ALMOND PEST MANAGEMENT ALLIANCE

WORK PLAN PROPOSAL YEAR 4

PROJECT GOAL: REDUCE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH PESTICIDE USE

March 1, 2002 – Feb. 28, 2003

Submitted by:

Almond Board of California

1150 Ninth St., #1500

Modesto, CA 95354

209-343-3216 (phone)

209-549-8267 (fax)

Lead contact: Chris Heintz

Director of Research, Technology, and Education

Almond Board of California

Almond Pest Management Alliance (PMA) Team Members:

 Almond Board of California

Chris Heintz

1150 Ninth St., #1500

Modesto, CA 95354

209-343-3216

Email: cheintz@compuserve.com

Mark Looker, Project Administrator

1150 Ninth St., #1500

Modesto, CA 95354

209-575-2094

Email: mllooker@ainet.com

Almond PMA web site: http://www.lookercomm.com/AlmondPMA

Almond Hullers and Processors Association

Gene Beach

2360 Lecco Way

Merced, CA 95340

209-723-7661

Email: genebeach@aol.com

Community Alliance with Family Farmers

Mark Cady

P.O. Box 363

Davis, CA 95617

530-756-8518 ex. 30

Email: bios@caff.org

University of California

Frank Zalom

Statewide IPM Project

Davis, CA 95616-8621

530-752-8350

Email: fgzalom@ucdavis.edu

Walt Bentley

UC Regional IPM Entomologist

UC Kearney Ag Center

9240 S. Riverbend Ave.

Parlier, CA 93648

209-646-6527

Email: walt@uckac.edu

Carolyn Pickel

UC Area IPM Advisor - Sacramento Valley

UC Cooperative Extension

142 - A Garden Highway

Yuba City, CA 95941

(530) 822-7515

Email: cxpickel@ucdavis.edu

Pest Control Advisor (PCA)

Cliff Kitayama

26 Kingsburry Court

Chico, CA 95926

530-894-1360 home

530-521-4845 cell

530-898-1139 fax

kitayama@jps.net

Budget Total: $373,849.00

Start Date: March 1, 2002

End Date: February 28, 2003

Priority Areas addressed: Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) reduced-risk management techniques.

Table of Contents:

1. Abstract ……………………………………………….page 5
2. Introduction…………………………………………… page 6
3. Project Objectives…………………………………….. page 8
4. Evaluation Criteria……………………………………. page 13
5. Timetable……………………………………………… page 28
6. Budget ………………………………………………….page 30
7. Work Plan Summaries …………………………………page 43
8. Attachments…………………………………………… page 50

Abstract

California almond growers farm more than 570,000 acres producing a crop that in recent years approaches one billion pounds. In the 1999-2000 growing season, California almond growers produced a crop worth more than $1 billion. To maintain this production level, many of California's 6,000 almond growers rely on an assortment of pesticides to minimize the economic losses caused by pests. The major pests of concern continue to be navel orangeworm (NOW), peach twig borer (PTB), San Jose scale (SJS), ants and webspinning mites (two spotted and Pacific spider.) The crop protection tools available to the almond industry may be affected by the implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). The almond industry formed the Almond Pest Management Alliance (PMA) in June 1998, which is composed of the Almond Board of California (ABC), the Almond Hullers and Processors Association, the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Project, and the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) to address possible methods of reducing pesticide use. Pesticide use data has been collected consistently throughout California. Since the initial funding, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) has awarded a $99,000 grant annually to the alliance to continue the statewide project. Almond farm advisors from the U.C. Cooperative Extension oversee these field trials and results are shared with growers through individual and field meetings, publications, and field days.

Since the initial funding in 1998, the alliance has continued to demonstrate reduced-risk practices throughout California. The objective of the PMA project will continue to focus on studying current grower practices (conventional practices) versus reduced-risk practices, with the goal of demonstrating the successful reduced risk techniques to growers so that they can adopt these practices in the shortest possible time period. To accomplish its objective, the project has established and continues to utilize three regional sites in Butte, Stanislaus, and Kern counties. By adopting progressive and intensive monitoring protocols, the alliance has been able to track pest populations, damage levels, and economic data over successive years. This data is now beginning to illustrate and represent the total package of information needed for a grower to make his own reduced input decisions. Over the past three growing seasons, the Almond PMA has been gathering information regarding each of the key pests, keeping growers informed through weekly updates and educational meetings, and maintaining records of the economic implications of conventional vs. reduced-risk practices. Key to the success of the Almond PMA program is the year-after-year evaluations. This consistency over a period of time allows the evaluation of reduced-risk techniques to withstand the year-to-year variations in weather conditions and pest pressures and allows for the demonstration of reduced-risk practices with an eye to long term use and implementation.

The work plan will continue to promote a reduced-risk system of almond production through use of alternative products and practices. Task One is continued advisory input from a diversified PMA advisory team. This team not only assesses input in planning the demonstration sites, but also has a varied and far-reaching network for outreach activities. Task Two through Four directly relate to the three regional field demonstrations regarding reduced-risk practices. The regions will continue to be Kern County, Stanislaus County, and Butte County. Each region will develop reduced-risk management techniques tailored for the particular micro-climates, soil types and pest pressures. Task Five involves compiling and presenting to growers the historical use of pesticides in almonds. Task Six is continued outreach to almond growers statewide by sponsoring a variety of educational meetings, on-site demonstrations and newsletters to keep growers, PCA’s, and industry apprised of the implementation methods and success of reduced-risk scenarios of the Almond PMA. Task Seven includes a quarterly report of the status and findings of the Almond PMA and a year-end report.

Activities such as meetings and outreach will continue to be under the direction of the local almond farm advisors with the assistance of the PMA team.

An immediate benefit of the Almond PMA has been the unifying role it has played within the industry in bringing a common focus to issues related to pesticide use. It has allowed the almond industry to be proactive in its approach to reduced-risk scenarios. The Almond PMA has been instrumental in opening up a valuable dialogue with regulators and others concerned about pesticide use.

The long-term benefit of the Almond PMA will not be known unless successive years of data are collected. The hope is that this research will provide a scientific base of knowledge and valuable information on alternative uses to traditional pesticide practices that will be embraced by almond growers statewide.

Introduction

California almond orchards cover more than 570,000 acres, stretching 400 miles through the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys. In 1998, almonds were the leading horticultural export in California. Approximately 6,000 California growers produce three-quarters of the world’s almonds. The 1999-2000 crop produced a record 830 million pounds of almonds with a farm-gate value of around a billion dollars.

