Ag Alert May 26, 2021

Ag Alert is the weekly newspaper of the California Farm Bureau Federation, reaching Farm Bureau agricultural and collegiate members. Agricultural members are owners and decision-makers on California farms and ranches. The California Farm Bureau Federation is a non-governmental, non-profit, voluntary membership organization whose purpose is to protect and promote agricultural interests throughout the state of California and to find solutions to the problems of the farm, the farm home and the rural community. Farm Bureau is California's largest farm organization, comprised of 53 county Farm Bureaus. Farm Bureau strives to protect and improve the ability of farmers and ranchers engaged in production agriculture to provide a reliable supply of food and fiber through responsible stewardship of California's resources.

Reaching peak harvest Cherry growers, marketers expect a larger 2021 crop

Monitoring the range Data from satellites and drones help ranchers, range managers

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www.cfbf.com • www.agalert.com MAY 26, 2021

Trees & Vines ® Dairy & Livestock ®

s p e c i a l r e p o r t s

ByKevinHecteman Revised rules governing COVID-19 pre- cautions in the workplace have been sent backforchangesthatareduethisweek,after farmgroups andothers raisedobjections. TheCaliforniaDivisionofOccupational Safety and Health Standards Board, act- ing on the advice of staff, agreed to table consideration of updated Emergency Temporary Standards governinghowem- ployersmustmitigateCOVID-19 risks and respond topositivecases intheworkplace. The board acted in light of recent guid- ance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to the effect that peoplevaccinatedagainstCOVID-19need not wearmasks inmost cases. The Cal/OSHA board adopted the orig- inal emergency temporary standards, or State COVID-19 work rules to be revised further

See RULES, Page 18

Cut off from district water this year, Mendocino County farmer Peter Johnson says he has developed a diverse supply of water, including “purple pipe” recycled water from the city of Ukiah to irrigate Bartlett pears, above.

ByKevinHecteman Saying new regional regulations will have a profound impact on food produc- tion, farm organizations have petitioned the State Water Resources Control Board to reviewa regional board’s order limiting applications of fertilizer and other inputs onCentral Coast crops. The California FarmBureau and seven county Farm Bureaus joined five other agricultural organizations in filing the pe- tition, which focuses on an order adopt- ed April 15 by the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. TheIrrigatedLandsRegulatoryProgram forCentralCoastAgriculture—alsoknown asAgOrder4.0—regulates runoff fromirri- gated farmlands by limiting nitrogen-fer- tilizer inputs, with allowable amounts de- Farm groups seek review of order on fertilizer use

Water shortages hit North Coast farms

ByChristine Souza Describing the situation as “bleak,” farmers inMendocinoandSonomacoun- ties, who rely on water from the Russian River watershed and Lake Mendocino, are bracing for curtailments of their water rights by the statewater board. Two years of significantly below-aver- age rainfall and historically low lake lev-

els at Lake Mendocino—now at 42% of capacity—have contributed to critically dry conditions, affecting water users in Mendocino, Sonoma and northern Marin counties. MendocinoandSonoma countieswere the first in the state to receive a drought declaration from Gov. Gavin Newsom. The declaration, which now includes 41

counties, allowsstateofficials torelaxsome restrictionsonreservoirsandtoaidendan- gered fish. Frost Pauli, vineyardmanager for Pauli Ranch in Potter Valley, said the declara- tion for the area means the State Water Resources Control Board can make “broad, sweeping curtailments that apply

See SHORTAGE, Page 23

n e w s p a p e r

Comment.......................................2 Trees & Vines...............................7 Dairy & Livestock..................... 13 Classifieds........................... 21-23 Inside

Published by

See PETITION, Page 12

Water: We can go on fighting or we can get to work By JustinFredrickson

ter. It’s tight all over, andwe’reall just trying to get through. Like it or not, we are all in this together. There is very clearly an urgent need— in the interest of all water users and all Californians—to come together and begin, as quickly as possible, to build a resilient system. Every type of water use would benefit. Central to building such resilience, we simplymustdevelopabetterability tocap- ture and storewater inwet years, to tideus through the dry years. Weneedmorepotsofwaternorth,more potsofwater south,morepotsofwaterun- derground. We also needmore flexibility, collectively and connectively, north to south and east towest. In a year such as this, Californians need to find thewill to re-envision, reinvent and adapt our system. We’ve seen it before: California—and its farmers and ranch- ers—areadaptable, resourceful andtough. But the state needs policies and insti- tutions, processes and strategic societal investments, that helpmake the transition to a resilient water system. Wecangoon fightingandpresideover a steadily deteriorating situation, or we can get towork. This generationof leaderswill set thedi- rection, irrevocably, for wherewe go from here as a state. Regardless of how some people would like to paint it, there are no villains. Wemust stress collaboration, not punitivemeasures. It’s time for leadershipandvision. There is no time towaste. (Justin Fredrickson is an environ- mental policy analyst for the California Farm Bureau. He may be contacted at jef@cfbf.com.)

