SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The Almond PMA benefits the almond industry, the University, the almond grower, and the environment. Through this program there exists a cooperative of group of industry leaders, a baseline of pest population in each region has been established, growers and PCA’s are being educated about reduced risk practices, and economic data relating to conventional versus reduced risk practices has been analyzed.

A continuing benefit is the interactions of the PMA Advisory Team. The Team develops the program, sponsors meetings and attends field meetings. The diversity of the team allows for developing the best program possible. The team members also refer to the Almond PMA in the course of their other responsibilities, thereby increasing the visibility of the PMA.

A historical account of pest populations in each of the three regions is a very useful component of the Almond PMA. Continuing to monitor and track pests over many growing seasons in the same region provides important information as to the pest population and assists in the interpretation of conventional versus reduced risk control measures.

Growers have been eager to learn at the field meetings and have turned out in great numbers. These meetings provide useful information regarding farming issues with an emphasis on reduced risk techniques. Given the number of growers consistently attending these meetings, it is evident that growers are interested in reduced risk practices. At the dormant meeting held in Hamilton City, Glenn County, many of the growers brought in dormant samples to be viewed and learned to distinguish between pests. Growers collected samples from various varieties in order to determine if one variety was prone to more damage. This enthusiasm, sharing of information and interaction is evident in each region.

This year the focus was to schedule more field meetings in specific locales, allowing for more one-on-one with growers. By addressing localized concerns, implementation of reduced risk techniques in neighboring orchards can be addressed. Since reduced risk is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach, pest control issues and assistance can be provided to growers willing to adopt reduced risk techniques.

Each regional orchard essentially has three treatments: a pesticide dependent (conventional), a reduced risk, and an intermediate program that implements conventional and reduced risk pesticides. Conventional usually corresponds to the grower standard and includes some organophosphate application. Regional differences do occur. The Butte County conventional does not include an organophosphate application. The reduced risk treatment relies on soft chemicals and the intermediate treatments use a combination of the two previous treatments. The intermediate program will limit pesticide use and still enable the grower to participate and study the effects of reduced risk farming.

Thus far, the Almond PMA has documented that growers are proactive and interested in adopting reduced risk farming practices. Damage levels are acceptable when implementing a reduced risk program on a small but growing amount of acreage in three vastly different almond growing regions.

Obstacles encountered during the second year include:

• Secondary pests pressures. Without the dormant spray, pests not historically found have increased in population, particularly European fruit lecanium in the Butte County orchard and leaffooted bug in the Kern County demonstration site.
• Request for a "no input" plot. This is a delicate subject for many growers and those involved in the PMA project were reluctant to agree to this treatment. However, for Year 3, the PMA will be able to have an untreated treatment in at least one of the three regions.
• Regional differences. Outreach efforts need to be targeted and specialized as the project moves forward in Year Three. Observance of significant regional differences indicate the Almond PMA must continue to address localized concerns and assist growers in adopting reduced risk practices of regional significance.

Lessons learned in Year Two are:

1. Monitoring is key to the success of any pest control program. Considerable funds have been spent by the University of California and the Almond Board of California on the study of pests and diseases. Monitoring data is of little value unless it is implemented in a pest and disease-monitoring program. Using reduced risk methods require well informed, intelligent decisions on how to control diseases and pests.
2. Economic analysis is critical to the success of any reduced risk program. Growers are responsible stewards of the land but cannot continue to farm unless it is an economically sound program. Providing economic information is key to possible future adoption of reduced risk practices.

Overall, the Almond PMA has been successful and is showing great promise for reduced risk farming. The partnership that has been established communicates efficiently together and is successful in its communication and outreach efforts with growers. Almond growers are genuinely interested in the Almond PMA program. By continuing to work on the grass roots level, the Almond PMA continues to address the importance of reduced risk farming.