Reporting at the California Department of Pesticides’ Pesticide Use Report workshop in May, 2000, Dr. Lynn Epstein, University of California, stated "The almond industry provides one of the few examples where the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques truly can be tied to a reduction in use of organophosphates". Carefully studying the Pesticide Use Reports for almonds, Dr. Epstein found clear trends in reduced organophosphate use while at the same time seeing a significant increase in use of reduced-risk products.

While the trend in increased use of reduced-risk scenarios for almond orchard management is a positive trend, there is still more research, demonstration, and education to be accomplished. These efforts must draw upon all resources necessary and must be accomplished within the soonest possible time period. The almond industry is a known contributor to the contamination of surface waters in the San Joaquin and Sacramento River Watersheds. Over the past ten years, research has consistently linked dormant season applications in almond orchards with pulses of diazinon in concentrations toxic to aquatic species (Ross et al, 1996).

The industry began proactive investigative non-chemical approaches to pest management for several reasons:

• almond growers are aware of increasing environmental concerns by the public in regards to agricultural production methods

• almond growers are interested in learning more about potentially effective non-chemical alternatives which may provide both time- and cost-savings to growers

• key pests are developing resistance to existing chemical pesticides

• FQPA may restrict use of certain key pesticides

The proposed project is a one-year extension of the Almond PMA currently funded by DPR for a third year. This project provides information to growers about reduced-risk farming practices; specifically, it uses comparative demonstration sites, research trial sites, field days, field monitoring, and publications to educate growers and other members of the industry about the viability of reduced risk practices.

In the first year of the project, PMA team members established the organizational structure of the project and introduced it to the almond growing community. The second year of the PMA continued to demonstrate and showcase effective alternatives and expanded the outreach component to target as many of the state's almond growers as possible. In 2001, the third year, the Almond PMA is continuing the important successive year replications of treatments to arrive at the best possible scientific conclusions to determine the actual reduced-risk practices viable in commercial almond orchards and the methods to assure success of these practices. A greater emphasis on outreach to the Pest Control Advisor (PCA) community is being implemented to enable a greater impact on decision-makers at the farm level. After the third year, analysis can be applied to determine the statistical validity of the differences between conventional treatments and reduced-risk treatments. By expanding into a fourth year, information can be gathered pertaining to long-term reduced-risk practices while also tightening the statistical validity where treatments differed somewhat year-to-year. Further, in a fourth Almond PMA year, outreach and education messages will continue to be refined to assess where the greatest impact on changing behaviors and adopting reduced-risk practices can be made.

By maintaining the reduced-risk program in the three demonstration sites strategically placed within the almond growing region, these progressive techniques will continue to attract attention while keeping reduced-risk practices in the forefront of farming methods. Economical data collected over successive years will provide the all-important insight on the bottom line - the financial aspect of converting from traditional pesticide treatments to reduced-risk treatments. Key elements of the work plan will continue to be cooperative project planning and direction, pest monitoring, public outreach and education, and project evaluation. The Almond PMA represents a cross-section of the California almond industry, with active members from all of its major aspects. Alliance members include the Almond Board of California (ABC), the Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) program of the Community Alliance with Family Farmers, the Almond Hullers and Processors Association (AHPA) and UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program. Each member organization has a representative on the Alliance Team. The roles and responsibilities of each member are described in the work plan below.

Project Objectives, 2002

1. Continue to encourage the adoption of reduced-risk pesticide practices in almonds statewide.

Through outreach, education, monitoring, and evaluation, the Almond PMA will continue to promote reduced-risk pesticide practices. Grower outreach will be expanded through collaboration with UC IPM staff, UC scientists and farm advisors, whose expertise gives growers confidence in experimenting with reduced-risk practices and products. We will collaborate with local PCA’s to expand the knowledge base of the Almond PMA into an arena of implementation.

2. Expand and strengthen the efforts already put forward by the Almond Pest Management Alliance.

The first year of this project sparked a significant interest among growers, as evidenced by field day attendance in each of the three regions, which averaged about 100 growers and pest control advisors per meeting. The second year of the project continued to grow and provoke interest in reduced-risk practices as seen in the grower participation in the Almond PMA Project. During the third year of the Almond PMA, minor changes were implemented to improve the program without changing the alliance focus. Providing testimony to the thoughtfulness and diligence of the PMA advisory team, all three growers have remained in the PMA for the third year. The members of the Alliance agree that it is important to keep up the momentum by continuing the project for a fourth year of project demonstrations and activities while testing the hypotheses through year-to-year variations in weather patterns, disease and pest pressures.

3. Demonstrate effective reduced-risk systems through use of regional demonstration orchards.

Demonstration sites will continue in the same location as the previous years’ sites in Kern County, Stanislaus County, and Butte County. Satellite projects will continue to be important to investigate pest issues on a smaller, but no less important, scale. Local field scouts in each region will provide weekly information on the Almond PMA sites and provide growers with solid monitoring data that allows them to compare sites and conditions in their own orchards. Use of this system gives growers confidence in implementing reduced-risk systems in their own orchards.

4. Research historical pesticide use in almonds using Pesticide Use Reports (PUR) in major almond growing regions in California.

By utilizing California Department of Pesticide Regulation Pesticide Use Reports (PURs) and the University of California Integrated Pest Management internet site, historical pesticide use will be analyzed. This will provide information regarding pesticide use in almond producing counties in California spanning 10 years. Pounds and applications of organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, miticides, herbicides, and fungicides will be analyzed over a ten year period. This will provide a baseline of information to track pesticide use in almonds produced in California.

Achievement of these objectives will be measured by utilizing the PUR’s to make comparisons of conventional vs. reduced-risk pesticide use before and after the Almond PMA project. The Almond PMA will also track the number of growers attending field days and workshops, compile and respond to input from growers’ evaluations of field days and workshops, and continue to conduct a statewide grower survey to assess the implementation of reduced-risk practices and the level of interest in such practices.

Tasks Defining the Objectives

Task 1 - Seek Advice and Project Direction From the Advisory Team.

The Almond Board and CAFF will take the lead on overall coordination of the project to ensure its objectives are being met. The UC IPM staff and local farm advisors will help guide the team's activities in the orchard and provide ideas and host local field days and workshops that meet the needs of almond growers statewide. The cooperating growers will keep the team updated on how the management practices are working in the orchard and be available to present this information to the almond growing community.

Task 2 - 4 - Coordination and Documentation of the Three Regional PMA Orchards.

