For Immediate Release

April 29, 2003

Contact:      Mark Looker                                                                                                                                (209) 575-2094 Mllooker@ainet.com

Pest Management Meeting set for Northern San Joaquin Valley almond growers May 15

(Escalon, CA) - - Northern San Joaquin Valley almond growers are invited to attend a Thursday, May 15 meeting designed to highlight ongoing research work into a reduced risk system of almond production.

The meeting at the Darpinian & Sons orchard, 21131 S. Sexton Road, Escalon, is co-sponsored by the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) and the almond Pest Management Alliance (PMA.) The PMA is a cooperative project funded by a grant from the state Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to study a reduced risk system of almond production through use of alternative products and practices, on-site demonstrations and grower education.

The meeting, which runs from 8:30 a.m. until 12 noon, features sessions on:

• “Is Skipping Dormant Sprays a Sustainable Practice for the Long Run?” by Roger Duncan, UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor, Stanislaus County.
• “Evaluation of Almond Rootstocks” by Paul Verdegaal, UCCE, San Joaquin County and Roger Duncan, UCCE, Stanislaus County.
• “Tree Nutrition and Tissue Sampling” by Paul Verdegaal, UCCE, San Joaquin County
• “Total Irrigation Management for Efficient Almond Production” by Bill Power, East & West Stanislaus Resource Conservation Districts.
• “Hull Rot Management Through Controlled Deficit Irrigation” by Ken Shackel, Dept. of Pomology, UC Davis.
• “What We Know (and Don’t Know) about Bacterial Canker” by Dr. Bruce Kirkpatrick, Dept. of Plant Pathology, UC Davis.
• “Crown Gall” by Dr. Lynn Epstein, Dept. of Plant Pathology, UC Davis.

Two hours of Pest Control continuing education credits and 2.5 hours of CCA credits are pending. There is no fee or pre-registration required.

The Stanislaus County PMA project is one of three projects funded by the grant. The other demonstration orchards are located in Butte and Kern counties. PMA partners

include the Almond Board of California, the Almond Hullers and Processors Association, the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, UC Cooperative Extension farm advisors 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.

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