ALMOND PEST MANAGEMENT ALLIANCE
PROPOSAL
TO REDUCE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH PESTICIDE USE
Submitted by:
Almond Board of California
1150 Ninth St., #1500
Modesto, CA 95354
209-549-8262 (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
209-549-8262 ext. 116
Email: cheintz@compuserve.com
Mark Looker, Project Administrator
1150 Ninth St., #1500
Modesto, CA 95354
209-549-8262 ext. 108
Email: mllooker@ainet.com
Almond PMA web site: http://www.lookercomm.com
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
Marcia Gibbs
P.O. Box 363
Davis, CA 95617
530-756-8518
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
Budget Total: $219,398.10
Start Date: Aug, 1, 1999
End Date: July 31, 2000
Priority Areas addressed: Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) replacement pest management systems
Table of Contents:
Abstract
California almond growers utilize more than 450,000 acres to produce a crop that is rapidly approaching a billion pounds. In 1997, they produced a crop worth more than $1 billion. To achieve this production level, many of California's 6,000 almond growers rely on pesticides to minimize the losses caused by pests. The major pests of concern are Navel Orangeworm (NOW), Peach Twig Borer (PTB), San Jose Scale (SJS), ants and webspinning mites (two spotted and Pacific spider.) These pests have the greatest potential for economic impact on the almond crop. The crop protection tools available to the industry may be affected by the implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) which may result in the loss of organophosphates and carbamate pesticides.
The almond industry formed the almond Pest Management Alliance (PMA) in 1998 to address possible methods of reducing pesticide risk. In June 1998, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) awarded a $99,000 grant to the alliance, which is composed of the Almond Board of California, the Almond Hullers and Processors Association, the University of California Statewide IPM Project, and the Community Alliance with Family Farmers.
The work plan begun in 1998 promotes a reduced risk system of almond production through use of alternative products and practices, actual on site demonstrations, and grower education. To accomplish its objectives, the project has established three regional demonstration sites in Butte, Stanislaus and Kern counties. This regional approach allows for various orchard conditions, different soil types, watering methods, microclimates, and pest and disease pressures.
A common thread running through all three projects is a focus on studying current grower practices versus "alternative" practices. The orchard sites are divided between treatments considered "conventional" and those considered "alternative." These field trials are overseen by almond farm advisors from the U.C. Cooperative Extension and results are shared with growers through publications and field days. Three field days in December 1998 on dormant spray alternatives attracted more than 300 growers and PCA’s.
The immediate benefit of the almond PMA has been the unifying role it has played in 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 and it has opened a valuable dialogue with regulators concerned about pesticide use.
The long-term benefit of the almond PMA will not be known for at least two years. Research data needs to be collected for at least two—and preferably three years - - in order for the project to be scientifically valid. The hope is that this research will provide a scientific base of knowledge on alternative uses to traditional pesticide practices which will be embraced by almond growers.
Introduction
California almond orchards cover more than 450,000 acres, stretching 400 miles through the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys. 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 has already begun investigating 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.
• growers are interested in learning more about potentially effective non-chemical alternatives which may provide both time- and cost-savings to growers.
• some 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. 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. In 2000, the PMA will continue to demonstrate and showcase effective alternatives and expand the outreach component to target as many of the state's almond growers as possible. Key elements of the work plan are 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.
Work Plan
Project Objectives, 2000
1. 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 efforts through collaboration with UC IPM staff, UC scientists and farm advisors, whose expertise gives growers confidence in experimenting with reduced risk practices and products.
2. Expand and strengthen the efforts already put forward by the Almond Pest Management Alliance.
The first year of this project is sparking significant interest among growers, as evidenced by field day attendance in each of these three regions, which averaged about 100 growers and pest control advisors. Members of the Alliance agree that this interest is still growing and that it is important to keep the momentum going by continuing the project for a second year of project demonstrations and activities.
3. Demonstrate effective reduced risk systems through use of regional demonstration orchards.
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 PMA’s website. Use of this system gives growers confidence in implementing reduced risk systems in their own orchards.