We’re in a drought again—and a bad one—and that means a lot of attention to theway farmers and ranchers usewater. Some of that attention is sympathetic, via news stories t ha t s how how farmers have had toplowdowncrops or sell animals they canno longer feed. On the other hand, we’ re a l so see- ing a return of the fami l iar themes from pundits, ed- itorial boards and advocates who see a need to lash out at agriculture—or “Big Ag,” as it’s often called. Justin Fredrickson That sort of rhetoric surfaced the oth- er day before the State Water Resources Control Board, which oversees California water rights. It can be frustrating to listen to theall-too-familiar arguments that arise ina terriblydry year suchas this: “Farmers shouldn’t grow certain crops; a commis- sion should step in and tell farmers what to grow, where and how; if fish popula- tions are down, it’s obviously farmers’ fault; we shouldn’t be growing crops in a desert, etc., etc.” These arguments have been coming at farmers for decades froma small but vocal part of the public—but most Californians recognize the important contributions farms, and farmwater use, make to local, national and global food supplies, to the economy and to the environment. I think most people recognize farm- er-bashing for what it is: an outdated jus- tification for upending the state’s water systemat theexpenseof anenterprise that was appropriatelydeemedessential as the

Dry weather and low levels in Lake Oroville, above, and other reservoirs contribute to water short- ages that will force difficult decisions on farmers, ranchers and water managers.

worlddealtwith theCOVID-19pandemic. The statewaterboard, likeall of us, faces difficult decisions this year.Wemustmake sure its decisions reflect a full and fair as- sessment of our current situation. For example, therehavebeencalls tocut already-reduceddeliveries toseniorwater rights holders. The reality is that water delivered to senior rights holders such as Sacramento River settlement contractors and San Joaquin River exchange contractors rep- resents a lifeline, not only to those most senior holders but also to the rest of the system, through the built-in flexibility of water transfers. Transferredwaterwill be vital tomakea year like this just barely survivable. Many farmers around the state standat zerowa- ter supplies. They’re making hard deci- sions and face a very frightening year.

The operators of water projects and government resource agencies know the system and are working closely together. Like the rest of us, they aredoing their best to get through. A year like this should be an urgent wake-upcall:Ourwater systemis too tight, too fragile, too vulnerable. Despite the lessons of 2014 and 2015, California remains too susceptible to the threats of recurring drought and shrink- ing snowpack. We used to have the luxury of fighting among ourselves, the way the water de- bate is often portrayed: farmers vs. envi- ronmentalists vs. urbanagencies. I believe we no longer have that luxury. It’s time tomovepast thementality that a solution foroneusecanonlymean leaving another use or uses high and dry. In a year like this, no one is wasting wa-

VOL. 48, NO. 20

May 26, 2021

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2 Ag Alert May 26, 2021

Cherry harvest reaches peak, with larger crop anticipated

the previous two years. Peak harvest should continue through June 6. In recent years, the number of market- able cherries has been reduced by lack of winter chilling, which leads to poor fruit set, and timing of late-spring rains, which could cause cherries to split. But this year, farmers say growing and picking condi- tions have been largely favorable. “Theweathernowisabsolutelyperfect,” Zanobini said. The statemaintains about 40,000 acres of cherries, according to the cherry board. The Stockton-Linden-Lodi district, where

the traditional Bing cherry is grown, ac- counts for about 60% of the crop. The southern San Joaquin Valley produces about 35%, and about 5% comes from the Gilroy-Hollister area. Though the Bing cherry has been the predominant variety in the state, pro- duction of the Coral Champagne has sur- passed Bing in three of the last five years. Bing is expected to be No. 1 again this year, Zanobini said, but Corals will be the main variety being marketed during the

