INTRODUCTION

The Almond Pest Management Alliance (PMA) started with a $99,000 grant awarded by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) for the crop year Aug. 1, 1998 to July 31, 1999.  The PMA again received funding for the crop years 1999 - 2000 and 2000 - 2001.  This report is the product of the third year of funding.  A fourth year of funding has been awarded for this project entitled "To Promote a Reduced-Risk System of Almond Production Through Alternative Practices."

The Almond Board of California, 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 (UCCE) almond farm advisors are members of the Pest Management Alliance.

Structurally, the Almond PMA is managed by a team composed of representatives from each of the identified organizations, as well as a private Pest Control Advisor (PCA.) The team meets on a regular basis to review the project's progress and make decisions about its future course.  The administrative functions are overseen by the Almond Board of California.

The Almond PMA set these basic objectives at the beginning and continues to implement them.  These objectives continue to be relevant.

·         Establish orchard sites in three different almond-growing regions to collect data regarding almond pest management practices that reduce risks associated with pesticide use.

• Conduct extensive orchard monitoring and specific research activities that address localized pest control and almond production practices.

·         Provide almond growers with updated information on available reduced risk pest control products and practices so they can make informed choices about alternatives.

·         Promote and extend information to growers and PCA’s to ensure California almond growers understand the need for a farming system that has the ability to reduce pesticides and sustain profitability.

·         Evaluate the risk reduction achieved as a result of this project by producing a final report that includes not only a projection of the risk reduced, but a discussion of the costs and benefits of the solution and the practicality of adoption.

The implementation of the federal Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) and the increase of public and regulatory concern about water quality in the San Joaquin River and Sacramento River watersheds was the catalyst for the formation of the Pest Management Alliance.  The project objectives were decided upon by the Almond PMA team and were adopted to provide an opportunity to successfully address FQPA, pesticide use, and water quality issues.  These objectives assist to:  1) encourage the adoption of reduced risk pesticides by demonstration, outreach, and reporting, 2) expand current knowledge and research when applicable, and 3) research and demonstrate reduced risk practices statewide.  In order to successfully fulfill these objectives, the PMA team has formed a positive relationship with the growers involved, remains abreast of the latest developments in farming techniques and in the regulatory arena, researches pesticide use trends, generates interest among growers by extending information in field meetings and newsletters, and finally, draws conclusions in reports.  

To complement the objectives involved in the Almond PMA, tasks were designed to accomplish the goal of reducing pesticide use.  Task 1 is to assemble an Advisory Team that meets and keep the project moving forward.  Tasks 2 through 4 consist of the individual orchards in each region.  Task 5 is to research pesticide use over time in California and in each of the regional PMA sites.  Outreach and education to the growers and the public comprise Task 6.  Task 6 includes field meetings, newsletters, and news articles relating to the Almond PMA.  Finally, Task 7 is the project evaluation.

The target pests addressed across all three regional projects continue to be navel orangeworm (NOW), peach twig borer (PTB,) San Jose scale, mites and ants. These pests, in general, pose the greatest economic challenge to California almond growers.

The almond industry views the Almond PMA as an efficient way to apply the many years of research and demonstration projects invested in by the industry on alternative and reduced risk management techniques.  By applying the vast body of knowledge accumulated over the years by the University of California the PMA’s goal is to study reduced risk practices side-by-side with traditional practices in regionally targeted areas of the almond growing region.

The Almond Board of California has been supporting an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system for more than 25 years.  These projects have helped reduce the use of pesticides.  Several landmark studies have included: Navel Orangeworm Orchard Sanitation and Early Harvest, Reducing Dormant Spray Hazards, Pheromones for Peach Twig Borer, and Alternatives for Soil Fumigation with Methyl Bromide.  Results of these research projects are available from the Almond Board of California.  The Board has also received an "IPM Innovator Award" from CDPR for its innovative leadership role in the field of IPM.

The UC Statewide IPM Project is well recognized for its national leadership on IPM. The IPM Project has recently published a second edition of the well-respected IPM for Almonds Manual.  This publication states, "A good IPM program coordinates pest management activities with cultural operations to achieve economical and long-lasting solutions to pest problems." The PMA has taken this quote directly from the literature right to the field to study reduced risk farming practices in the context of a long-lasting cultural solution.

Reduced risk strategies such as CAFF's Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) program seek to demonstrate that a small, but growing number of almond producers have been successfully reducing their insecticide, herbicide, and fertilizer inputs without affecting yield or quality.  Most program growers have experience with individual components of the system, such as Bt sprays and insect releases.  By combining these with seeded cover crops, modified mowers, increased monitoring, and habitat enhancement, BIOS growers have replaced the broad-spectrum chemical control on their farms with biological processes and selective insecticides.