January 14, 1999
Larry Wilhoit
Department of Pesticide Regulation
830 K Street Mall
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Contract #97-0281
Dear Larry:
In accordance with the terms outlined in the grant awarded to the Almond Pest Management Alliance (PMA,) I have enclosed the second quarterly status report on the Alliance’s activities for the period of October 1 through Dec. 31, 1998.
The first series of field days on dormant spray alternatives were held in late November and early December. The field days in Kern, Stanislaus and Butte counties were very successful, both in terms of attendance and dissemination of information. Surveys filled out by growers indicated a high level of satisfaction with the field days.
As we enter 1999, the PMA project will now turn its attention to weekly orchard monitoring during the winter months. The next meeting of the PMA Advisory Team is set for Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999, at 10 a.m. at the DANR building on the UC Davis campus. We look forward to seeing you there and updating you further on our progress.
As always, if you require further information regarding the status of this project, please do not hesitate to call on me.
Sincerely,
Mark Looker
Almond PMA Project Administrator
Enclosure: Quarterly Report
Cc: Almond PMA partners
Almond Pest Management Alliance
Quarterly Report Jan. 14, 1999
The Almond Pest Management Alliance (PMA) project in November and December 1998 focused on presenting information to almond growers about dormant spray alternatives in a series of field days held in the three counties participating in the project.
The Northern Project Dormant Spray Alternatives field day was held Dec. 9, 1998 at the Chico State University Farm. More than 100 growers and pest control advisors attended the session. The high turnout was attributed in part to the Alliance partners pooling their mailing lists in an effort to reach as many growers as possible.
Sessions included: "What is the Almond PMA?" by Chris Heintz, Director of Research, Almond Board of California; "Concerns About OP’s in Surface Water" by Richard Price, Butte County Agriculture Commissioner; "Dormant Spray Alternatives and Winter Pest Monitoring" by Carolyn Pickel, University of California Area IPM Farm Advisor, Sacramento Valley; "Effect of Cover Crops or Resident Vegetation on Dormant Spray Runoff" by Lisa Ross, California Department of Pesticide Regulation; "PTB Resistance to Organophosphates and Pyrethroids" by Frank Zalom, Director, UC Statewide IPM Project; "Review of Winter Sanitation" by Joe Connell, UC Farm Advisor, Butte County.
The Central Project Dormant Spray Alternatives field day was held Dec. 11, 1998 at the Stanislaus County Ag Center and a cooperating orchard. Nearly 150 growers were in attendance.
Sessions included: "What is the Almond PMA?" by Chris Heintz, Director of Research, Almond Board of California; "An Overview of Traditional and Alternative Dormant Spray Practices," by Roger Duncan, UC Farm Advisor, Stanislaus County; "Growing Almonds Without a Dormant Spray," by Gary Gliddon, Treevine Consulting; "Influence of Dormant Applied Insecticides On In-Season Mite Populations," by James Brazzle, UC Farm Advisor, Kern County; "Trapping PTB, NOW and San Jose Scale," by Lonnie Hendricks, UC Farm Advisor, Merced County; "Winter Monitoring Guidelines," by Walt Bentley UC Regional IPM Entomologist.
The Southern Project Dormant Spray Alternatives field day was held Nov. 23, 1998 at a cooperating orchard and the University of California Cooperative Extension, Bakersfield. Nearly 100 growers were in attendance.
Sessions included: "Sanitation- The Cornerstone of Navel Orangeworm Management," by James Brazzle, UC Farm Advisor, Kern County; "Topping A Means of Reducing Tree Height," by Mario Viveiros, UC Farm Advisor, Kern County; "Population dynamics of San Jose Scale in the Southern San Joaquin Valley," by James Brazzle; "Managing Resistance in Scale Populations: What Can We Learn From the Stone Fruit Experience?" by Dr. Richard Price, Agricultural Entomologist, Kearny Ag Center; "Management of Peach Twig Borer and San San Jose Scale With Dormant Applications," by Walt Bentley, UC Regional IPM Advisor; "Maximizing Coverage to Maximize Pest Control," by Bob Beede, UC farm Advisor, Kings County.
That concludes this quarterly report. Any questions or concerns about this project can be directed to the Almond PMA Project Administrator. Mark can be reached via voice mail at (209) 526-4181 or email at mllooker@ainet.com. Additionally, the PMA Web site is linked from the Almond Board Web site www.AlmondsAreIn.com