The main responsibility for this task comes from the two regional IPM Coordinators who work directly with the local farm advisors to ensure that the reduced-risk orchard management techniques are updated and implemented and that the demonstration orchards are following the plans. The local farm advisors work with the PMA Advisory team to designate and refine the monitoring protocols. The farm advisors define any specific pest or disease problems present in their locality and design trials that address those concerns. The local farm advisors are responsible for the hiring and supervision of the field scouts. Information collected is used in making orchard management decisions and to develop baseline evaluation data. The farm advisors are also be responsible for data collection and compilation and providing it to the Team for use in publications, newsletters, press releases and at field days.

Task 5 – Analysis of Historical Pesticide Use Data

This task is accomplished by investigating pesticide use data from California Department of Pesticide and from the University of California Integrated Pest Management. DPR’s PUR database will be analyzed in detail. Additional information will be obtained from other sources such as the California Agricultural Statistical Service. Pesticide use in almond growing counties in California will be compiled over a ten year period.

Task 6 - Project Outreach and Extension.

This task is accomplished through timely grower field meetings, farm tours, newsletters, and other media including electronic media. The Almond Board and BIOS staffs are responsible for obtaining this information from the Regional Coordinators and local farm advisors and disseminating it in a form that is usable by almond growers statewide. BIOS staff assists local farm advisors with field day flyer preparation, mailing and meeting write-ups. They research and prepare the quarterly newsletter for distribution to almond growers throughout the state. The Almond Board and its staff helps with mailings and preparation of media outreach as well as supporting the outreach efforts through their normal grower contacts at meetings and the annual almond industry conference. The fourth year of the Almond PMA should avail enough information to sponsor a focused and comprehensive review of results to be presented in-depth at a special symposium at the Almond Industry Conference. This special symposia could potentially reach hundreds of growers and PCA’s at one time.

Task 7 - Project Evaluation.

Quarterly progress reports will be prepared by the Team. They will summarize ongoing work and point out any opportunities or problems in project implementation. The Almond PMA team will also prepare a final report to document project results and progress in implementation of reduced-risk practices.

The ongoing implementation will be headed up by the regional IPM advisors and local farm advisors. In their own areas, these team members will continue to publicize and share with their local growers the practical implementation of reduced-risk pesticide practices even after the project is completed.

To estimate the level of adoption, a random sample of almond growers was surveyed in 1999 to determine a baseline level of use of reduced-risk practices and how to best educate growers and PCA’s in utilizing a reduced-risk approach. The Almond Board, UC IPM, CAFF, State Water Resources Control Board and DPR are all participating in this survey process. Results will be published through the Almond PMA channels.

Resumes of key Team members are attached.

Organizational Structure of the Almond PMA

Partners:

Almond Board of California

Chris Heintz , project director

Director of research, technology, and education

Mark Looker, project administrator

Agricultural communications consultant

University of California

Dr. Frank Zalom

Entomologist and director Regional IPM entomologist

Walt Bentley, and Carolyn Pickel

Area IPM Statewide IPM Project

Community Alliance with Family Farmers

Mark Cady

BIOS Program Coordinator

Almond Hullers and Processors Association

Gene Beach

Manager

PMA Advisory Team

Chris Heintz of the Almond Board is responsible for the overall management of the project.

Mark Looker is responsible for the day-to-day management of the project.

Frank Zalom, UC IPM director, is an entomologist with the Department of Entomology at the University of California-Davis and is Director of the UC Integrated Pest Management Project. He has extensive experience with IPM and pesticide issues, in general, and familiarity with the issue of pesticides used by the almond industry that may be affected by the implementation of FQPA. His knowledge gained over the years working on alternatives to many of the pesticides at-risk under FQPA is an invaluable asset to the success of this project.

Walt Bentley and Carolyn Pickel, UC IPM Area Advisors, guide the discussion and application of alternative practices and provide scientific validation for the monitoring data collected from the demonstration sites. They bring their knowledge of entomology, field trials, and the latest in reduced risk alternatives to the project. They have high visibility positions within the University of California and bring the project to the attention of other staff, scientists and industry representatives. They serve as chief advisors to the project.

Joe Connell, Roger Duncan, Lonnie Hendricks and Mario Viveros, county farm advisors have a key role in maintaining close contact with the regional growers involved with the program. They help establish monitoring protocols, supervise the field scout, review monitoring data, and provide reports to the Alliance. They furnish the local on-farm technical expertise needed to ensure that each orchard is managed with the growers "bottom line" in mind.

Gene Beach of AHPA provides the team with technical advice and expertise on the processing and handling of almonds in California. As manager of the AHPA, Gene brings to the team the prospective of the hullers and processors of almonds, many of whom are growers themselves. Hullers and processors will be directly affected by any changes in pesticide use and are concerned with the economic impacts from these changes. Throughout the year, AHPA has worked closely with the Almond Board on issues of common concern and participated in a variety of research projects. AHPA's unique networking abilities are an important component in the outreach and educational component of this project.

Mark Cady of CAFF assists with team and grower contacts and provide support in all phases of the project. Mark is program coordinator for the Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) program, a technical assistance program that has successfully demonstrated the viability of farming systems which rely on sharply reduced chemical inputs. He coordinates publicity for field days and events, and organizes and coordinates those events, as needed. He assists with correspondence, quarterly reports and year-end reports.

Merlyn Garber, Thomas Vetsch and Ben Bertagna provides the project with orchards. Each orchard has at least two blocks each. One block represents more conventional practices and the other utilizes a reduced risk approach. The growers are on hand at field days and farm visits to discuss their management practices and provide a grower perspective.

With this collective managerial and technical expertise, the Almond PMA will use the following tasks to fulfill the project objectives.

• Seek advice and project direction from the advisory team

• Coordinate and document the three regional PMA orchards

• Conduct field days, workshops and orchard demonstrations in each of the three geographic areas

• Produce and distribute program newsletter

• Evaluate the project and actively promote the program

Evaluation Criteria

Priority Areas: This proposal's objectives will continue to be in line with DPR's desire to focus on pest management solutions that reduce organophosphate and carbamate pesticides risk to human health and the environment. These objectives directly address the priority areas set by DPR for development and adoption of reduced-risk pest management practices, particularly as they relate to regulatory changes expected to occur as a result of implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA.)

The Almond PMA project addresses surface water contamination by helping to reduce dormant spray pesticides in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Watersheds. Cover crop demonstrations are monitored specifically to reduce herbicide run-off into the waterways. These management practices demonstrated at the field sites and educational events are specifically designed to enable growers to reduce or eliminate use of organophosphate dormant sprays such as diazinon, and herbicides such as simazine. The effectiveness of these techniques has been demonstrated by UC IPM and BIOS (California Agriculture, 1993 & BIOS Year End Report, 1997).