ByChing Lee Peak season for California cherries is here, and farmers say dry, sunny weath- er this spring has brought a quality crop that’s alsoexpected tobeoneof the largest they’ve produced in several years. Initially estimated at 9.47 million 18-poundboxes, the 2021California cher- ry crop held the potential to beat the ban- ner year of 2017, when farmers harvested Farm Bureau seeks water investments Drought punishing California also af- fects much of the western United States, andanAmericanFarmBureauFederation policy specialist says that underscores the importanceof improvingwater infrastruc- ture throughout the region. AFBFCongressional Relations Director Shelby Hagenauer said the U.S. Drought Monitor showsmostof thedesertWestand theSouthwest inthetwoworstmeasuresof drought, extreme and exceptional, in a re- gion stretching to Utah, parts of Colorado andNorthDakota. “Bothof thesedesignationsmeanpossi- ble impacts to water, including shortages, crop and pasture losses, and even water emergencies,” Hagenauer said, noting that thedrought is expected to intensify as spring stretches into summer. The regional drought will have impli- cations for farmers, ranchers and grocery shoppers alike, she said. “For ranchers, annual grass growth is important for livestock forage, and that’s low. Farmers will have to adjust planting decisions. Farms with permanent crops like citrus or treenutsmaywater different- ly, they may be more focused on keeping the trees alive, insteadof very productive,” Hagenauer said. “What happens inWestern agriculture matters to the rest of thecountry,” she said. “More than 80% of our domestic fruits, nuts and vegetables are grownwest of the Continental Divide.” With Congress considering infrastruc- ture legislation, Hagenauer saidanyplans should includewater infrastructure. “Life in theWest as we know it relies on infrastructure for water,” she said, “and much of the federal water infrastructure in theWest is 50 to100 years old. Congress and the administration are focused on in- frastructure right now. Any conversation around it needs to include modernizing andincreasing thewater supply infrastruc- ture that is really vital to Western farms, families and communities.” Hagenauer said Farm Bureaus from Western states “are actively working with Congress to highlight these needs.” The California Farm Bureau is part of a coa- lition of agricultural and water organiza- tions from15 states that has been encour- aging additional investment in Western water infrastructure.

a record 9.55 million boxes—but people in thebusiness sayheat andwinddamage earlier in the season may have affected fruit size and packouts. Now, the crop should at least top 8mil- lion boxes, said Chris Zanobini, executive director of the California Cherry Board. That would be up from the 6.58 million boxes packed last year—and higher than

See CHERRIES, Page 11

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May 26, 2021 Ag Alert 3

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State water board considers drought-response actions

as specific requirements for flows and temperature management. Project reservoir storage levels have reached or neared historical lows, cre- ating significant concerns for salinity control, municipal water supplies (par- ticularly from Folsom Reservoir), tem- perature management and other envi- ronmental needs. Fredrickson saidwatermanagers need to control salinity in the delta while pro- tecting public health, water conveyance and beneficial uses of water, including irrigation. He said the project must also

protect some carryover water for next year, and use available conveyance to move transferred water “from users in a position tomake some available toothers inmore desperate need.” “California needs to prepare for the terrible possibility of a potential third dry year next year and, at the same time, continue to meet minimum basic needs during the summer and into the fall,” he said. (Chr i s t ine Souza i s an ass i s tant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at csouza@cfbf.com.)

ByChristine Souza More signs of drought and tightening water supplies have arisen, in filings with the StateWater Resources Control Board. The board received a request last week fromoperators of the StateWater Project and the federal Central Valley Project, to temporarily modify permits and license conditions for the two projects. The state water board received a “temporary urgency change petition” filed by the operators of the SWP and the CVP, the California Department of Water Resources and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Justin Fredrickson, environmental policy analyst for the California Farm Bureau, said the petition allows a wa- ter district or water purveyor to request a variance from the state water board, which relaxes standards that typically apply in any other year under its water rights Decision 1641. Finalized in 1999, Decision 1641 established rules govern- ing most water quality standards cur- rently in place for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Fredrickson said a temporary urgen- cy change order, if granted, would allow modification of rules normally in place on a temporary basis under an urgent circumstance. In the petition, the proj- ect operators say critically dry conditions mean there will not be enough water for the projects tomeet their obligations un- der Decision 1641. Any change allowed by the board as a result of the petition “cannot affect other water right holders or fish and wildlife, and it has to be in the public interest,” Fredrickson explained. DWR and the Bureau of Reclamation requested changes to outflow require- ments for the delta and agricultural water quality requirements on the Sacramento River from June through Aug. 15. The project operators said the changes are needed to conservewater supplies in upstream reservoirs for later in the year, and to allow them greater operational flexibility in response to the second con- secutive year of critically dry conditions. The deadline to file an objection to the petition is June 4. In addition, the state water board held a public workshop last week to receive public comment on proposed method- ology for determining water unavailabil- ity in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed. Currently, themethodology focuses on evaluating water unavailability for post- 1914 appropriative users during the dry season. The board said it plans modifi- cations to the methodology to evaluate water unavailability during the wet sea- son, and said the methods could also be modified to evaluatewater unavailability for pre-1914 appropriative and riparian water right claimants at a later time. Due to cr i t ical ly dr y condi t ions throughout the delta watershed and the

