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 extension 16
Fax: (209) 549-8267
Email: CHeintz@compuserve.com
Almond Hullers and Processors Association
Gene Beach
2360 Lecco Way
Merced, CA 95340
209-723-7661
Fax:
Email: genebeach@aol.com
Community Alliance with Family Farmers
Marcia Gibbs
P.O. Box 363
Davis, CA 95617
530-756-8518
Fax: (530) 756-7857
Email: bios@caff.org
University of California
Frank Zalom
Statewide IPM Project
Davis, CA 95616-8621
530-752-8350
Fax: (530) 752-6004
Email: fgzalom@ucdavis.edu
Walt Bentley
UC Regional IPM Entomologist
UC Kearney Ag Center
9240 S. Riverbend Ave.
Parlier, CA 93648
209-646-6527
Fax: (209) 646-6593
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
Fax: (530) 673-5368
Email: cxpickel@ucdavis.edu
Table of Contents:
Abstract
A) Problem to be addressed
Production of almonds in California is bountiful both in terms of volume and economic return. The crop has been most successful in California’s Central Valley because the Mediterranean-type climate is favorable to the crop’s growth requirements. California almond orchards cover more than 450,000 acres, stretching over 400 miles through the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys. Almond production has seen a steady increase over the past ten years. It is projected that 500,000 acres of almonds will be in production by the year 2000 producing an estimated 1 billion pounds of almonds. The Almond Board of California estimates grower returns exceed $1 billion dollars annually.
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. Growers are well aware of the public's concern about pesticide use and possible risks.
The almond industry has been acknowledged as a leader in pursuing reduced risk strategies and views this Pest Management Alliance (PMA) as an opportunity to bring together diverse interests in the almond industry to continue exploring possible methods of reducing pesticide risk. 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.
The work plan being proposed by the Almond Pest Management Alliance is designed to promote a reduced risk system of almond production through use of alternative products and practices, actual on site demonstrations, and grower education.
B) Previous Work of Team
The team that has been assembled for this project is at the forefront of reduced risk strategies:
C) Work Plan Objectives
1) Establish demonstration orchard sites in three different almond-growing regions to collect data on almond pest management practices that reduce risks associated with pesticide use.
2) Conduct orchard monitoring and specific research activities which address localized pest control and almond production practices.
D) Work Plan Description
The work plan will be implemented as follows:
1) Assemble an advisory team. This team of local growers and ag professionals, Alliance Team Members, UC Farm Advisors, and CAFF staff will provide the project with direction and oversee implementation.
2) Set up demonstration orchard sites in three geographic areas: a) Southern San Joaquin Valley, b) Central San Joaquin Valley, and c) Sacramento Valley. In each of these three areas, the Regional IPM Farm Advisors will coordinate activities with local farm advisors, the advisory team and project manager to identify orchards sites that will provide a comparison of a biologically integrated block with a conventional block. The farm advisors will provide orchard monitoring with attention given to specific regional problems that exist.
The data collected from these sites will be supplemented by data collected from Almond Board-sponsored UC research, current UC Farm Advisor research and current data collected on enrolled BIOS orchards.
3) Conduct Field Days, workshops and orchard demonstrations in each of the three geographic areas. There will be a minimum of two meetings in each area.
4) Evaluation of the project will include compilation of the data collected. A written final report will highlight the outreach efforts, alternatives developed and tested, costs and benefits, and the reduced risk attributed to the implementation of these alternatives.
Introduction
The work plan being proposed by the Almond PMA is designed to promote a reduced risk system of almond production through use of alternative products, actual on site demonstrations, and grower education. The plan will set up an advisory team of experts in the field to guide the direction and implementation of the project.
Setting up demonstration orchards geared to three different geographic locations and sets of orchard conditions will enable growers to get first hand information and help build growers confidence that these reduced risk systems can work for them. Through program promotion and data collection and dissemination the value and benefits of utilizing alternative practices will be demonstrated.
An overall program evaluation report will summarize the reduction in risk as a result of the project. The report will relate the environmental benefits to the community and environment contrasted with the costs and benefits to the grower.