Importance: Almonds have traditionally been one of the largest agricultural users of pesticides in California. The use of these pesticides provides important benefits to growers, but this use also poses concern for the environment.

Undesirable side effects of pesticide use include adverse health effects on workers, and potential impacts on consumers' health and safety. Pesticides also take a toll on the environment as well as degrading ground water, surface water and non-target wildlife organisms (Pease et al, 1996). Pesticide resistance and secondary pest outbreaks are becoming increasingly common.

The almond industry, led by the Almond Board of California and UC IPM, has sought to help almond growers implement a system of Integrated Pest Management which seeks to minimize pest damage with as little cost to the grower and disruption of the environment as possible (UC IPM for Almonds, 1995). The enactment of the FQPA calls for a major change in pesticide regulation and may eliminate the use of some of the most commonly used chemicals. This legislation has sparked increased interest in reduced-risk systems to enable growers to find alternatives to targeted pesticides. This legislation has also increased the awareness of pesticides issues for both almond growers and the almond industry.

In response to the increasing need for reduced pesticide risk, and in response to the momentum generated by the Almond Pest Management Alliance, the Almond Board of California has initiated a new environmental task force to help address the issues facing almond growers. This step, along with the efforts of the PMA, are helping to create an awareness of pesticide use and related issues to the almond growers in California.

Pest Management Evaluation: The updated pest management evaluation contains information pertaining to pests of the almond industry. The updated version is attached.

Project Objectives and Systems Approach: The three main objectives for the project are as follows:

• Encourage the adoption of reduced-risk pesticide practices in almonds statewide.

Through outreach, education, monitoring, and evaluation, the Almond PMA will promote reduced-risk pesticide practices. We will expand grower outreach through collaboration with UC IPM staff, UC scientists and farm advisors, whose expertise gives growers confidence in experimenting with reduced-risk practices and products, and the effective use of the media and targeted publications.

The work tasks that will support this objective include:

• coordination and monitoring of the three regional demonstration orchards,
• dissemination of reduced-risk pesticide information to almond growers statewide through regional field days and a program newsletter, quarterly progress reports, and a statewide grower survey, and
• a final progress report providing an overall evaluation of the project and estimation of the level of adoption of the practices prompted by the project.

The Almond PMA project promotes a "whole systems" approach to orchard management by encouraging growers to implement farming practices that include cover crop establishment for improved water infiltration, nitrogen contribution and beneficial insect habitat, soil building, careful monitoring of orchard pests, and the use of insectary shrubs to provide habitat for beneficial insects and wildlife. This integrated approach to farming results in a system that functions as a whole, one that is more resilient to the severe outbreak of pests and is therefore less reliant on synthetic agricultural chemicals.

The project brings together many diverse disciplines through the whole systems approach. These include plant pathology, soil and fertility management, natural resources and aquatic habitat management, erosion control, pest control, agricultural economics and production agriculture. Experts from these fields are on the advisory team to help further the research being done and to assist with project promotion and outreach.

• Expand and strengthen the efforts already put forward by the Almond Pest Management Alliance.

The first year of this project sparked significant interest among growers. This interest was noted in the dormant field days, held in the winter of 1998-1999, where more than 100 growers and pest control advisors attended each of the three regional meetings. Grower enthusiasm was apparent again in the spring where 130 growers attended the Butte County field day. During the spring, Kern County had approximately 150 growers and PCA’s attend. The second year of this project continued with the positive momentum received from the initial year. Approximately 75 growers attended a meeting held in May in Butte County. Stanislaus and Kern County had a similar amount of interested growers attend the field meetings. The time and effort spent on establishing and coordinating the Alliance efforts will be lost unless the project is allowed to continue to educate almond growers in reduced-risk practices. It is vital that project funding be extended in order to meet project objectives. Growers need to watch the alternative practices over a period of time before they will become confident in a new system and adopt it. The advisory team, UC IPM regional advisors, and local farm advisors will direct the data collection and orchard monitoring.

Project outreach and extension will be expanded and continue to reach out to growers interested in learning biologically sound management practices.

• Demonstrate effective reduced-risk systems through use of regional demonstration orchards.

The reduced-risk pesticide use information will be disseminated through the Alliance partners and by holding regional field days and production of a program newsletter. The Alliance team members will coordinate the information through their own existing websites, program newsletter and existing UC Farm Advisory newsletters. An active pesticide reduction awareness program will be conducted through the local and regional media including the agriculture industry press.

We will track the number of growers attending field days and workshops, compile and respond to input from growers’ evaluations of field days and workshops, and conduct a statewide grower survey to assess the implementation of reduced risk practices and the level of interest in such practices.

Local field scouts who provide weekly information on the Almond PMA sites provide growers with solid monitoring data that allows them to compare sites and conditions in their own orchards. This information is available statewide through the Almond Board of California’s website. Use of this system gives growers confidence in implementing reduced-risk systems in their own orchards.

Project evaluation will also include a compilation of the data collected. A written final report will highlight the alternatives tested, costs and benefits of implementing and the reduced-risk attributed to the alternatives.

Task 1. Seek advice and project direction from the PMA team and PMA advisory team.

This task is the foundation for success for the effectiveness and validity of the Almond Pest Management Alliance. Without proper teamwork, representation from members of a diverse industry, communication, and support, the Almond Pest Management Alliance would not be able to provide solid information regarding conventional and reduced-risk farming practices. The project’s advisory team includes PMA members, additional local project grower/advisors, agriculture professionals, UC farm advisors, and CAFF staff. The team provides the expertise and support to ensure the project's ongoing success. Expertise and support is essential in a project of such a large scope, therefore frequent communication between the members of the Pest Management Alliance is conducted.

1.1 Coordinate advisory team meetings

The advisory team will meet a minimum of quarterly to provide guidance for the project. In addition, team members will be in regular communication via email, the PMA's website, and telephone.

Some members of this team will serve as technical advisors to the project (Zalom, Bentley, Pickel, Connell, Duncan, Hendricks and Viveros). The technical advisory team is responsible for overseeing the orchard monitoring programs in their geographic areas. They provide technical assistance to growers involved in the project as needed, and are asked to present information and project results at meetings and field days.

These team members have all indicated their interest and support in a fourth year of the Almond PMA. They are keenly interested in the success of this project and seeing its results bring about reduced-risk cropping systems in almonds.

Timeframe: March 1, 2002 to February 28, 2003

Performed by: PMA Team and Advisory Team Members

Funded by: PMA funds will only be used to cover meeting- related travel expenses of team members.

