For Immediate Release: Feb. 14, 2002

Contact: Mark Looker (209) 604-9709 mllooker@ainet.com

Almond Pest Management Alliance awarded fifth year of funding for reduced pesticide risk project

Modesto - - The Almond Pest Management Alliance (PMA), a partnership of almond industry groups united in the goal of finding innovative approaches to reducing pesticide risks, has been awarded a fifth year of funding from the state Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR).

The $79,487 grant was awarded Feb. 14. The Alliance is composed of the Almond Board of California, the Almond Hullers and Processor Association, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers, the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Project and local UC Cooperative Extension farm advisors.

The Alliance project is designed to promote a reduced risk system of almond production through the use of alternative products, actual on-site demonstrations and grower education. Three regional sites have been established in Butte, Stanislaus and Kern counties to allow for comparison of various orchard growing conditions and disease and pest pressures. Local UC Cooperative Extension farm advisors work with cooperating growers in comparing current grower practices and alternative approaches.

"We are very honored to be awarded a fifth year of funding by the state of California. It’s significant that state regulators recognize the importance of the work being done here in providing a sound base of scientific knowledge regarding pesticide use in producing almonds," said Chris Heintz, Almond Board of California Director of Production Research and Environment. "Through this partnership between government, industry and the University of California, we have succeeded in reaching a wide array of growers and pest control advisors at the grassroots level who are key to understanding the issues and finding workable solutions."

The project is now in the middle of its fourth year. Important observations to date include:

• Reduced risk practices appear to be controlling the pests below economic damage levels
• Growers are interested in reduced risk practices and continue to be proactive in their experimentation with, and adoption of, reduced risk practices
• Extensive orchard monitoring is the key to the success of this approach
• Other pests may begin to build populations due to the altering of spray programs
• PMA field days coinciding with the traditional pesticide spray seasons (dormant and in-season) are very successful in an outreach campaign to growers
• Multiyear funding is necessary to obtain scientifically valid data on which growers and pest control advisors can make sound economic and environmental decisions regarding reduced risk programs.

"A fifth year of funding allows this innovative and progressive project to continue to gather vital data about reduced risk scenarios," noted Heintz. "The base of knowledge being built will be of great use to almond growers in the future."

Educational efforts include field days where researchers review their work and share results with growers and pest control advisors. Information is also disseminated through newsletters and a PMA website located on the Board’s website www.almondboard.com

The project, which is overseen by an advisory management team of almond industry experts, runs through July 31, 2003.

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