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May 26, 2021 Ag Alert 5

Fires, pandemic bite into Napa winegrape returns ByDaveKranz

“Much of this decline can be attribut- ed to the direct damage caused by the local LNU Lightning Complex and Glass wildfires, as well as the overall econom- ic impact brought on by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic in 2020,” Cleveland wrote inthereport,whichwaspresentedto Napa County supervisors last week. Napa County winegrape production dropped by 60,411 tons—nearly 38%—in 2020, the report said.

“Like somany around the world, wine- grape producers also experienced a very difficult 2020,” the agricultural commis- sioner’s report said. “While losses directly related to theCOVID-19 pandemicwould be significant on their own, Napa County growers sufferedadditionally fromtwode- structive local wildfires.” The wildfires and associated smoke re- sultedingrapesnotbeingharvestedorbeing discountedinprice, andthepandemichurt

winedemand, as tasting rooms and restau- rants closedduring stay-at-homeorders. Redwinegrapes represent nearly80%of Napa County plantings, and the average priceof thosegrapesdeclined21%in2020. The prices of cabernet sauvignon grapes, the county’s most widely planted variety, also went down 21%, from$7,941 per ton to $6,261, on average. The average price of white winegrapes held relatively stable, down 2% from2019 at $2,781 per ton. Chardonnay, the coun- ty’s top white winegrape, saw its value re- main nearly unchanged at an average of $3,028 a ton. AmongNapaCounty’sothermostwidely plantedvarieties, theaveragevalueofmer- lot grapes dropped 21%, to $3,217 per ton; sauvignon blanc declined 1%, to $2,453; andpinot noir dropped 11%, to $2,467. Although winegrapes represent 99% of Napa County agricultural production in terms of value, the agricultural commis- “While losses directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic would be significant on their own, Napa County growers suffered additionally from two destructive local wildfires” —Napa County agricultural commissioner’s report sioner’s report said other sectors of the farmeconomy also suffered impacts from thewildfires. The report noted a 24%decrease in the value of rangeland, which it attributed to loss of acreage from the wildfires, com- bined with a loss of productivity due to below-average rainfall. In addition, the value of Napa County cattleproductiondroppedmore than31%, also due to thewildfires. “Evacuations forced the removal of cat- tleandmanydidnot return for grazingdue to the subsequent loss of rangeland,” the report said. In its report, the agricultural commis- sioner’s office said it processed 1,077 “access verification” requests during the LNU Lightning Complex and Glass fires, allowing farmersandranchers to“perform essential agricultural activities on their propertieswhenconditionsweredeemed safe by lawenforcement.” The agricultural commissioner’s of- fice said it worked with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to acquire and distribute approximately 300,000surgicalmasksand82,000N95res- pirators for farmemployees inresponse to thepandemic, andthat distributionofN95 respiratorscontinuedduringunhealthyair conditions during thewildfires. (DaveKranz is editor of AgAlert.Hemay be contacted at dkranz@cfbf.com.)

Twin disasters—the COVID-19 pan- demic and damaging wildfires—led the value of Napa County winegrape produc- tion to drop bymore than half last year. In an annual report, Napa County Agr icul tural Commi ss ioner Tracy Clevelandestimated the gross valueof the county’s winegrape crop at nearly $461.4 million in2020, downalmost 51%fromthe previous year.

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6 Ag Alert May 26, 2021

A SPECIAL GROWERS’ REPORT OF AG ALERT ® C A L I F O R N I A Trees & Vines ®

Crop consultant Cary Crum, left, discusses cover crops in a Madera County almond orchard. A webinar and orchard tour organized by the Madera/Chowchilla Resource Conservation District described use of cover crops and the attributes of different cover-crop varieties.