The project leader will be Chris Heintz, Director of Research, Technology, and Education for the Almond Board of California. Team members include: Dr. Frank Zalom, UC entomologist and Director of the Statewide IPM Project, UC Area IPM Advisor Carolyn Pickel and UC Regional IPM Entomologist Walt Bentley, BIOS Program Coordinator Marcia Gibbs, Gene Beach with the Almond Hullers and Processors Association and other administrative staff. Walt Bentley will be the project manager, and will coordinate the Alliance activities of the UC Farm Advisors. See Attachment #3 for an overall organizational chart. All of the people listed above will be Almond Pest Management Alliance Team members for the purpose of this work plan.
Description of Project
The project proposed by the Almond PMA is designed to promote a reduced risk system of almond production through use of alternative products, actual on site demonstrations, and grower education. The Almond Pest Management Alliance Team proposed for this project brings together a diverse, yet highly experienced group to promote the adoption and implementation of a reduced risk pesticide strategy. Information obtained from the Pest Management Evaluation documents those practices used in almond production with the greatest potential for reduced pesticide risk. Previously completed and ongoing work in the field by UC Farm Advisors, UC IPM and CAFF will be used to support this project.
The following are brief summaries of the knowledge and expertise of some of the key team members:
Dr. Zalom is Director of the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Project, a statewide program of the University of California initiated in 1979. The program sponsors research, extension implementation, and student internship projects on a competitive basis each year. It employs a group of 8 area IPM advisors who work on a regional basis to adapt and extend IPM research, a writing staff who produce the award winning series of IPM manuals and the University's pest management guidelines, and an information systems staff who maintain databases including an agricultural meteorology database and a pesticide use database for California which is available on the program’s World Wide Web site. The UC IPM Project is also responsible for pest control advisor training, pesticide applicator training, and farmworker pesticide safety training for the University of California.
Dr. Zalom is on the faculty of the Department of Entomology at UC Davis, and holds a research and extension appointment with specific emphasis on horticultural crops including almonds. His most significant contributions to entomology have been in the development of sampling and monitoring systems, control action thresholds, and the application reduced risk pest control approaches. Dr. Zalom has published over 270 technical, semi-technical, and popular articles on various aspects of insect biology and pest management.
Dr. Zalom has received several honors and awards including the Distinguished Achievement Award in Extension from the Entomological Society of America, the University of California Assembly Council and California Farm Bureau’s "Outstanding Specialist Research" and "Creative Teamwork" awards, and the American Registry of Professional Entomologists "Excellence in Entomology Award". Dr. Zalom was elected a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences in 1990, received a Fulbright Senior Research Fellowship to Spain in 1992-93, and was named a Visiting Fellow of the Victoria (Australia) Department of Agriculture. He was appointed by Governor Pete Wilson to the Governor’s Exotic Pest Eradication Task Force in 1995.
In 1997, the Almond Board of California recognized Dr. Zalom’s research contributions to the industry by presenting him with a special award at their annual Production Research Conference. He has conducted entomology research and extension programs on almonds since 1980, and has worked on all of the major pests of almonds including navel orangeworm, peach twig borer, spider mites, ants and San Jose scale.
Carolyn Pickel has served as the UC/OIPM Area Advisor in Sutter and Yuba counties from 1990 to present. Previously, she served as the UC/IPM Area Advisor in Santa Cruz County from 1979 to 1990.
Pest Management Evaluation
Please see attached document: "Pest Management Evaluation for the Almond Industry Pest Management Alliance" (Attachment #1)
Work Plan
Understanding the Alliance and its Potential
1. Almond orchards cover more than 450,000 acres in California, producing California’s largest nut tree crop in total dollar value and acreage. To produce this bountiful crop, most growers rely on pesticides and synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. These, in turn, have the potential to contaminate surface waters, ground water and air.
Recognizing the need for pesticide reduction in the almond growing regions of the state, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation is seeking to create alliances between the major parties involved in the production of almonds. By bringing together the Almond Board of California, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers, the Almond Hullers and Processors Association and UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisors and UC researchers, DPR has set the stage for an exciting project that fosters cooperation and collaboration among the most innovative and dedicated parties in the almond industry. The project sets the stage for long term dialogue and ongoing relationships among the team. It represents the first time all these parties will have come together in a coordinated effort to help find economical and viable solutions to the pesticide problem that exists in California. The project provides funding for these collaborative efforts and will serve to benefit the almond industry, processors, growers and the environment.