Achievement of these objectives will be measured by utilizing DPR’s Pesticide Use Report (PUR) data and making comparisons of pesticide use before and after the PMA project. The 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 conduct a statewide grower survey to assess the implementation of reduced risk practices and the level of interest in such practices.
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 Walt Bentley Carolyn Pickel
Entomologist and director Regional IPM entomologist Area IPM Statewide IPM Project
Community Alliance with Family Farmers
Marcia Gibbs
BIOS Program Coordinator
Almond Hullers and Processors Association
Gene Beach
Manager
PMA Advisory Team
Gene Beach Joe Connell Merlyn Garber
Manager Farm advisor Almond grower
AHPA Butte County Central project area
Ben Bertagna Thomas Vetsch Wes Asai
Almond grower Almond grower Pest Control Advisor
Northern project area Southern project area
Mario Viveros Lonnie Hendricks
Farm advisor Farm advisor
Kern County Merced County
Chris Heintz of the ABC 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 which 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.
Marcia Gibbs of CAFF assists with team and grower contacts and provide support in all phases of the project. She is program coordinator for the Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) program, a technical assistance program which has successfully demonstrated the viability of farming systems which rely on sharply reduced chemical inputs. She coordinates publicity for field days and events, and organizes and coordinates those events, as needed. She assists with correspondence, data collection, quarterly reports and year-end data analysis and report.
Merlyn Garber, Thomas Vetsch and Ben Bertagna provide the project with two orchard 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
Task Descriptions
Task 1. Seek advice and project direction from the PMA team and PMA advisory team.
The project’s advisory team includes PMA members, and additional local project growers, agriculture professionals, UC farm advisors, and CAFF staff. The team provides the expertise and support to ensure the project's ongoing success.
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 second 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: Aug. 31, 1999 to July 31, 2000
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: Aug. 31, 1999 to July 31, 2000
Funded by: PMA funds
Performed by: PMA Team with CAFF coordination
Task 2. Coordinate and document the three regional PMA orchards
The three demonstration sites located in the Southern Sacramento Valley, Central San Joaquin Valley, and the Sacramento Valley, with their paired conventional orchard blocks provide almond growers statewide with a diverse set of orchard and geographic conditions to view the implementation of reduced risk systems. Regional sites increase the likelihood that the practices demonstrated are applicable to the conditions in grower's own orchards and they may be more likely to implement them. The customized biologically integrated farm plans developed as part of the first year of the PMA project will be updated and prepared for year two of the project.
The conventionally managed blocks will utilize a dormant OP spray or pyrethroid insecticide and oil, a conventional miticide, a conventional insecticide program for other pests (use of OP spring spray and/or OP hull split spray), a conventional fertilizer program, and use of pre emergence herbicides.
The reduced risk blocks will be managed with the following techniques:
• winter sanitation and early harvest for NOW control, with monitoring of mummy nuts on trees during February
• use of dormant spray alternatives, oil as needed, 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.
2.1 Monitor demonstration sites.
In each of the three regional areas, the Area IPM advisors will coordinate activities with local farm advisors, the advisory team and project manager to identify orchard sites that will provide a comparison of a biologically integrated block with a conventional block.
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 these sites will be supplemented by data collected from ABC-sponsored UC research, current UC Farm Advisor research and current data collected from enrolled BIOS orchards, for the sake of comparison.
Timeframe: Aug. 1, 1999 to July 31, 2000
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 from the first year of the project 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 second year of monitoring data will be particularly useful in demonstrating to almond growers the effectiveness of the reduced risk practices.
Timeframe: Aug. 1, 1999 to July 31, 2000
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
In each of the three geographic areas, there are pest problems specific to the region. With direction from local UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisors, local trials will be set-up to collect baseline data and implement alternative practices.