Cover crops could benefit orchards, specialists say ByDennis Pollock

harvest, “if well managed.” In addition, she said, therewill be newopportunities to skirt the clean-alleyways issue with off-ground harvests that are being discussed. Wauters said legumes decompose faster, and that cover crops canbe terminated after bloomby mowing or using an herbicide. She also said research has shown no negative impacts on yields and trends toward yield increase in very compacted orchards, an increase of as much as 225 pounds per acre in the second year of cover cropping. Wauters showed pictures that illustrated differences in the capture and conservation of winter rainfall in cover-cropped orchards inMerced. Cover crops were also found to result in a decrease in the amount of sodium con- tained in irrigation water. “Cover crops can be managed for pollinator resources without negatively affecting bee pollination services in almonds,” Wauters said, noting that it has been learned that flowers in orchard-adjacent wildflower plantings do not compete with almonds for bees. Diverse diets and longer sources of forage result in healthier bees, she said. Wauters said cover cropsmay pose less frost risk than conventionally thought, adding that varieties tested for cool-season cover inCalifornia include the Austrianwinter pea, balansa clover, black oat, cereal rye, crimson clover, daikon radish and hairy vetch.

Several people who are knowledgeable about cover crops gathered virtually for a webinar presentation on cover crops in orchard systems, presented by the Madera/ Chowchilla Resource Conservation District. That was followed the next day by visits to almond orchards showcasing cover crops inMadera and Chowchilla. Thewebinar’s lead-off presenter, JeffMitchell, with theUniversity of California, Davis, Department of Plant Sciences, is no stranger to the topic of cover cropping. For more than two decades, he has been pioneering use of covers and no or low tillage in field crops at the UCWestside Research and Extension Center in Five Points. He opened by describing market demands for farmers to pursue regenerative agri- culture. And he cited significant growth in tons of organicmatter and carbon as a result of cover crop use in Five Points. Mitchell, as he has in previous presentations, showed the differences in how water infiltrates soil with a cover crop, whereas it runs off places where there is no cover crop. That principle applies to both field crops and orchards, he said. Vivian Wauters, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis, discussed research updates on cover crops in almond orchards. She said cover crops do not necessarily interferewith the need for clean alleyways at

See COVER, Page 8

May 26, 2021 Ag Alert 7

Cover Continued from Page 7

tration and water holding capacity, Smither-Kopperl said. Some of these species also host pollinators and ben- eficial insects, and can help in pest and weed suppression. She said it is important to keep in mind variability in seed size and to choose equipment that is compatible for planting. Seed size determines op- timum planting depth; seed planting depth is commonly twice the diameter of the seed. Cary Crum, a crop consultant with California Ag Solutions Inc. in Madera, said it’s best to eliminate glyphosate from a production system using cover crops, and to treat the cover cropwith the same attention paid to a primary crop. Crum advised farmers to take care in timing mowing and mowing frequency, and to have a termination plan. He said plant ing can be done by broadcasting seed, using a convention- al or no-till drill and applying by air. Planting too early in the fall may mean a lack of rain results in poor germination, he said, or that seeds germinate but die for lack of moisture. The webinar is available on YouTube by searching for its title: Cover Crops in Orchard Systems Workshop. (Denni s Pol lock i s a repor t er in F r e s no . He ma y b e c on t a c t e d a t agcompollock@yahoo.com.)

Margaret Smither-Kopperl, manag- er of the Madera/Chowchilla Resource Conservation District, talked of cover crop selections and management in the Central Valley. She described site preparation and use of a no-till drill and tillage aimed at creating a firm seed bed. Next comes dr i l l ing or broadcast ing seed. She called good soil-to-seed contact essen- tial for success. Smither-Kopperl said other consid- erations include whether the cover crop will be entirely rainfed or if an irrigation systemwill be used. “Drip or microsprinklers in orchards can lead to twoenvironments: growthun- der the trees, desert in the rows,” she said. Cool-season cover crops can be plant- ed in the fall or early spring, Smither- Kopperl said, and will tolerate cold tem- peratures and some temperatures below freezing. Warm temperatures will cause plants tomature, set seed and die. There are varying degrees of drought tolerance, depending on species and cultivar. Warm-season cover crops are plant- ed in spring, after danger of frost has passed, and may be planted through the summer to early fal l , she said. Freezing temperatures will kill these crops. They tolerate high summer tem- peratures and have varying degrees of

Participants in an orchard tour organized by the Madera/Chowchilla Resource Conservation District observe plantings of cover crops in a Madera County almond orchard.

drought tolerance, again depending on species and cultivar. Smither-Kopperl said cereals and grasses have vigorous root systems, are good for soil building, reduce erosion, increase water infiltration and holding capacity, concentrate nitrogen andphos- phorus, increase nutrient cycling and suppress weeds and diseases.