This proposal includes a mixture of applied research as well as implementation and demonstration. It addresses real issues faced by almond growers in California. With project funds, the team will set up demonstration sites to examine and document the use of alternatives to conventional pesticide use. These demonstration sites will utilize existing growers utilizing biologically integrated farming methods, as well as trial plots in different geographic areas specifically designed to meet the urgent need of growers in these areas.
Farmers like to hear from other farmers about the success or failures associated with innovative farming practices. These demonstration sites will help foster this spirit of farmer to farmer communication and allow more skeptical growers to see firsthand that alternatives to a conventional spraying system can be cost effective.
2. BIOS and previous UC research has already shown that growers can effectively reduce their use of conventional pesticides and fertilizers and adopt a more "whole systems" approach to farming. Growers successful in adopting this approach have shown that even with geographical differences, they can successfully reduce or eliminate toxic sprays. Reducing these chemicals in almond production could result in a decreased toxicity in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Watersheds, reduced risk to human health and a more sustainable agriculture. Demonstration programs where growers can see reduced risk practices in action help give growers confidence, provide them with a network of growers implementing these practices and train growers how to utilize biological farming practices.
Demonstrate Systems Approach
1. This work plan will address areas of concern for California almond growers as documented through discussions with members if the almond industry and UC Farm Advisors. The approach will be to look at the farming system as a whole. Several specific approaches are possible. For example, growers can use cover crops to aid in nitrogen fixation, water infiltration and soil improvement. Compost and manures can also be used to decrease the amount of synthetic nitrogen applied. Bt sprays can be used in place of conventional pesticides at bloom time. Careful monitoring is essential to really know what is going on in their orchards and to enhance biological relationship and natural processes. Winter sanitation and early harvest can be used to prevent navel orangeworm damage, reducing the need for inseason sprays.
This project will look at the entire farming system and help growers relate each management practice to the good of the whole system. In the past, growers have relied on spraying by the calendar while not always tackling the real problem. Use of a more biological approach will strengthen all the orchard systems, avoiding overspraying and reducing the risk of pest resistance.
2. The BIOS model has shown that successful demonstration projects can provide the impetus for farmers to begin experimenting with more biologically based management practices on their own farms. As growers of all crops see the demonstrated success of using more biologically based alternatives and a whole systems approach, they will be more interested in trying to implement these practices on their own farms and ranches. Projects like this one will likely attract other agencies who are also trying to help growers reduce the use of pesticides. Groups such as Natural Resources Conservation (NRCS), local Resource Conservation Groups, and other local stakeholder groups will be able to view the risk reduction practices and incorporate the practices in their own crops.
One of the key elements to carrying out this change will be support from the local UC Farm Advisors in the community. These well-respected Advisors are a vital link to helping get out the word about reduced risk practices and the use of alternatives. Many growers are reluctant to implement any methods that are not tested by UC staff. With support from these Farm Advisors, positive results from demonstration sites, and support from the Almond Board and the Almond Hullers and Processors, the needed changes can be made quickly and on an industry-wide scale. The ability of these groups to reach the farming community has enormous potential and should have a great deal of impact on the rate of change enacted.
Competition
1. The two main parallel programs involved in promoting almond production practices which reduce pesticide use are the UC Integrated Pest Management program and the Community Alliance with Family Farmers’ Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) program. These two programs each offer farmers a framework for making pest management decisions. Both are designed to minimize crop losses by pests while still protecting the environment and producing an economically viable crop. The IPM for Almonds Manual states, "A good IPM program coordinates pest management activities with cultural operations to achieve economical and long-lasting solutions to pest problems."
Reduced risk strategies such as the BIOS program seek to demonstrate that a small, but growing number of almond producers have been successfully reducing their insecticide, herbicide, and fertilizer inputs without affecting yield or quality. Most program growers have experience with individual components of the system, such as Bt sprays and insect releases. By combining these with seeded cover crops, modified mowers, increased monitoring, and habitat enhancement, BIOS growers have replaced the broad-spectrum chemical control on their farms with biological processes and selective insecticides.
