Task 1: Almond PMA Advisory Team
Task 1 is the planning and leadership by the Almond PMA Advisory Team. The Advisory Team is responsible for the cooperative decision-making which leads to the design and implementation of new methods to approach reduced risk practices. Communication between participating groups is important to achieve these results. The PMA Advisory Team meetings bring together representatives from the three almond growing regions to ensure local grower concerns are incorporated into PMA project plans.
The Advisory Team met on March 11, 2003 in Modesto, at the offices of the Almond Board of California. The 8 Team members reviewed the 2002 PMA projects in the three regions: Kern, Stanislaus, and Butte Counties. Tentative dates for the spring field days were discussed as well as possible topics and presentations. Ideas for articles to include in the Almond PMA Spring newsletter were considered. Also discussed were possibilities for the future of the PMA project after the 5th year, when funding from CaDPR is no longer available. It was agreed that the PMA has been successful on several levels, and funding options will be pursued to continue the project on a smaller scale. The Advisory Team met again on September 23, also in Modesto. Larry Wilhoit presented a data from the Pesticide Use Reports showing decreases in dormant OP use in almonds by county and statewide. The Almond Grower Mail Survey results were summarized and updated by Sonja Brodt and Frank Zalom, and a draft form was distributed. Planning for the dormant season field days and for a five-year project summary were also discussed. The importance of continuing the PMA was again brought up, to demonstrate successes growing almonds using reduced risk products and integrated pest management. There are several possibilities for publishing guidelines for producing almonds based on what was learned from the PMA. The Team emphasized publications based on the different pest pressures in the different growing regions of the state.
The Advisory Team leadership is essential for the success of the Almond PMA by providing direction and expertise. Each of the almond growing regions of California have issues specific to that area and the Almond PMA Advisory Team has realized that it must incorporate area-specific information in any publication or outreach.