Legumes are good for nitrogen fixa- tion, nutrient cycling, developing amain taproot and improvingwater infiltration, she said, noting that some species sup- port pollinators and beneficial insects, and aid in pest and weed suppression. Brassica and radish provide strong taproots, reduce soi l compact ion, scavenge ni t rogen, increase inf i l -

CALIFORNIA’S CITRUS INDUSTRY INNOVATES TO COMBAT DEADLY PLANT DISEASE F or nearly 10 years, a deadly citrus tree disease called

Sponsored by the Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program

Huanglongbing (HLB) has been present in backyard citrus trees throughout Southern California; however, as of today there has not yet been a detection in a commercial citrus grove in the state. Due in part to proactive regulatory measures put in place by the Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Division (CPDPD) and endorsed by the Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Committee (CPDPC), researchers across the state from the Data Analysis and Tactical Operations Center (DATOC) have found encouraging results that support the conclusion that these requirements are making a measurable difference. As part of its efforts to prevent the spread of the pest and disease, the CPDPC, along with regulators and members of the scientific community, continually evaluate the current regulations and discuss potential improvements that can help keep HLB out of commercial groves and major citrus growing regions. In 2017, the CPDPC made a recommendation to California’s secretary of agriculture to impose tarping requirements on trucks transporting bulk citrus. This tarping regulation enforced the requirement that all bulk loads of citrus be fully enclosed or covered whenever in transit to a packing facility from the field. California’s packinghouses, including coastal and Southern California counties, ship more than 63 million pounds of bulk citrus into the San Joaquin Valley annually for processing. A considerable quantity of fruit also moves to packinghouses in Ventura County from across the state. In years past, ACP detections in the San Joaquin Valley had soared as ACP presumably “hitchhiked” on trucks that weren’t properly covered, coming from Southern California into the valley and threatening the livelihood of commercial groves throughout California along the way.

Source: DATOC

As DATOC researchers reviewed ACP trapping data along major transportation routes before and after tarping regulations for bulk citrus shipments were in place, the data showed the tarping regulation was accomplishing its intended goal of reducing ACP movement throughout the state. While this is encouraging news, and a testament to the important actions citrus growers, packers and transporters are investing in to stop ACP movement and prevent HLB from taking hold, growers must continue to remain vigilant. “This simple solution to a potentially devastating problem shows the power our industry has when we work together,” said Jim Gorden, chairman of the CPDPC. “It’s up to all of us to stay informed, follow regulatory requirements and continue to look for new solutions to help us stay one step ahead of this deadly adversary.”

8 Ag Alert May 26, 2021

Cal Poly plot tests avocado trees for root rot resistance

soil, because this is a root rot trial,”he said. “Then we deep ripped the 12- to 14-inch hardpanandsetupbermsparallelwiththe slope to promote drainage. After the trees were removed, thedeep rippingandberm building cost $4,500 to $5,000 an acre.” Avocado growers with groves on hilly groundshouldbeable toachieveadequate drainagewithout investing in berms. “On f lat ground, you can af ford this equipment,” said Ben Faber, UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor. “When you’re on a 15-to-20% slope, you shouldhavegooddrainage.At a15- to-20% slope, theadvantageof bermsdisappears.” With the trees planted in berms to promote drainage, the next challenge was to prevent storms from washing away the berms. “We planted a barley, wheat and oats cover crop mix to prevent erosion of the berms,” Rosecrans said. Garner saidthemixof cereal cover crops has had an added benefit. “The cover crop is doing anice job sup- pressing the weeds between the rows,” she said. Another trial at Cal Poly is looking at the benefits different cover crop mixes can bring to avocado orchards. “Withavocados, youcanusecover crops to improve soil health,” said Charlotte Decock, Cal Poly assistant professor of soil science. “It can play a role in newer orchards where the canopy hasn’t closed and kept the sun out.” For avocados, she said, Faber had rec- ommended “using something that’s not going to grow too tall.” Decock is overseeing an orchard cover crop trial using different mixes at two lo- cations inthegreaterSanLuisObispoarea. “In the Edna Valley, we planted a fal- low treatment, a triticale cover crop and a triticale withmycorrhizae treatment,” she said. “AtCal Poly,weplanteda fallowtreat- ment, triticale, anda10%triticaleand90% legume cover cropmix.” Some cover crops can be managed so they come back every year without taking the timeandmoneyneeded toplant them again, she said. “You can let your cover crop reseed it- self, soyoudon’thave toreseedeveryyear,” Decock advised. ( Bo b J o hn s o n i s a r e p o r t e r i n Sacramento. He may be contacted at bjohn11135@gmail.com.)

Avocado trees can be sus- ceptible to Phytophthora

root rot. Potential solutions include resistant root- stocks being test- ed by California researchers.