The advantage of the Almond PMA’s proposed project is that it seeks an integration of these two quality approaches to almond production. Increasing regulation and an increasing need to protect surface and groundwater is promoting the faster adoption and incorporation of low input methods and alternative solutions that can reduce or eliminate the need for these toxic chemicals. The combined expertise of these two groups will ensure that almond growers all along the reduced risk spectrum can find a comfortable fit for their pest control management. These two groups bring together years of documented production practices which can help reduce the risk of pesticide contamination.
2. The real shortcoming of these programs is that they can’t produce all the answers quickly enough. For example, growers are in need of good alternative to fungicides. There are materials coming to the market, but most are not yet ready for trials.
Growers may not be comfortable or think they can afford a higher level of insect damage. Many growers perceive that by reducing their pesticide use, they will have higher damage and lower yields. More importance needs to be placed on field trials where the practical implication of a study can be more easily and readily incorporated in the orchard.
The implementation of this project is detailed in the attached budget, organizational chart showing the personnel involved, their duties and responsibilities, and the organizations they represent. The timeline for this project is an implementation date of June 15, 1998 with completion of the final report in October, 1999.
Task 1. Creation and Coordination of Planning and Advisory Team
The Pest Management Alliance Team will come together to create a list of agricultural professionals to become part of an Advisory Team for the project. The Almond Board will be responsible for recruiting these members to the team.
1.1 Recruit Advisory Team Members
An advisory team will be formed with key staff from the Almond Board of California, Almond Hullers and Processors Association, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, UC Statewide IPM Project, UC Cooperative Extension, grower representatives, conventional chemical company, and a biological control company. This group will provide the guidance and resources needed to develop and implement the project. They represent all phases of the almond industry and will each bring valuable input to project development.
Milestone: Formation of Advisory Team
Funded by: PMA funds
Performed by: PMA Alliance Team Members
1.2 Coordinate Advisory Team Meetings
CAFF will organize and facilitate these quarterly meetings. The advisory group will meet at project initiation, and then will meet at least quarterly to monitor the progress and data collection efforts. Some members of this team will serve as technical advisors to the project. They will be responsible for overseeing the orchard monitoring programs in their geographic areas. They will be available to provide technical assistance to growers involved in the project as needed, and they will be asked to present information and project results at meetings and field days. The technical advisory team members include: Zalom, Bentley, Pickel and UC Farm advisors who will be identified at project initiation.
The majority of the members of this team have worked together on previous and current almond projects. They 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.
Milestone: Quarterly Advisory Team Meetings
Funded by: PMA funds
Performed by: PMA Team and Advisory Team Members
1.3 Coordinate Advisory Team Activities
CAFF will coordinate the activities of the Advisory Team which will include technical presentations, participation in project field days and meetings.
Milestone: Presentations, participation in field days
Funded by: PMA funds
Performed by: PMA Team
Task 2. Field Monitoring and Orchard Demonstration Sites
The primary focus of the field monitoring is to support growers who are looking for a reduced risk pest management system.
2.1 Set up Demonstration Orchards in Three Geographic Areas
In each of the three geographical regions, demonstration orchards will be established. These may vary some with geographical differences in pest pressures, but they will seek to address the main problem areas facing almond growers: PTB, San Jose Scale, NOW, mites, ants, weeds and diseases.
The local farm advisor in each area will help with establishment. Each orchard will be split - comparing conventional and reduced risk alternative orchards. Where these blocks cannot be matched on the same farm, the conventional blocks may be on a different farm with similar soil type, tree type and age of orchard.
The Conventional Program:
Reduced Risk Program:
Milestone: Set up demonstration orchards
Funded by: PMA funds, UC Cooperative Extension, UC IPM
Performed by: PMA Team, PMA Advisory Team
2.2 Develop Monitoring Protocols and Treatment Thresholds
Monitoring protocols will be developed as part of the Advisory team duties. The use of practices outlined in the alternatives section could greatly reduce the toxicity of the pesticide risk that is released into the environment from conventional almond production. This would be accomplished by using monitoring techniques to determine if treatment thresholds have been reached and by using "low toxicity" materials such as oil, or Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
Milestone: Develop Monitoring Protocols and Treatment Thresholds
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. The following is a brief description of the trials to be set-up:
Southern San Joaquin Valley
Working with UC IPM’s Walt Bentley, trials will examine the impact of the older OPs and the newer Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) on parasites of scale. Baseline data collected in the area shows that there are fewer scale parasites in this region than in other almond growing regions. Speculation is that long term and often heavy use of OPs have reduced the populations of these parasites. Monitoring of scale and scale parasitoidsin the region will be a priority.
