Kern County Almond PMA Status Report Sept. 9, 1999

Submitted by Peggy Schraeder, Field Scout

As of September 9, 1999 we have harvested the nonpareils. We harvested
8.57 acres or about 21% of the nonpareil trees in the trial. Shortly
before harvest, while the nuts were on the ground, we collected two, 200
nut samples per block. These will be cracked out later and evaluated for
pest damage. We plan on doing a very careful evaluation of the nuts at
this time including looking at the shells for pests point of entry.

On the day the nuts were pick up, total field weight from each row was
recorded. We have 2 large platform scales that the tractor and the
gondola drive on to be weighed. Two four-pound sample were taken from
each load. The samples were taken off the elevator so we are confident
they are representative of the entire row. The number of nuts in the
four pound sample was counted. This number is used in the formula for
total yield. A small sample was brought back to the office. This will be
cracked and used to determine kernel weight.