Project Summary Form 2003

1) Proposal Title

            To Promote a Reduced-Risk System of Almond Production Through Alternative            Practices

2) Principal Investigator

Chris Heintz, Director of Research, Technology, and Education, Almond Board of California

3) Alternative Practices

Monitoring with pheromone traps and degree-day models to time sprays.  Releases of beneficial insects,  and applications of Bt and insect growth regulators instead of OP pesticides.  Survey of dormant spurs to determine need for dormant treatment.  Predatory mites and oil sprays instead of miticide sprays.  Cover crops planted to decrease runoff and increase water penetration.  Winter sanitation to reduce need to spray for navel orangeworm.

4) Summary of Project Successes

In the 5 years of the almond PMA(1999-2003), growers have reduced pesticide use by 20%, even as planted acres increased.  The PMA has demonstrated that a dormant insecticide is not always needed, and that often there is no additional crop damage with zero sprays.  Meeting attendance is increasing as growers look to the PMA for guidance in the transition to reduced risk pest management.

5) Number of Participating Growers:  3

6) Total Acreage in Project:   329

7) Project Acreage Under Reduced Risk:   200

8) Total Acres of Project Crop:  Approximately 1400

9) Non-Project Reduced Risk Acres:  Approximately 900

10) Number of Participating PCA’s:  2

11) Cost Assessment:

Reduced risk pest management materials tend to be more expensive than conventional sprays, such as organophosphates.  However, reducing the number of pest control applications made the cost decrease; frequently the PMA plots with zero sprays had very little insect damage.  Average pest management costs for reduced risk plots were $85/acre, and ‘conventional’ were $112/acre.

12) Number of Field Days:  6

13) Attendance at Field Days: 450-500

14) Number of Workshops & Meetings:

             2 meetings of the Almond PMA Advisory Team

15) Workshop Attendance:  18

16) Number of Newsletters:  2

17) Number of Articles:  4 total.

The Almond PMA was featured in Ag Alert in April and May, 2003, and in the Modesto Bee in October.  USDA issued a press release in October 2003 praising the PMA for it’s influence in the reduction of pesticide use.

18) Number of Presentations:

1 Presentation by Carolyn Pickel, at the Nickels Field Day in Arbuckle.

19) Other Outreach Activities:

            Almond PMA Website at http://www.lookercomm.com/AlmondPMA/almondPMA.htm

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Contract Number Project ID

Contract Manager

25th June 2001 VersionDPR ID#