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Almond Board of California's 2005 Strategy

Strategic Approach

The Almond Board seeks to reduce pesticide risk by researching and developing IPM strategies while educating growers in IPM and other risk reduction strategies.  We are pursuing a significant increase in the number and types of IPM-related pollination projects.  Thus our research not only impacts almond growers but also beekeepers.

Progress on 2004 Activity 1

Results from some of the projects funded include:

 

Production Research Committee

Environmental Committee

Progress on 2004 Activity 2

2004 was the 6 th year of the Almond Pest Management Alliance (PMA), where orchards in three locations in California were treated with different IPM strategies to control three major pests in almonds, the navel orange worm (NOW), the peach twig borer (PTB), and San Jose Scale (SJS). The IPM strategies included emphasis on winter orchard sanitation, trials with reduced-risk in-season applications of insecticides, and monitoring of pests and costs.  The six-year effort has resulted in learning that less frequent dormant OP applications are sufficient for pest control, that well-timed, in-season applications of reduced risk pesticides can control the two major pests, and that population monitoring and orchard sanitation are required for effective control.

The advantage of a long-term project like the PMA is that changes in pest and beneficials populations can be monitored over time frames realistic to growers.  In 2004, San Jose Scale started to be seriously damaging in the orchards not treated with dormant sprays. This has provided an opportunity to develop pest treatment thresholds, as well as an opportunity to determine if an oil treatment alone provides adequate control.  In some years the use of beneficials controlled mites well, while in other years a miticide was necessary.  Further research to understand when the beneficials work and when they do not is ongoing.  

Nine field days were held in Kern, Butte , and Stanislaus Counties attracting nearly 1,000 attendees.

 

Progress on 2004 Activity 3

Each of the 3 regions (south, central, northern Central Valley) conducted field meetings and dormant-season workshops, complete with hands-on training and demonstrations. These meetings allowed local growers and PCAs to learn about what had been learned from the demonstration projects.  Attendance at the field days has increased with the increased data from the long term study, as well as due to the media reporting of the Annual PESP award to the Almond Board of California.

Most importantly a guide based on what had been learned from five years of the work was compiled in: Seasonal Guide to Environmentally Responsible Pest Management Practices in Almonds.  It was released in November 2004 and provides how-to guides in reduced risk pest management, as well as techniques for monitoring for pests.  The Guide is available through the offices of the Almond Board of California as well as through the UC IPM program.

Additional dissemination methods:

The Almond Board of California Website has added a link called Â"www.enviroag.orgÂ" that contains information on environmental issues affecting agriculture, research, IPM projects, etc.: http://www.almondboard.com/index.html?page=2&action=links&subaction=www.enviroag.org

Progress on 2004 Activity 4

The use of vegetative buffer strips to minimize run-off from diazinon treated orchards was shown to be effective (there had been some concern whether this held true for California conditions).  A 10 m vegetative buffer strip reduced run-off by around 50% and 20 or 30 m buffer strips provided some further reduction.  In addition, research showed that there was increased run-off from the side of the orchard that was down-wind during the application of diazinon, even though the diazinon was applied to the soil exclusively for experimental consistency reasons.  This indicates that growers need to pay attention to the wind direction when applying sprays with regard to minimizing the chances of run-off into sensitive waterways. This information will be incorporated into the CURES advice to grower (see next activity).

 

Progress on 2004 Activity 5

The Almond Board of California is working with the Coalition for Urban/Rural Environmental Stewardship (CURES) to help educate almond growers on techniques for minimizing farm run-off including of pesticides.  The Almond BoardÂ's environmental website links to the CURES website. CURES has published Â"Best Management Practices Â- Almonds;Â" Â"Orchard Practices for Protecting Surface Waters;Â" Â"Diazinon InsecticidesÂ"; and Â"Orchard Air Blast Sprayers.Â"

 

CURES has also helped link growers to watershed coalitions formed throughout the Central Valley , which help to educate and to monitor waterways.  In addition, CURES published their first newsletter in the summer of 2004.  Ten thousand copies were circulated through the Almond Board of California, the County Agricultural CommissionerÂ's Offices, the watershed coalitions, and farm groups.  An additional 500 copies were sent out through an email list.

 

Progress on 2004 Activity 6

The Almond Board of California has increased participation in various activities including: 1) an effort to expand intra industry involvement in environmental issues, 2) building alliances with grower, academic and government agencies, and 3) participating on committees involved with agricultural production and environmental protection.  In addition, research funding for environmental issues has grown to such a level as to become a separate budget and separate committee from production research.

 

The Environmental Committee met four times during 2004 to deal with air quality, water and crop protection. The web-based database on environmental issues related to the almond industry is up and running at: www.enviroag.org. The website has information on reduced risk practices, research, regulatory issues, and a calendar for upcoming meetings/workshops/presentations for growers on environmental stewardship. Receiving the PESP Environmental Champion Award for the second year in a row provided media coverage of the ABCÂ's activities.  Funding for environmental research exceeds $450,000 with increased emphasis on air quality issues.  All of these efforts are increasing growersÂ' awareness of environmental stewardship.