Timeframe: Aug. 1, 1999 to July 31, 2000
Funded by: PMA funds, UC Cooperative Extension, UC IPM
Performed by: PMA Team, PMA advisory team
Task 3. Project Outreach and Extension
Extend reduced risk pesticide use information to almond growers statewide through the use of field days, workshops, newsletters and publications.
3.1 Hold Regional Field Days
There will be at least two field days held in each geographic location. 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 ag community.
Timeframe: Aug. 1, 1999 to July 31, 2000
Funded by: PMA funds, UC Cooperative Extension, CAFF
Performed by: PMA Team, PMA Advisory Team, UC Cooperative Extension
3.2 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: Aug. 1, 1999 to July 31, 2000
Funded by: PMA funds, Almond Board
Performed by: Almond Board, PMA Team, CAFF
3.3 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: Aug. 1, 1999 to July 31, 2000
Funded by: UC IPM and the Almond Board of California
Performed by: UC IPM and Almond Board of California
3.4 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: Aug. 1, 1999 to July 31, 2000
Funded by: PMA funds, Almond Board, UC IPM, CAFF
Performed by: PMA Team, PMA Advisory Team, and Almond Board
Task 4. Project Evaluation
4.1 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: Aug. 1, 1999 to July 31, 2000
Funded by: PMA funds
Performed by: Project Administrator
4.2 Final Report
A final report will be prepared by the team which will document the project and its results. This report will be submitted within 60 days of the completion of the project.
Timeframe: September 2000 to December 2000
Funded by: PMA funds
Performed by: PMA Team, PMA Advisory Team
4.3 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: Aug. 1, 1999 to July 31, 2000
Funded by: PMA funds, UC Cooperative Extension
Performed by: PMA Team, PMA Advisory Team, UC Farm Advisors, UC IPM
4.4 Estimation of Level of Adoption
4.5 Risk Reduction - Evaluation of the project
An exciting addition to the project evaluation will be the implementation of a comprehensive grower survey which will be administered to a random sample of the over 6,000 almond growers in the state. This telephone survey will include 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 will be supplemented with DPR’s pesticide use reporting data and will document the reduction in pesticide use as a result of the information and grower outreach portion of the project. This survey will be a collaborative effort with UC IPM, State Water Resources Control Board, Almond Board of California, CAFF and DPR. Information obtained from this survey will be used to better understand how growers get information and what the barriers are to implementing reduced risk systems.
Evaluation of the project will also include compilation of the data collected. 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.
Timetable
June 15, 1999: Advisory Team Meeting
August, 1999: Project newsletter mailed to growers and PCA's.
Aug-Sept., 1999: Collect Harvest Crackout Samples
Sept. 1, 1999: Quarterly status report to DPR. Submission of invoices.
Sept. 15, 1999: Advisory Team Meeting, UC Davis
November, 1999: Project newsletter mailed to growers and PCA's
December 1999: Dormant Spray Field days in all three regions
Dec. 1, 1999: Quarterly status report to DPR. Submission of invoices.
January 15, 2000: Advisory Team Meeting, UC Davis.
March 2000: Begin Orchard Monitoring
March 2000: Project newsletter mailed to growers and PCA's.
March 1, 2000: Quarterly status report to DPR. Submission of invoices.
May 15, 2000: Advisory Team Meeting, UC Davis.
May 2000: In-season Spray Field Day/Pest Monitoring in all three regions
June 1, 2000: Quarterly status report to DPR. Submission of invoices.
June 2000: Project newsletter mailed to growers and PCA's.
July 31, 2000: End of fiscal year for Almond Board of California.
Aug. 15, 2000: Advisory Team Meeting, UC Davis
Aug. 31, 2000: Last day for invoices to be submitted to Almond Board for costs incurred during course of the project.
Sept, 1. 2000: Quarterly status report to DPR. Submission of invoices.
September, 2000: Project newsletter mailed to growers and PCA's.