1.2 Coordinate Advisory Team Activities

The ABC assisted by CAFF will coordinate the activities of the Advisory Team, including technical presentations, participation in project field days and meetings and the updating and implementation of biologically integrated farm plans in the cooperators orchards.

Timeframe: March 1, 2002 –February 28, 2003

Funded by: PMA funds

Performed by: PMA Team with CAFF coordination

Task 2. Coordinate and document the Almond PMA in Kern County.

This orchard consists of two 40-acre blocks of Butte, Mission, and Padre and two 40-acre blocks of Nonpareil, Sonora, and Fritz. Each 40-acre block is divided into reduced-risk, a minimum spray treatment, and conventional blocks. A third treatment block will be added. This new block will consist of ‘minimum sprays’ and will be an intermediate between the grower standard and the reduced risk treatments. The size of this new block has yet to be determined. This orchard has a cover crop component consisting of barley due to the saline-alkali and poor drainage condition of the soil. Traps will continue to be monitored weekly from February until November. Traps are hung together on the same tree, seven trees in from the end of the row in Nonpareil and Mission cultivars. Three San Jose scale sticky traps were placed per block, six to seven feet high in the northeast quadrant of the tree. Male San Jose scale pheromone lures are replaced every four weeks. Double-sided sticky tape are placed one per tree in each of the four trees surrounding the trap trees. The tape is collected and replaced every other week. Two peach twig borer traps are placed per block, six to seven feet high in the northeast quadrant of the tree. Adult moths are counted weekly. Peach twig pheromone lures are replaced every eight weeks. Two navel orangeworm egg traps per treatment baited with almond meal mixture are placed six to seven feet high in the tree. Navel orangeworm bait is replaced every eight to ten weeks.

The reduced-risk block will be managed with the following techniques:

• winter sanitation and early harvest for NOW control, with monitoring of mummy nuts on trees in February

• Use of dormant spray alternatives, oil by itself, followed by a Bt spray at bloom based on monitoring and history of PTB damage

• Use of contact herbicide and eliminate pre-emergence herbicides

• mite management based on presence or absence monitoring using reduced risk miticides or reduced rates of conventional miticides, if needed.

• oil or Bt for other pests as needed, with possible use of conventional materials if thresholds indicate need

• Nitrogen and other fertilizer programs based on tissue and water analysis

• Monitor for other insects and diseases (leaffooted bug, fruit tree leafroller, western tent caterpillar, alternaria, and scab)
• Use of weather forecast to determine fungicide sprays
• Monitor stem water potential for irrigation and mite management

The minimum spray treatment will be managed with the following techniques:

• winter sanitation and prompt harvest with mummy monitoring in the winter
• no dormant or in-season sprays
• no cover crop
• intensive monitoring of insect pests and diseases
• use contact herbicides for weed control on berms
• nitrogen and other fertilizers program based on tissue and water analysis
• monitor stem water potential for irrigation scheduling
• use of distance for ant control

2.1 Monitor demonstration sites.

The Area IPM advisor will coordinate activities with the local farm advisor(s), the advisory team and project manager. There will be one grower meeting and a field demonstration per year. Research projects will be established with non-target pests due to rising populations as a result of reduced risk programs.

The farm advisors will hire a field scout to perform weekly orchard monitoring. The scouts will focus their attention on the primary pest pressures in each region, and will monitor all of the key almond pests: PTB, San Jose scale, NOW, mites, ants, weeds and diseases.

The data collected from this site will be supplemented by data collected from Almond Board-sponsored UC research, current UC Farm Advisor research and current data collected from enrolled BIOS orchards, for the sake of comparison.

Timeframe: March 1, 2002 –February 28, 2003

Funded by: PMA funds, UC Cooperative Extension, UC IPM

Performed by: PMA Team, Project advisory team

2.2 Refine monitoring protocols and treatment thresholds.

Monitoring protocols will be reviewed by the advisory team to confirm that the correct data set is being obtained. The advisory team will then designate set practices that are applicable and economically viable for the reduced risk orchard blocks. A fourth year of monitoring data will be particularly useful in demonstrating to almond growers the effectiveness of the reduced risk practices over successive years.

Timeframe: March 1, 2002 –February 28, 2003

Funded by: PMA funds, UC Cooperative Extension, UC IPM

Performed by: PMA Team, PMA advisory team

2.3 Develop regional trials to address specific pest problems

Due to poor soil drainage, this is the only orchard investigating two types of cover crop. This is a specific regional issue that has a major impact on almond growers in the southern San Joaquin Valley.

Timeframe: March 1, 2002 –February 28, 2003

Funded by: PMA funds, UC Cooperative Extension, UC IPM

Performed by: PMA Team, PMA advisory team

Task 3. Coordinate and document the Almond PMA in Stanislaus County.

The Stanislaus County PMA site is a research trial as well as a demonstration site. The trial is being conducted in a uniform 120-acre orchard of Nonpareil and Carmel cultivars west of Modesto. Three insect pest management treatments are fully replicated three times within the 120-acre orchard. Each treatment is approximately 13.5 acres. The treatments include a grower standard, an intermediate program that utilizes partial reduced risk treatments (Soft Program 1), and the reduced risk treatment that utilizes the full compliment of soft chemicals (Soft Program 2). An unsprayed treatment may also be added, however, the size has not yet been decided upon. Traps will be monitored weekly from February through November.

The Soft Program 1 will be managed with the following techniques:

• monitor for mummy nuts on trees during dormant season

• use of dormant spray with Success®

• May PTB spray with Success®
• Agri-Mek and Gavicide 440 oil for mite control
• Abamectin bait for ant control if necessary through monitoring
• mite management based on presence or absence monitoring using reduced risk miticides

The Soft Program 2 will be managed with the following techniques:

• monitor for mummy nuts on trees during dormant season
• A dormant application of oil only
• Two spring applications of Bt
• Two May sprays of Bt timed at 300-350 and 450-500 degree days after biofix of PTB
• Potassium nitrate and oil for mite control
• Abamectin bait for ant control if necessary

3.1 Monitor demonstration sites.

The Area IPM advisor will coordinate activities with the local farm advisor(s), the advisory team and project manager.

The farm advisors will hire a field scout to perform weekly orchard monitoring. The scouts will focus their attention on the primary pest pressures in each region, but will monitor all of the key almond pests: PTB, San Jose scale, NOW, mites, ants, weeds and diseases.

