The Almond Pest Management Alliance project in Butte County in progressing well. We are working with Bertagna Orchards in the same orchard and the same block as last season. This orchard is 50% Nonpareil, 16% Butte, 16% Sonora, and 16% Aldrich and is just under 50 acres. The grower standard treatment is 27 acres, the Pest Management Alliance reduced risk treatment is 12 acres, 5 acres received an organophosphate dormant spray with no hull split spray planned and 5 acres received an organophosphate dormant spray and an organophosphate hull split spray is planned. Dormant spur samples were taken in December 2000 and inspected for peach twig borer hibernacula, san jose scale, san jose scale parasites, and mite eggs. All of these pest levels were very low. Pheromone traps to monitor San Jose Scale and its parasites were put up Feb. 26, and Peach Twig Borer and Navel Orangeworm traps went up on March 14, which was also the day the first male SJS was caught. The first PTB was caught April 4, and there were no NOW eggs on the egg traps until the end of May. Traps are being checked weekly. Following are graphs showing trap catches so far this season.
