Almond Pest Management Alliance Final Report 2003

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Almond Pest Management Alliance (PMA) was initiated by the Almond Board of California in 1998 to evaluate the possibility of reducing the pesticide inputs in California Almonds.  The Almond Board of California initiated discussions among the industry stakeholders to look at the possibility of forming a cooperative effort.  Working closely with the Almond Hullers and Processors Association, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers, the University of California Statewide IPM Project, and University of California Cooperative Extension, an alliance was formed to pursue a grant available from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation to study reduced risk practices in California almonds.  This collaborative approach grew out of two major concerns.  Those two concerns are the implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) with possible loss of some traditional crop protection tools and growing public concern over water quality standards in the San Joaquin River and Sacramento River watersheds, with possible links to pesticides used by almond growers.

The Almond PMA’s five years of successful reduced risk research and demonstration illustrate that almonds can be grown using a “soft” pest management program without additional damage to the crop.  During this time (Almond PMA 1999-2003), the California almond industry has reduced its annual use of pesticides by almost 3 million pounds, which is a 20% reduction in pounds applied/acre, showing a true commitment by the Almond industry, the University, and the almond growers.  Yields and quality have remained high, with production in 2002 at a record of over one billion pounds.  Although prices have been in a general decline for the last seven years, in 2002 the crop value was over $1/lb for the first time since 1998, Figure 1.

Because of the enormous scope of the California almond industry which encompasses approximately 590,000 acres, ranging from Bakersfield to Chico, and the wide range of pests and regional variables, the PMA set up and continues to use the three regional projects.  These projects are located in the Northern Sacramento Valley (Butte County), the Central San Joaquin Valley (Stanislaus County) and the Southern San Joaquin Valley (Kern County).  Each project consists of an orchard that is divided into conventional practice treatment blocks and various reduced risk treatment blocks.   Each project is directed by the local UCCE farm advisor and addresses regional pest concerns and growing conditions that would be relevant to local growers.  The almond industry is closely examined in the three project areas as well as statewide, Figure 2.

The advisors employ a field scout who performs the extensive monitoring required  .The target pests addressed across all three projects continue to be navel orangeworm (NOW), peach twig borer (PTB), San Jose scale, mites, and ants.  Diseases, cover crops, and fertilizer applications are studied on a regional basis.  Smaller satellite projects compliment the PMA orchard demonstration sites by providing research about regional issues.

In conjunction with the three regional project sites, the other components of the Almond PMA are to work closely with the Advisory team to stay abreast of current industry issues throughout the year, and to define research needs as they arise.  In addition, an examination of the pesticide use reports each year to determine the almond industry’s contribution to the total pesticide load in the three regions of the project as well as the whole state.  However, the most important part of the project may be to extend the most current information through field meetings and mailings such as newsletters.

 In conclusion, the five years of the Almond PMA have demonstrated the following:

  1. Extensive orchard monitoring is the key to the success of reduced risk pest management.  Regular monitoring provides a real-time picture of pest levels and helps to determine necessity and timing of treatments.
  2. Reduced risk practices appear to be controlling the pests below economic damage levels.
  3. Other pests or beneficial organisms may begin to build populations due to the altering of spray programs.  With the reduction of full-spectrum insecticides, secondary pests and beneficials may appear in greater numbers.
  4. Growers in the Almond PMA have made an unselfish commitment to continue to study reduced risk programs by remaining in the PMA for five continuous years.  These growers can lead by example, encouraging others to implement reduced risk systems.
  5. Growers are interested in reduced risk practices and continue to be proactive, as shown by increasing attendance and participation in outreach activities that emphasize reduction of broad spectrum pesticides in almonds.

Overall, we can conclude that outreach is critical regarding adoption and implementation of reduced risk practices.  The University of California involvement is important to ensure scientific credibility.  The success of the PMA project essentially rests on the growers and PCA’s who are willing to be innovative and take risks in order to give reduced risk practices validity.  Future goals of the Almond PMA are to: 

·        Involve and train more PCA’s and growers in monitoring during the crop season and through the dormant season.

·        Create regional guidelines for reduced risk pest management in almonds based on what has been learned in the PMA project.

·        Continue regional projects long-term to monitor for changes in pest pressures and to verify the ability of reduced risk practices to continue to keep crop damage at a low level.