The data collected from this site will be supplemented by data collected from Board-sponsored UC research, current UC Farm Advisor research and current data collected from enrolled BIOS orchards, for the sake of comparison.

Timeframe: March 1, 2002 –February 28, 2003

Funded by: PMA funds, UC Cooperative Extension, UC IPM

Performed by: PMA Team, Project advisory team

3.2 Refine monitoring protocols and treatment thresholds.

Monitoring protocols will be reviewed by the advisory team to confirm that the correct data set is being obtained. The advisory team will then designate set practices that are applicable and economically viable for the reduced risk orchard blocks. A fourth year of monitoring data will be particularly useful in demonstrating to almond growers the effectiveness of the reduced risk practices over successive years.

Timeframe: March 1, 2002 –February 28, 2003

Funded by: PMA funds, UC Cooperative Extension, UC IPM

Performed by: PMA Team, PMA advisory team

3.3 Develop regional trials to address specific pest problems

In the San Joaquin Valley, ants are a major problem in almond orchards. This satellite project will evaluate various traditional pesticides and reduced risk practices upon ants. This satellite project is a joint project involving Walt Bentley, Roger Duncan, and Lonnie Hendricks.

Timeframe: March 1, 2002 –February 28, 2003

Funded by: PMA funds, UC Cooperative Extension, UC IPM

Performed by: PMA Team, PMA advisory team

Task 4. Coordinate and document the Almond PMA in Butte County.

The orchard is approximately 49 acres. The growers standard block is 27-acres, the reduced risk block is 12 acres, a 5-acre treatment will receive an organophosphate dormant spray, and a 5-acre treatment will receive an organophosphate dormant and organophosphate hull split spray. There is an unsprayed control treatment area which has yet to be determined. The orchard is 50% Nonpareil, 16% Aldrich, 16% Butte, and 16% Sonora cultivars. Traps for peach twig borer, male San Jose scale, navel orangeworm eggs, and ants will be in a Nonpareil row located in the middle of the treatment on the north side.

The reduced risk block will be managed with the following techniques:

• winter sanitation and monitoring of mummy nuts on trees during dormant period

• use of dormant spray alternatives, oil as needed per dormant spur sampling, followed by Bt sprays at bloom based on monitoring and/or history of previous damage from PTB

• elimination of pre-emergence herbicides and reduced width of herbicide strip

• mite management based on presence or absence monitoring using reduced risk miticides or reduced rates of conventional miticides, if needed.

• oil or Bt for other pests as needed, with possible use of conventional materials if thresholds indicate need

• nitrogen and potassium fertilizer program based on tissue and water analysis (Nitrogen budget used for determining rates of application)

• presence of cover crop or managed resident vegetation for biomass and beneficial habitat.

• Use of an FQPA friendly fungicide

4.1 Monitor demonstration sites.

The Area IPM advisor will coordinate activities with the local farm advisor(s), the advisory team and project manager.

The farm advisors will hire a field scout to perform weekly orchard monitoring. The scouts will focus their attention on the primary pest pressures in each region, but will monitor all of the key almond pests: PTB, San Jose scale, NOW, mites, ants, weeds and diseases.

The data collected from this site will be supplemented by data collected from Board-sponsored UC research, current UC Farm Advisor research and current data collected from enrolled BIOS orchards, for the sake of comparison.

Timeframe: March 1, 2002 –February 28, 2003

Funded by: PMA funds, UC Cooperative Extension, UC IPM

Performed by: PMA Team, Project advisory team

4.2 Refine monitoring protocols and treatment thresholds.

Monitoring protocols will be reviewed by the advisory team to confirm that the correct data set is being obtained. The advisory team will then designate a set practices that are applicable and economically viable for the reduced risk orchard blocks. A fourth year of monitoring data will be particularly useful in demonstrating to almond growers the effectiveness of the reduced risk practices over successive years.

Timeframe: March 1, 2002 to February 28, 2003

Funded by: PMA funds, UC Cooperative Extension, UC IPM

Performed by: PMA Team, PMA advisory team

4.3 Develop regional trials to address specific pest problems

A satellite project is designed in the Sacramento Valley to control pests which have arisen due to a decrease in dormant sprays such as the European fruit lecanium, brown apricot scale. The objective of the satellite project is to research reduced risk techniques on a smaller but no less important issue per microclimate. This satellite project will investigate oil sprays in controlling European fruit lecanium. This project allows further investigation in pests that arise by limiting dormant organophosphate sprays.

Timeframe: March 1, 2002-February 28, 2003

Funded by: PMA funds, UC Cooperative Extension, UC IPM

Performed by: PMA Team, PMA advisory team

Task 5. Historical Analysis of Pesticide Use in Almonds

Utilize historical pesticide use data gathered from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and from the University of California Integrated Pest Management internet site and construct a baseline of pesticide use in California produced almonds from 1990-1999.

This will provide information regarding pesticide use in almond producing counties in California spanning 10 years. Pounds and applications of organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, miticides, herbicides, and fungicides will be analyzed over a ten year period. This will provide a baseline of information that will track pesticide use in almonds produced in California. Timeframe: Feb. 1, 2002 – Jan. 31, 2003

Funded by: PMA funds, UC Cooperative Extension, UC IPM

Performed by: PMA Team, PMA advisory team

Task 6. Outreach of the Almond Pest Management Studies

6.1 Hold Regional Field Days

The team plans to expand grower educational meetings and increase the number of educational meetings. These meetings will be smaller and cover topics pertaining to a specific and limited region. The focus on these meetings will be away from the very large meetings to the smaller meetings with hands-on demonstrations to ensure that growers understand the importance of monitoring their orchards. These field days will be held under the Alliance Project auspices with support provided by the local Farm Advisors and CAFF. These field days will include all interested growers and members of the agricultural community.

Timeframe: March 1, 2002 –February 28, 2003

Funded by: PMA funds, UC Cooperative Extension, CAFF

Performed by: PMA Team, PMA Advisory Team, UC Cooperative Extension

6.2 Program Newsletter

Produce and distribute a quarterly program newsletter. Prepared by the Almond Board and CAFF, this newsletter will be sent out to almond growers and pest control advisors statewide. It will include information from the field about the Alliance project and its demonstration sites. It will summarize field days and workshops and any new information on alternative practices and products.

Timeframe: March 1, 2002 –February 28, 2003

Funded by: PMA funds, Almond Board

Performed by: Almond Board, PMA Team, CAFF

6.3 Coordinate information dissemination

UC IPM and the Almond Board of California both have well-established and well-used informational websites. Through these websites and the published UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines, reduced risk information will be widely distributed. These websites will also be used to advertise field days and workshops and to post timely monitoring information and data collection from the PMA demonstration orchards.

