RESULTS

Task 1:

Task 1 is the formation, cooperation, and planning by the Advisory Team. The Advisory Team is responsible for implementing and designing new ways to approach reduced risk practices. Communication is key and the results from this task have been very successful. The PMA Advisory Team conducted three meetings. The first meeting was held in March, the second held in June, and the third in September. These timely meetings provide a forum for discussion of issues, concerns, successes, and overall updates of the Almond PMA. Field meetings and presentation topics are discussed. Suggestions for improvements to the project are discussed. The Advisory Team is essential for the success of the Almond PMA by providing leadership, direction, and expertise.

The Advisory Team held three meetings and one conference call meeting. The meetings were held on March 14, June 14, and September 7. The conference call involving Carolyn Pickel, Mark Looker, Chris Heintz, and Nicole Darby occurred on February 4. These meetings are the building blocks on which the PMA program operates.

Task 2 – 4:

The Almond PMA is designed to be a demonstration project, with grower-cooperators in three regional areas. In these orchards, the data collected can enable the almond growing community to witness a reduced risk system in action. With the information provided by the Alliance, growers and their Pest Control Advisors (PCA's) can see first-hand the monitoring techniques, the economics, the yields, the practices used and even talk with the grower himself about how the project works. It is not feasible to directly compare the numbers and results of each individual orchard. Due to differences in farming practices, pest pressures, and treatments, directly comparing the figures may lead to incorrect conclusions. In addition to the information regarding each of the three regional orchards, there will be a pesticide use summary for those three regions. Each will be specific and show organophosphate, carbamate, pyrethroid, and Bt use for each county.