Proposed almond dormant spray regulations, disease and pest control updates set for Nov. 25 Bakersfield meeting

(Bakersfield, Nov. 12, 2003) –Proposed state regulations for applying pesticides during the winter dormant season, along with updates on the latest pest and disease control measures, will be discussed Tuesday, Nov. 25, at an almond grower meeting sponsored by the University of California Cooperative Extension and the Almond Pest Management Alliance.

The meeting will be held at the UC Cooperative Extension office located at 1031 South Mt. Vernon Ave., Bakersfield. The field day runs from 8 a.m. until noon.

Marshall Lee, senior environmental research scientist from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) will discuss the need for the proposed dormant spray regulations and outline the process for developing the regulations, with the goal of encouraging growers to participate in the public comment process.

A panel will examine the question: “What happens when OPs are not included in the dormant spray?” Panel members are Doug Blair, assistant ranch manager for the East Side, Paramount Farming Co.; Earl Surber, technical manager (Belridge), Paramount Farming Co.; Robert L. Gaddie, crop protection consultant, trees and vines, Bakersfield, and John Moore, Growers Crop Consulting, Bakersfield.  Panel moderator is David Haviland, entomology and pest management farm advisor, UCCE Kern County.

New state farm runoff regulations will also be discussed. Pete Osmolovsky, engineering geologist, Central Valley Regional Water Control Board, will discuss the recently adopted conditional waiver of waste discharge requirements for irrigated land.  David Orth, general manager, Kings River Conservation District, will discuss the local efforts to form a watershed coalition.

 Other scheduled topics include:

• “The Value of the PMA Project in Kern County” by Mario Viveros, Farm Advisor, UCCE Kern County.
• “San Jose Scale population dynamics and tree damage in almonds” by Walt Bentley, Regional IPM Advisor.
• “Management guidelines for alternaria, rust and hull rot” by Beth Teviotdale, UC Plant Pathologist, Kearney Ag Center, Parlier.

The session is free and open to the public.

The PMA is a cooperative project funded by the Almond Board of California and CDPR to study a reduced risk system of almond production through use of alternative products and practices, on-site demonstrations and grower education. The Kern County PMA project is one of three sites statewide. The other demonstration orchards are located in Stanislaus and Butte counties. PMA partners include the Almond Board of California, the Almond Hullers and Processors Association, the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, University of California Cooperative Extension and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

Further information about the PMA project is available from PMA Project Administrator Mark Looker at (209) 575-2094 or mllooker@ainet.com

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