 

The UC-IPM program conducted a follow-up survey in 2000 to determine the IPM practices being used by almond growers. UC reported in 2004 on the results from the 2000 survey as compared with the results from a 1986 survey. Among the findings were that almond growers sprayed insecticides less frequently at all typical spray timings in 1998-1999 compared to 1985-1986.  Thirty percent of the growers had deleted the organophosphate from their dormant spray applications and 40% were using microbial pesticides such as Bt or spinosad.  Eighty-eight percent mentioned that they inspect their leaves to determine the need for a post bloom fungicide application to control shot hole, and 56% reported using long range weather forecasts to predict the need for fungicides.

 

Partnership Activities

The Almond Board is participating in several partnerships with governmental and academic institutions as well as agricultural organizations to improve communication and understanding of environmental issues.  These programs include:

 

Activities for the Coming Year

Activity 1

More than $900,000 will be spent in 2004-2005 on new and continuing research and development of IPM techniques that will enable growers to reduce their reliance on higher risk pesticides.  More than 50% of this funding is for projects directly related to our extensive IPM program and making progress toward developing and implementing IPM strategies.  With the increase in concerns about the role of agriculture in poor air quality in California , a number of projects focus on gaining a better understanding of those relationships.

The projects funded for 2004-2005 include:

 

Production Research Committee

 Environmental Committee

How does this activity reduce pesticide risk?

Research into these insect and disease problems of almonds provides the foundation for practices that will facilitate use of reduced risk pesticides where appropriate.  These studies increase knowledge for growers and consultants of pest biology, pest monitoring, and potential pest control techniques in the almond production system.  Understanding the basic biology allows the development of predictive models for determination of need and timing of pest control measures. The addition of alternative methods for application or mitigation of pesticide applications should assist in development of methods to reduce the impact of pesticides on the environment.  Results of solid, reliable research give growers more confidence in adopting new practices for controlling pests, including IPM and reduced risk pesticides.

How will you measure the risk reduction gained from this activity?

These projects form the basis for developing or implementing reduced risk pest control strategies.  Within the context of our partnerships with academic and regulatory communities, we continually strive to better measure risk reduction.  Currently the real measure of risk reduction is gained from the significant decrease in the use of organophosphate pesticides in the almond industry, as evidenced by the California Department of Pesticide RegulationÂ's Pesticide Use Reports (PURs).  

Activity 2

The Almond Board is providing funding to continue the Almond Pest Management Alliance (PMA)   project into its eighth year.  Being able to observe changes in pests and beneficials over more than a year or two provides credibility to growers in research results and confidence to try successful reduced-risk alternatives.  With the loss of funding from CDPR due to budget limitations, the project will continue at two of the three sites in 2005 (northern and southern regions).  The objective is to focus on pest management solutions that reduce pesticide risk to human health and the environment.  To meet this objective, demonstration and research projects were set up in three commercial orchards, representing different regions of almond production in 1998.  The initial focus on the project was to assess the effectiveness of alternatives to dormant organophosphate applications.  However, with time, the project has expanded to include research on other issues as well, such as the impact of different cover crops in relation to insect pests.

 

The goals for the eighth year of the demonstration projects include the monitoring of the long-term effects of different reduced-risk pest management strategies.  After five years of reduced risk treatments, there were high levels of rejects in 2003 raising questions about how best to employ the reduced risk techniques in the long run.  For example, after five years of no dormant organophosphate treatment, San Jose Scale (SJS) started to reach damaging levels in those sections of the commercial orchards.  This provides an opportunity to study whether an oil dormant spray alone is effective for control, or whether the occasional OP treatment should be used when SJS reaches threshold levels.  The continued monitoring of changes in pest and beneficial populations will allow the researchers to determine how best to use reduced risk techniques to keep crop damage at a low level in the long term.  While the initial focus has been on control of three major insect pests, Navel Orangeworm, Peach Twig Borer, and San Jose Scale, the project has expanded to include determination of water contamination, cover crops on soil texture, etc.

 

The results from the continued research will be used to update the recently released Â"Seasonal Guide to Environmentally Responsible Pest Management Practices in Almonds.Â"

How does this activity reduce pesticide risk?

Having different commercial orchards test varied reduced risk techniques alongside traditional pest control methods for several years, combined with intensive monitoring by researchers of all aspects of the orchard, results in quality, scientifically valid data.  The more researchers, PCAs, and growers become familiar with new techniques, the greater the chance that reduced-risk pest management strategies will be used.

How will you measure the risk reduction gained from this activity?

Risk reduction from adopting IPM and other practices can be measured by analyzing pesticide use reports from the Department of Pesticide Regulation and comparing current and past use of traditional control product usage with alternative practices.

