period? According to Billy Synk, director of Pollination Services with project Apis m., the answer is planting cover crops in the fall that will flower prior to almond bloom to get the bees active early in preparation for a successful pollination period.Watch this brief interview as Synk explains, and read more about it in the February issue of Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
While there has been a lot of talk about the new Farm Bill that finally passed, California dairy producers may be wondering how and if it will really impact them. Aubrey Bettencourt, Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency in California shared that it will, through the new Dairy Margin Coverage Program replacing the less impactful Margin Protection Program. Watch this brief interview as Bettencourt explains and don’t miss the Farm Bill Implementation Listening Session of February 26th.
Central Valley Thompson grapes ended up being quite valuable this last harvest, both on the raisin and concentrate side of the business. But as Jeff Bitter from Allied Grape Growers shared in this interview with California Ag Network, both markets can be quite volatile and there are a lot less acres of Thompson Seedless grapes in the ground than there used to be. Check out this interview with Jeff on his insights for the future of the industry and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
While California dairy producers have been experiencing continued lower prices for their product, there are some positive global trends dairy producers can look forward to as reported by John Talbot, CEO of the California Milk Advisory Board in a recent interview with California Ag Network. Watch this brief interview and read more about it in California Dairy Magazine. Don’t currently receive the magazine? Subscribe for FREE at: https://malcolmmedia.com/california-dairy-magazine-subscriptions/
Last year, wine industry analysts were questioning the strength of the high end wine market, as prices got higher and higher; and now it appears that the tide is turning again for California wine grape growers, as much of the movement of inventory is coming back to the San Joaquin Valley. Watch this brief video with Jeff Bitter from Allied Grape Growers as he explains at the recent Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. He also discusses the potential delay of the USDA Annual Crush Report due to the government shutdown. Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
With all the regulatory and economic challenges facing our agricultural industries, California growers understandably have a lot to grunt and complain about; however, if growers see these challenges as opportunities and work together to overcome them, so much more can be accomplished, as has been done in the California citrus industry. Check out this brief video interview with former President of the California Citrus Mutual, Joel Nelsen, as he explains. Read more about it in the coming issue of California Fresh Fruit Magazine. Don’t currently receive the publication? Subscribe for free at https://malcolmmedia.com/california-fresh-fruit-subscriptions/.