Oct. 2000: Grower Meetings on Results/Cost Benefits
Dec. 2000: Final report
Evaluation Criteria
Priority Areas: This proposal's objectives are in keeping with DPR's desire to focus on pest management solutions that reduce pesticide 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 will address surface water contamination by dormant spray pesticides in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Watersheds, and groundwater contamination from herbicides. The orchard 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 significant costs on society,
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 waters 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 which can help grower 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 this 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.
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:
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. The time and efforts spent on establishing and coordinating the Alliance efforts will be lost unless the project is extended for year two. It can sometimes take two to three years before significant pest population shifts occur. 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 ag 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 ABC’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.
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, Marcia Gibbs, 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:
Northern Project Southern Project Central Project
John Edstrom Mario Viveros Lonnie Hendrick
Farm Advisor Farm advisor Farm advisor
Rick Buchner Joe Connell Merlyn Garber
Farm Advisor Farm advisor Almond grower
Ben Bertagna Thomas Vetsch Roger Duncan
Almond grower Almond grower Farm Advisor
Wes Asa
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, like 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 letters of support which can be found in Attachment #2. They are all keenly 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 which addresses 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 over see the general work tasks of the project. Each of the subcontractors participating in year one of the almond PMA will continue on with their work tasks in year 2. The day-to-day administration of the project will be overseen by Mark Looker, an agricultural communications consultant who works with the Almond Board. For purposes of this project, he is the Project Administrator.
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 - 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 biologically integrated farm plans 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 for the second year the project. They define any specific pest 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 3 - Project Outreach and Extension.
This task is accomplished through timely grower field meetings, farm tours, newsletter mailings and other media including electronic media. The Almond Board and BIOS staff 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 Board Conference.
Task 4 - Project Evaluation.
Quarterly progress reports will be prepared by the Team. They will summarize the work that is ongoing and point out any opportunities or problems in project implementation. The PMA team will also prepare a final report to document project results and the 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 will be surveyed in 1999 to help determine where growers stand now on the use of reduced risk practices and how to best educate them on 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 PMA channels.
Resumes of key Team members are provided in Attachment #3.
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 Two of this project.
As demonstrated in Year One, 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 ABC board of directors voted unanimously in favor of a resolution authorizing the contract for Year One of the project in June 1998. A resolution lending support to this Year Two proposal is on the agenda for the Board's May 12, 1999 meeting. The Board has been kept apprised of the almond PMA's activities throughout the year through regular reports by Project Administrator Mark Looker. The Board's newly formed Environmental Task Force has also been kept apprised of the project and has voiced its wholehearted support for the project.
Key organizational support is provided as well by the Community Alliance for Family Farmers. 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 Year One and the continued success in Year Two.
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.
In Year One, the Almond Board committed to providing the necessary 50% in matching funds. The Board is committed to providing a similar match for Year Two.
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 biological 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 growing ineffectiveness of synthetic pesticides due to pest resistance, the anticipation of tightened regulations, and the reduction in 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 Californians benefits from this project by the water quality improvements that will result from lessened use of toxic 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)
Demonstration: The reduced risk, cover crop-based system being demonstrated in this project was originally developed by innovative farmers in the Merced area, in conjunction with the local almond farm advisor, Lonnie Hendricks, who is part of the PMA advisory team.
This system has been researched over the last seven years, in UC research, independent studies, and through CAFF. In all cases what has been demonstrated is a system which allows growers to significantly reduce or eliminate the use of organophosphate and other pesticides without a significant difference in pest populations or yield. The consistency of this finding makes the PMA confident that the whole systems approach to almond orchard management is at a point of development where it can be widely adopted. 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. The limiting factor in its adoption has been to educate growers about the pesticide problem and showing them how to implement effective reduced risk practices. The PMA project has the expertise and the tools to spread this message and the project’s continuation is vital to continuing to spread this word to almond growers statewide.
Outreach and Extension: The Almond PMA already has in place an effective plan for outreach to growers, but the grower community is slow to adopt and so the 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 needs the second year of funding from DPR to meet the objectives pesticide risk reduction. This second 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.
Budget
Please see Attachment #4 for proposed budget for this project.