Activity 3

An important part of the Pest Management Alliance project is to provide outreach and education to Pest Control Advisors (PCAs) and growers on what has been learned from the comparisons of different pest-management strategies.  PCAs act as an important channel for disseminating information to growers, since a large percentage of growers use the services of PCAs when making decisions on pest control practices. 

 

Outreach to growers and PCAs includes several field days held in each of the demonstration orchard locations.  In addition, the Almond Board website now links to the PMA information.  To encourage PCAs to participate, the Almond Board is also ensuring that attendance at the annual research meeting and their field days can be counted toward the necessary continuing education hours PCAs must achieve each year.

 

In 2005, the PMA project will focus on training growers and PCAs in the monitoring of various pests, as the data developed so far indicate that good monitoring of pest populations is critical for the successful use of reduced risk materials.  The field demonstration days allow growers and PCAs to compare the effectiveness themselves in orchards treated in different ways, as well as see the data collected.  Seeing that a new technique works and how to make it work increases the chance that growers and PCAs will be willing to try new pest management techniques.

 

Another goal of the PMA for 2005 is to update the guidelines released in 2004 with any pertinent new information.  These guidelines will make it easier for others to copy any effective pest control strategies in their own orchards.

How does this activity reduce pesticide risk?

The outreach effort with PCAs and growers will help disseminate information on reduced risk pest control practices to these key influencers in the industry.  In many cases, farmers will not try a new practice unless their PCA is knowledgeable and endorses the new practice or they are convinced it is worth trying.  Educational outreach continues by giving PCA, OA, or CCA education credits for attending meetings.

How will you measure the risk reduction gained from this activity?

PCA and grower participation in field days will measure risk reduction, and research meetings will be monitored.

Activity 4

The Almond Board of California, through its Environmental Committee, is participating in a grower coalition to determine how best to reduce the contribution of pesticide use to the development of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).  While pesticides are a minor contributor to the production of VOCs, they do contribute, and air quality in the San Joaquin Valley has been steadily worsening with the increased population growth.  In less than ten years more stringent air quality standards will take effect.

How does this activity reduce pesticide risk?

Based on these discussions, the ABC will decide whether additional research should be funded. Also any available tools will be communicated to growers to start the process of increasing awareness of VOCs and pesticides.

How will you measure the risk reduction gained from this activity?

Because this is a long-term project that is just starting, the main gain will be a better understanding within the industry of the issue as well as possible direction to move to reduce the VOC contribution from pesticide use.

Activity 5

Agriculture in the Central Valley of California is under intense pressure to contribute to better water quality by minimizing pesticide, nutrient, and sediment run-off from fields and orchards.  In California , local water quality coalitions have been formed in response to the need for better data as well as better management of local watersheds.  These coalitions are required to perform water monitoring of agricultural drains as well as promote adoption of Best Management Practices to solve problems.

 

The Almond Board of California is supporting the Coalition for Urban/Rural Environmental StewardshipÂ's (CURES) efforts to develop and compile information on Best Management Practices for protecting surface waters in the Central Valley .  The Coalition has developed guides that have been disseminated.  CURES plans to release two more newsletters in 2005 to provide growers with additional information on run-off minimization tools using mail, email and links in the Almond Board website.

How does this activity reduce pesticide risk?

Educating and making information on techniques to minimize the run-off of pesticides into surface waters easily available to growers will reduce the impact of pesticides on aquatic species.

How will you measure the risk reduction gained from this activity?

Initially, the focus will be on disseminating the information.  In the long run, the monitoring done by the local water quality coalitions should show changes in the water quality from agricultural drainages.

Activity 6

The Almond Board of California is continuing its active participation in various partnerships and educational efforts.  This includes expanding intra-industry involvement in environmental issues, building alliances with grower, academic and government agencies, and participating on committees involved with agricultural production and environmental protection.  In addition, research funding for environmental issues continues to grow as air quality issues are added to the environmental issues almond growers face.

 

Environmental Committee (EC) Current Activities

Partnership Activities

The Almond Board of California will continue in 2005 to partner with the governmental and academic institutions as well as agricultural organizations listed under Progress on 2004 Activity 6: Environmental Committee; Related Industry Groups and Partnerships to improve communication and understanding of environmental issues.

How does this activity reduce pesticide risk?

The Environmental Committee and other activities, in themselves, do not reduce risk but can assist in directing information on reduced risk practices to growers.  Furthermore, the involvement with the different groups allows the industry to identify issues that need to be addressed and communicated to almond growers, while allowing others to understand current practices and efforts in the industry.  One responsibility of the Committee is to identify opportunities where innovative, low risk and cost-effective pest control practices or environmental issues of concern (food quality, water quality, etc.) can be communicated to growers and handlers.

How will you measure the risk reduction gained from this activity?

Risk reduction from adopting IPM and other practices can be measured by analyzing pesticide use reports from the Department of Pesticide Regulation and comparing current and past use of pest control products.

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