ByBob Johnson A small block of avocados planted on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus has given campus researchers anopportunity to study root rotmanagement strategies. The3acresof struggling treeswerebull- dozed, chipped andused asmulchbefore an avocado rootstock trial was planted in berms, as part of a statewide effort to find answers to Phytophthora, a root rot that plaguesmany avocado operations. “We had a block with a hardpan that was suffocating the trees,” said Johnny Rosecrans, senior farm technician at Cal Poly. “We replanted it as part of the University of California, Riverside, Phytophthora root rot resistance trial.” Rosecrans made his remarks as re- searchers discussed efforts to man- age Phytophthora root rot during a Zooming to Healthier Trees and Soils webinar, co-sponsored by the California Avocado Society, the California Avocado Commi ss ion and UC Cooperat ive Extension. Phytophthora, themost important dis- ease in avocados, thrives in areas with ex- cess soil moisture and poor drainage. The disease reduces feeder roots to the point that the trees produce pale, yellowish leaves and cannot set a good crop. ThePhytophthorapathogens still in the ground from the previous diseased trees made the 3-acre block at Cal Poly ideal for testing rootstocks that are supposed to have resistance to the disease. “There’s no bet ter place to tes t Phytophthora-resistant rootstocks than in anarea known tohavePhytophthora,” said LaurenGarner, a horticulture professor at CalPoly.“Thisisthenorthernmostsiteofthe UCRiverside-basedtrial,andit includesthe PP35, PP40andPP45 rootstocks.” This Southern California trial is look- ing at new rootstocks that could help avocado growers contend with several potentially damaging diseases, includ- ing Phytophthora. “UCRiversidehasseveralnewrootstocks they hope to release soon,” Garner said. “Wehaveplanted threeof those rootstocks andDusa, which is an industry standard.” In addition to the Phytophthora study, the rootstocks are alsobeing evaluated for tipburnfromsalinity, heatdamage, bloom and flushing.

“Wehavealreadybeenable toseediffer- ences,”Garner said. “Oneof the rootstocks resulted in trees that are taller than those grown on Dusa, and there is also a differ- ence in Perseamite damage.” Researchers said the apparent vigor of the trees on some of the new rootstocks couldprove invaluable ifCaliforniaavoca- dogrowers have to contendwithanexotic fungal disease that can kill trees within weeks after infecting the vascular tissue. “If the trees are healthier, these root- stocksmight helpwith laurel wilt disease, should the beetle that carries it arrive in California,” Garner said. The redbay ambrosia beetle, whichhas not yet reached California, carries the laurel wilt fungus to avocado trees, and the UC Riverside researchers are hoping to find resistance to this disease aswell as to Phytophthora. Even the scientists at Cal Poly said they didnot know the blockwas suffering from Phytophthora until the old trees were re- moved and the soil and roots analyzed. “ B e f o r e w e k n e w a b o u t t h e Phytophthora, when the trees started to wilt, we tried applyingmore water, which didn’t help,” Garner said. The next trees were planted on berms to promote drainage, which is a strategy that Rosecrans said only pencils out in some situations. “Wehadtoremove theexisting treesand grind themup before land prep could be- gin; wewanted the pathogen to stay in the

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Beneficial insects aid in controlling spider mites ByDennis Pollock Six-spotted thrips are an almond grow- er’s best friends. Why? avoid loss of those natural enemies is to treat if neededwithamiticide that doesn’t kill beneficials, he said. leaves are infested and you capture no thrips, or if you plan on killing thrips,” Haviland said.

to focus on hot spots—including edges and the crotches of the tree—prior to July 1. Focus on leaves, randomly choosing 15 leaves per tree on at least five trees. Then, hesaid, count thenumberofmitesand the number of predators. Yellow strip traps should hang in orchards for oneweek. There is a close relationship between the ebb and flow of thrips and mites. Treating too early can “starve predators,” Haviland said, whereas treating too late can risk defoliation. “Moni tor ing mi tes tel ls you how many mites there are,” Haviland said. “Monitoring thrips tells you how many mites therewill be.” As the thrips-to-mite ratio nears zero, the mite population increases exponen- tially, he said. As the thrips-to-mite popu- lationapproaches infinity, themite popu- lation decreases exponentially. FormakingMay treatment decisions, he advisednot totreatunless40%of leavesare infested. The “no-need-to-treat decision” is confirmed if there’s one thrips per card. “May sprays are only needed if 40% of