Central San Joaquin Valley
Ants and mites are a major problem in the area and ant trials have already been put in place. The project will coordinate with and help support this work. Ant control plots are being set-up which will compare use of an OP, pyrethroid and IGR. Four replications of nine different treatments are in place. Alternative approaches to the mite problem are also being tried using Avermectin and horticultural oils.
Fungicide trials, looking at alternative to convention fungicides are currently being conducted in Madera County orchards. These trials will be supported as part of this project and the results disseminated to almond growers. Alternatives to fungicides have not been available and use of them to control diseases such as brown rot and shothole is high.
Sacramento Valley
Pyrethroid resistance to PTB may be present in this geographic area. Use of Bts could be effective as a substitute for the pyrethroids and OPs as dormant sprays.
Milestone: Set up regional trials
Funded by: PMA funds, UC Cooperative Extension, UC IPM
Performed by: PMA Team, PMA Advisory Team
Task 3. Project Outreach and Extension
Utilizing the existing and effective means of dissemination through the Almond Board of California, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, and the University of California, information will be provided to almond growers on pesticide issues, including ground and surface water contamination, FQPA, and pesticide resistance. In addition to getting the word out, the Alliance will seek to attract growers interested in the adoption of more biologically sound management practices.
Milestone: Development of outreach materials
Funded by: PMA funds, Almond Board, CAFF
Performed by: PMA Team
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 CAFF. These field days will include all interested Alliance team members and growers.
Milestone: Hold six field days
Funded by: PMA funds, UC Cooperative Extension, CAFF
Performed by: PMA Team, PMA Advisory Team, UC Cooperative Extension
3.2 Bi-Monthly Newsletter
A bi-monthly newsletter prepared by the Almond Board will be sent out to almond growers and will include information from the field about the Alliance project and its demonstration sites.
Milestone: Produce bi-monthly newsletter
Funded by: PMA funds, Almond Board
Performed by: Almond Board, PMA Team
UC IPM has a well-established and well-used informational website. Through this website and the Pest Management Guidelines, reduced risk information will be distributed.
Milestone: Provide information on the Almond PMA Project on UC IPM Website
Funded by: UC IPM
Performed by: UC IPM
3.4 Media and Ag Industry
Alliance Team members will make presentations at all appropriate industry related field days 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. Electronic media - UC IPM, Almond Board of California, and Cafe’s websites - will be used to get the information out to growers and to advertise field days and workshops.
Milestone: Pesticide reduction awareness program
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, status on the implementation of the reduced risk practices.
Milestone: Quarterly progress reports
Funded by: PMA funds
Performed by: PMA Team
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.
Milestone: Final Report
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.
Milestone: Practical reduced risk practices
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
Risk Reduction
BIOS growers have demonstrated since joining the program that 90% have eliminated the use of insecticide dormant sprays (excluding the use of Bts.) Overall, the use of organophosphates has decreased 71% since the beginning of the program.
Since 1978, the UC Statewide IPM Project has demonstrated a 45% reduction statewide in insecticides applied for NOW control on almonds through implementation of various practices.
Through this project of the Pest Management Alliance, statistics like these will be on the rise. More growers will be aware of the problem, understand that they are likely to lose the use of long standing OPs and be more aware of available alternatives and more biological management techniques.
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.
Resources Available
Resources available for the project include:
Budget (See Figure 2)
Projected Economic Benefits of Work Plan
It is difficult to put a precise dollar figure on the economic benefit to be derived from this proposed work plan. However, the most recent data suggests there is significant potential for economic benefit both to the California almond industry, as well as to the general public.