Timeframe: March 1, 2002 - February 28, 2003

Funded by: UC IPM and the Almond Board of California

Performed by: UC IPM and Almond Board of California

6.4 Media and Ag Industry

Alliance Team members will make presentations at all appropriate industry related field days, meetings and workshops and encourage local farm advisors in the project areas to include project information in their Farm Advisor Newsletters. An active pesticide reduction awareness program will be conducted through the local and regional media including ag industry press.

Timeframe: March 1, 2002 –February 28, 2003

Funded by: PMA funds, Almond Board, UC IPM, CAFF

Performed by: PMA Team, PMA Advisory Team, and Almond Board

Task 7. Project Evaluation

7.1 Progress Reports and Invoicing

Since the project tasks will be ongoing for the duration of the funding period, it is expected that the team will invoice and submit progress reports at three-month intervals. These reports will include a summary of project tasks, any problems or opportunities that have emerged, and work that is ongoing and the status on the implementation of the reduced risk practices.

Timeframe: March 1, 2002 –February 28, 2003

Funded by: PMA funds

Performed by: Project Administrator

7.2 Final Report

A final report will be prepared by the team, documenting the project and the results. This report will be submitted within 60 days of the completion of the project. Each regional report will be standardized and all three will be combined to complete the final report. Each region will submit their final report for their individual orchards.

Timeframe: September 2002 to December 2003

Funded by: PMA funds

Performed by: PMA Team, PMA Advisory Team

7.3 Practical/Ongoing Implementation

The alternative practices that are developed and demonstrated as part of this project will be publicized and made available to almond growers throughout California. Using various media and practical demonstrations, growers will have a chance to see and hear how they can utilize techniques that reduce the risk of pesticide use.

This pairing of partners by the Alliance will create the basis for ongoing cooperative effort between the various organizations helping almond growers produce their crop in a sound ecological way. It lays the groundwork for a long-term relationship which addresses the issues of reduced pesticide risks and the ability to continue to produce an economically viable almond crop.

Timeframe: March 1, 2002 –February 28, 2003

Funded by: PMA funds, UC Cooperative Extension

Performed by: PMA Team, PMA Advisory Team, UC Farm Advisors, UC IPM

7.4 Estimation of Level of Adoption

7.5 Risk Reduction - Evaluation of the project

An exciting addition to the project evaluation was the implementation of a comprehensive grower survey which was administered to a random sample of the over 6,000 almond growers in the state. This telephone survey included questions on management practices used, use of alternatives or biological, how growers get information on pest management, and how they make pest management decisions. This information was supplemented with DPR’s pesticide use reporting data and documented the reduction in pesticide use as a result of the information and grower outreach portion of the project. This survey is a collaborative effort with UC IPM, State Water Resources Control Board, Almond Board of California, CAFF and DPR. Information obtained from this survey hopefully will be used to better understand how growers get information and what the barriers are to implementing reduced risk systems.

Evaluation of the telephone survey done in 1999 has been compiled. A written final report will highlight the outreach efforts, alternatives developed and tested, cost and benefits, and the reduced risk attributed to the implementation of these alternatives

Collaborative effort: These individuals and groups make up the PMA Team and are part of the collaborative effort to meet the statewide objectives of the Almond PMA Project.

Almond Board of California, Chris Heintz, Research Director

Almond Hullers and Processors Association, Gene Beach, Manager

Community Alliance With Family Farmers, Mark Cady, BIOS Program Coordinator,

Statewide IPM Project, Frank Zalom, Director

Walt Bentley, UC Regional IPM Entomologist

Carolyn Pickel, UC Area IPM Advisor - Sacramento Valley

The following individuals are added to the above members to create the PMA Advisory Team. These members add local technical information to the team and will offer advice to the team on geographic differences present in the project:

Joe Connell, Roger Duncan, Lonnie Hendricks, Mario Viveros, Bill Krueger, Rick Buchner, John Edstrom, Wes Asai, Cliff Kitayama, Ben Bertagna, Merlyn Garber, and Thomas Vetsch.

The PMA Team and the PMA Advisory Team work together to enhance coordination and communication among the cooperators, farm advisors, PCAs, USDA and other local agencies and UC researchers involved in almond production. This group also facilitates the coordination of the many technical disciplines directly linked to the project, including plant pathology, soil and fertility management, and natural resources and aquatic habitats, which all work together to show the positive benefits associated with a reduced risk pesticide system.

The team members have indicated their support for the project with the attached letters of support. The team members are all interested in the success of this project and seeing its results bring about reduced risks relating to the use of pesticides in almonds. This pairing of partners by the Alliance creates the basis for ongoing cooperative effort between the various organizations helping almond growers produce their crop in a sound ecological way. It lays the groundwork for a long-term relationship addressing the issues of reduced pesticide risks and the ability to continue to produce an economically viable almond crop.

As overall project coordinator, Chris Heintz will assign and oversee the general work tasks of the project. Each of the subcontractors participating in year three of the Almond PMA will continue on with their work tasks in year 4. The day-to-day administration of the project will be performed by Mark Looker, an agricultural communications consultant, and consultant to the Almond Board. For purposes of this project, he is the Project Administrator.

Organizational and Financial Support: The Almond Board of California, the federal marketing order for almonds in California, has the organizational structure and financial resources necessary for successful implementation of Year Four of this project.

As demonstrated in the first three consecutive years, the Board has the financial capability to pay for costs incurred from this project while awaiting reimbursement from DPR grant monies. The Board employs a full-time director of administration who is a Certified Public Accountant as well as a full-time bookkeeper, giving this project access to professional oversight of all financial activities.

The Almond Board of Directors voted unanimously in favor of a resolution authorizing the contract through Year 4 of the Almond PMA. The Board of Directors, the Board’s Production Research Committee and the Board’s Environmental Task Forces has been kept apprised of the Almond PMA's activities throughout the year through regular reports by Project Administrator Mark Looker. The Environmental Task Force has voiced its wholehearted support for the project and acknowledges that involvement in the Almond PMA helps the Task Force meet its objectives of forming partnerships to evaluate and implement reduced-risk farming methods.

Key organizational support is provided as well by the Community Alliance for Family Farmers (CAFF). CAFF, through its Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems, has a well-established track record of organizing field days and providing key communications to the almond growing community. CAFF's expertise in grassroots organizing and communication is a key component in the success of the Almond PMA outreach.