When treating formites, it’sbest todrive no faster than 2miles per hour and apply between 100 and 200 gallons per hour, he said. The fan speed should be enough to displace air in the tree but not to blow product through to the next row. He rec- ommended toconsider air inductionnoz- zles for higher elevations in the tree. Todetermine if andwhen tomakeahull split spray,Havilandsaid, if thereare fiveor six thrips per card, “walk away.” A new resource available from the Almond Board describes almond or- chard pests, steps to improved irriga- tion and how to avoid pesticide drift. A free copy may be obtained by emailing fieldoutreach@almondboard.com. Forms to be used for orchardmonitor- ing are available at ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/ C003/almonds-mites.pdf. (Denni s Pol lock i s a repor t er in F r e s no . He ma y b e c on t a c t e d a t agcompollock@yahoo.com.)

Among beneficials is theWesternpred- atorymite, which is teardrop-shaped and clear to red. Haviland said it can complete a life cycle in seven days and can provide complete control of spider mites. It often arrives late, because it has no alternative food source in the spring. There’s also the spider mite destroyer, which consumesmany eggs or a half doz- enmitesperday. It grows fromegg toadult in about three weeks in warm tempera- tures. Females typically live one to three months, during which they lay about 100 to 200 eggs. Like the predatory mite, Haviland said, “it is known for showing up late in the game.” Green lacewings and theminute pirate bug are other predators. The six-spotted thrips feeds almost ex- clusivelyonspidermitesandthrives inhot, dryclimates. It caneat 50eggsperday, and thethripspopulationcanquadruple inone week; it is cannibalistic if food is scarce. Ninety percent of the thrips population are females, and populations of thrips can double every four days. Haviland said thripshavereplacedpredatorymitesas the dominant natural enemy of spidermites. Whensampling for spidermites, he said

They love to eat spider mites that cause stippling on the leaves of almond trees, which can result in loss of leaves and re- duction in photosynthesis. David Havi land, a Univers i ty of California farm advisor in Kern County, delivered thatmessageduringanAlmond Board of California webinar, in which he talked of the importance of monitor- ing both the pests and their foes to avoid sprays that could kill beneficial insects. Hedescribedhowto identify thePacific spider mite, which overwinters as orange females in leaf litter and crotches of the tree. The pest moves to the lower canopy in mid- to late March and takes on a tra- ditional color. Themites feedexclusivelyonleaves, can complete a life cycle in one week and are associatedwithwebbing. Their impact on photosynthesis can bring reduced yields the following year. The good news is that almond trees are very resilient,Havilandsaid, andcanwith- stand the loss of some leaves. Conditions that promotemites include tree stress, dust, and lack of natural ene- miesoruseof pesticides that caneliminate the enemies that are out there. Oneway to

Wintertime farmland flooding appears to help drinking water

recharge groundwater. Ifrelativelycleanmountainrunoff isused, Dahlke said, thewater filteringdown to the aquifer could also clean groundwater that hasbeenaffectedbynitrogenorpesticide. A map developed in 2016 by UC Cooperative Extension specialist Toby O’Geenidentified3.6millionacresof farm- land with the best potential for managed aquifer recharge, based on soil type, land use, topography and other factors. Now, Dahlke and colleagues have analyzed the map, finding nearly 3,000 locationswhere floodingsuitable farmlandwouldrecharge water for 288 rural communities. “If we have the choice to pick a location where recharge could happen, choose thoseupstreamfromthese communities,” Dahlke said. Shesaidshebelieveswintertimeflooding for groundwater recharge can help water districtscomplywiththestate’sSustainable GroundwaterManagement Act. “Wehave todoanythingwe can to store any surplus water that becomes available to save it for drier times, and our aquifers provide a huge storage for that,” she said. Dahlke’s lab collaborates withUC farm advisors and specialists and with scien- tists at other UC campuses to learn about the agronomic impacts of flooding a va- riety of crops, including almonds, alfalfa and grapes. UC said the lab’s groundwater banking project plans more studies in groundwa- ter basins across the state, to learn more about suitable locations, technical imple- mentation and long-termoperation. The scientists alsoplan toaddressoperational, economic and legal feasibility of ground- water banking on agricultural land.

Using farmland for wintertime aquifer recharge could help nearby communities replenish their groundwater supplies, ac- cording toUniversityofCaliforniaresearch showing thatnearly300rural communities could benefit. The research is part of ongoing work to determine how flooding farmland in the winter could refill underground wa- ter supplies. HelenDahlke, a professor at UCDavis, has been evaluating ways to flood ag- ricultural land when excess water is available during the winter, in order to

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10 Ag Alert May 26, 2021

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