In an article in the Sept-Oct. 1990 edition of California Agriculture, Dr. Zalom notes, "The almond insect IPM program has resulted in an estimated $4.1 million reduction in pesticide costs." This figure was arrived at by comparing a 1985 grower survey versus 1981 survey. That analysis showed a 24% reduction in spraying pesticides as part of growers' routine worm control practices. Data showed growers who sprayed used an average of 1.43 sprays per acre. The average bearing acreage between 1982 and 1988 was 387,000 acres. The 24% reduction on sprays has meant a reduction of 124,614 acre-sprays per year. At a cost of $32 per spray, this meant a direct savings in input costs to California almond growers of over $4 million. According to the analysis, this added up to an estimated benefit of $12.8 million, including an increase of $8.7 million in revenues resulting from increased salable production and a decrease of $4.1 million in pesticide costs.
Similar types of savings can be reasonably expected to result from the type of pesticide reduction strategies being proposed in this work plan.
Personnel Description
The personnel involved in this project are very experienced in these types of projects. Resumes of key personnel are attached, as is an organizational chart. The Almond Board of California, the Almond Hullers and Processors Association, The Community Alliance With Family Farmers, and the Statewide IPM Project have well-established track records as organization that are leaders in finding innovative solutions to problems affecting the almond industry.
Following is a brief description of the key organizations and personnel:
Alliance Members and Member Background
Chris Heintz is Director of Research, Technology and Education for the Almond Board of California. Ms. Heintz directs the Almond Board's $1.4M research budget. She oversees 30 research projects in almond orchard management, pests and diseases, and variety development. In addition, Ms. Heintz manages 10 projects in the area of nutrition research wherein key researchers worldwide are studying the positive health aspects associated with consumption of almonds.
Heidi Savage is the communications coordinator for the Almond Board of California. She oversees the outreach efforts of the Board to inform growers about the Board’s various programs and activities. Through the use of in-the-field meetings, mailings such as newsletters and press releases, and the employment of the World Wide Web, the Board is able to reach many of the state’s estimated 6,000 almond growers.
Mark Looker is a professional communications consultant who specializes in agricultural clients. He is the owner of Looker Communications Consulting in Modesto and provides communications consulting services to the Almond Board of California. He specializes in production of various printed materials such as newsletters, brochures and press releases for use in communicating with almond growers throughout the state. He also is skilled in the use of the World Wide Web as a communication tool for growers.
Gene Beach is the general manager of the Almond Hullers and Processors Association (AHPA.), a trade association representing almond hullers and shellers throughout the almond-growing region. An almond grower himself, he has a unique and clear understanding of the day-to-day issues that face almond growers as they strive to realize increased production while acting as good environmental stewards.
Marcia Gibbs has been working for the Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems Program of the Community Alliance with Family Farmers since November, 1996. She is responsible for the supervision of BIOS staff, overall program coordination and writing program reports and evaluations. She also promotes the BIOS program to the agricultural community, farmers and researchers. Marcia has been a small family farmer on a rice ranch in the Sacramento Valley. She has a secondary teaching credential in vocational agriculture and an MBA.
Dr. Frank Zalom 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 will be an invaluable asset to the success of this project.
Walt Bentley, UC Regional IPM Entomologist, Kearney Ag Center, 9240 S. Riverbend Ave., Parlier, CA 93648 (209) 646-6527
Carolyn Pickel, UC Area IPM Advisor - Sacramento Valley, UC Cooperative Extension,142 - A Garden Highway, Yuba City, CA 95941 (530) 822-7515.Carolyn Pickel has served as the UC/OIPM Area Advisor in Sutter and Yuba counties from 1990 to present. Previously, she served as the UC/IPM Area Advisor in Santa Cruz County from 1979 to 1990.
Schedule
Kick-off Meeting June 15, 1998
Advisory Team Meeting July 15, 1998
Establish Demonstration Sites July 30, 1998
Define Orchard Monitoring Protocols July 30, 1998
Collect Harvest Crackout Samples Aug-Sept., 1998
Advisory Team Meeting Oct. 15, 1998
Dormant Spray Field days January 1999
Begin Orchard Monitoring March 1999
In-season Spray Field Day/Pest Monitoring May 1999
Grower Meetings on Results/Cost Benefits July 1999
Final report July 31, 1999