The Almond Hullers and Processors Association is a trade association representing the processing segment of the industry and as such is a key player in informing the industry about the project's activities. Gene Beach of AHPA is a key member of the Team and actively involved in the many environmental issues facing the almond industry.

The Almond Board has been committed to providing the necessary 50% in matching funds. The Board is committed to providing a similar match for Year Four.

Adoption: This project will directly result in the reduction of pesticides used in almond production and known to contaminate the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Watersheds. This end will be met through the demonstration and adoption of reduced-risk farming practices including management of seeded cover crops, use of compost, release of beneficial insects, and monitoring of pest populations. Growers will adopt these practices based on the demonstrated effectiveness of the practices, the known environmental concerns associated with conventional practices, the need for a variety of methods manage pest resistance, the anticipation of tightened regulations, and the reduction in regulatory paperwork allowed by biological practices.

Alliance members benefit by being able to offer their constituencies viable options for long-term production of almonds. The State of California benefits from this project by the potentical water quality improvements that will result from reduced runoff of targeted pesticides.

The costs of the proposed pest control practices have been demonstrated to be comparable to, or lower than, those associated with conventional pesticide systems. (Klonsky & Cohen, 1995)

Ready for Demonstration: The pest control practices being promoted by this project are being demonstrated through three in-field demonstration sites, located in the almond growing counties of Butte, Stanislaus and Kern. Models for these pests have been well documented and by continuing to monitor, we are able to monitor the lifecycles of pests. The ultimate goal of combining the current knowledge, using the models, and extensive monitoring, is to demonstrate and extend knowledge of reduced-risk techniques on a large scale to almonds growers statewide. The PMA project has the expertise and the tools to spread this message and the project’s continuation is vital to ensure almond growers and industry remain up to date on reduced risk practices.

Data compiled and reported by Drs. Susan Bassein and Lynn Epstein (Dept. of Plant Pathology, UCD) has shown that almond growers in nine almond producing counties have significantly reduced the amount of organophosphate use in the years spanning 1992-1997. During this same time, the percentage of growers using Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis, a reduced-risk pesticide) at bloom, showed a significant increase. These findings coincide with the objectives of the Almond PMA project. By keeping growers interested and up-to-date about reduced-risk practices, then growers not yet adopting reduced-risk practices will learn that commercial crops can be grown using reduced-risk techniques.

Outreach and Extension: The Almond PMA already has in place an effective plan for Almond PMA must repeatedly show via local demonstrations orchards and the printed and spoken word how growers can adopt reduced-risk systems. The team is committed to ensuring that almond growers have access to important information on these management practices. Through the help of involved farm advisors, UC IPM, the BIOS Program and the Almond Board of California, almond growers throughout the state are aware of the project, the data being collected, the practices being utilized and are invited to visit a demonstration orchard. At these demonstration orchards, growers can talk with team members, local farmers, and the host farmer to learn how to implement reduced-risk practices.

 The project requires a fourth year of funding from DPR to meet the objectives of pesticide risk reduction. This fourth year will give the Almond PMA time to develop a plan for continuation which may include funding from other government or private grants, work with UC scientists, collaboration with other similar projects. A fourth year of funding will also allow for the Almond PMA to be researched over a number of years and variables in weather, pest and disease pressures to aid in understanding of these variables. Four years of the Almond PMA project adds to the robustness and statistical validity of results. Finally, growers may be more willing to adopt a program which has been well documented over a long period of time and a fourth year a funding will continue to demonstrate that a reduced-risk program is obtainable on a commercial level.

Timetable

January 2002: Advisory Team Meeting, UC Davis.

March 2002: DPR fiscal year begins.

March 2002: Begin Orchard Monitoring

March 2002: Project newsletter mailed to growers and PCA's.

March 1, 2002: Quarterly status report to DPR. Submission of invoices.

May 2002: Advisory Team Meeting, UC Davis.

May 2002: In-season Spray Field Day/Pest Monitoring in all three regions

June 2002: Advisory Team Meeting

June 1, 2002: Quarterly status report to DPR. Submission of invoices.

June 2002: Project newsletter mailed to growers and PCA's.

July 31, 2002: End of fiscal year for Almond Board of California.

August, 2002: Project newsletter mailed to growers and PCA's.

August 2002: Advisory Team Meeting, UC Davis

Aug. 31, 2002: Last day for invoices to be submitted to Almond Board for costs incurred during course of the project.

Aug-Sept., 2002: Collect Harvest Crackout Samples

September 2002: Advisory Team Meeting, UC Davis

September 2002: Project newsletter mailed to growers and PCA's.

Sept. 1, 2002: Quarterly status report to DPR. Submission of invoices.

Oct.-Nov. 2002: Grower Meetings

November 2002: Project newsletter mailed to growers and PCA's

December 2002: Dormant Spray Field days in all three regions

Dec. 1, 2002: Quarterly status report to DPR. Submission of invoices.

December 2002: Final Reports due

February 28, 2003: Fiscal Year ends for DPR

FORM 1

Budget Submittal Form

Title of Proposal: Almond Pest Management Alliance Proposal to

Reduce Risks Associated with Pesticide Use

Total Budget: $373,849.00

Total PMA Funds Requested: $100,000

Period Covered: August 1, 2001 through July 31, 2002

Institution or Organization: Almond Board of California

Address: 1150 Ninth Street, Suite 1500

Modesto, CA 95354

Name of person authorized to bind this bid³: Rodger Wasson

Title: President and CEO Phone: (209) 343-3215

Signature of person authorized to bind this bid:

_______________________________________

³Attach necessary verification from institution or organization

FORM 2

Budget Summary Form

FORM 3

Budget Detail

Direct Costs

1. Indirect Costs

FORM 4

Work Plan Summaries For Almond PMA

Task 1: Seek Advice and Project Direction from the PMA Team and PMA Advisory Team.

Task 2: Coordinate Kern County Demonstration Site.

Task 3: Coordinate Stanislaus County Demonstration Site.

Task 4: Coordinate Butte County Demonstration Site.

Task 5: Historical Analysis of Pesticide use in Almonds.

Task 6: Outreach of Almond Pest Management Studies.

Task 7: Project Evaluation.

Work Plan Summaries

Task 1: Seek Advice and Project Direction from the PMA Team and PMA Advisory Team.

Task 2: Coordinate Kern County Demonstration Site.

Task 3: Coordinate Stanislaus County Demonstration Site.

Task 4: Coordinate Butte County Demonstration Site.

Task 5: Historical Analysis of Pesticide use in Almonds.

Task 6: Outreach of Almond Pest Management Studies.

Task 7: Project Evaluation.