Ag Alert is the 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.
Keeping pest at bay Citrus packinghouses on lookout for psyllid
Special issue Organic almonds net good prices; nitrogen balance tricky
Page 7
More stories inside
www.cfbf.com • www.agalert.com SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
Trees & Vines ®
s p e c i a l r e p o r t
Christine Souza California farmers and ranchers have no shortages of stress this year. They face drought andwater supplycuts, devastating wildfiresandpandemic impacts. Thereare also labor shortages and financial pres- sures from fluctuating commodity prices or trade disruptions. These impacts inspire serious discus- sions in agricultural communities about looking after farmers’ mental health. “This year for us has beenmentally and emotionallythemost tryingyearofour lives, honestly,aslongaswe’vebeenfarming. Just the uncertainty of being able tomake ends meet,youfeelsooutofcontrol,”saidTulelake rancher ErikaDuVal, who grows alfalfahay andproduces registeredBlackAngus cattle with her husbandBenDuVal, president of theKlamathWaterUsersAssociation. Ahmed “Mike” Alamari, president of Pacific FarmManagement Inc., a farm-la- bor contracting company in Madera, re- cently asked California water officials to consider thewell-beingof peoplewho live in farmcountry when considering severe water cuts to agriculture. “Morale is very low,”he told the State Water ResourcesControl Board in late July, as the agency considered curtailment reg- ulations for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. “Anxiety is at itspeak, aswe continue to see the drought effects and the political environment that is currently surrounding water in California. Everyone’s real wary about the future. We have a lot of em- ployees at west side ranches, and they’re concerned about their jobs and what the future holds.” The California FarmBureau is remind- ing farmers and others that they are not alone, that it is OK to not be OK during thesedifficult times. FarmBureausuggests that those feeling anxious or stressed talk to family, friends, neighbors and others aboutwhat they’re going throughandad- vises people check on family, friends and neighbors and start the conversations. See STRESS, Page 18 Farmers face mounting stress amid hard times
Ivo Jeramaz looks over cabernet sauvignon grapes in an organic vineyard near Yountville. Many of the cabernet sauvignon vines in this Grgich Hills Estate vineyard were planted in 1959. Jeramaz took the whole operation organic about 20 years ago.
For organic winegrapes, soil is ‘full of life’
ByKevinHecteman For Ivo Jeramaz, it all startswith the soil. Not dirt. Soil. “Dirt is a derogato-
Grgich, is responsible for the chardonnay that famously beat out French wines at a tasting competition inParis in1976—con- vertedhis family’s vineyards fromconven- tional toorganicproductionabout 20years ago.His focusbeginswithbuildingwhathe calls “disease-suppressive soil.” This includes use of cover crops and composting—and no tilling. He says that’s because tilling adds oxygen to the soil, causing the microbe population to
explode and then eat up organic matter responsible for soil structure. “You get the first-year flush of fertility,” Jeramaz said. But after that, it’s all downhill. “Microbesarekey ingredients insuccess of soil,” Jeramazsaid. “Not thatwe invented this—this is hownature intended.” Organic growers like the Jeramaz fam- ily combined to produce 3,777 acres of
ry word for soil,” said Jeramaz, vice presi-
dentof vineyardsandproductionatGrgich HillsEstate inRutherford. “Dirt isdevoidof life. Soil is full of life.” Jeramaz—whoseuncle,Miljenko“Mike”
See WINEGRAPES, Page 19
n e w s p a p e r
Comment.......................................2 Trees & Vines...............................7 Ask Your PCA............................ 17 Classifieds........................... 21-23 Inside
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Walking D.C.’s eerie streets on day of smoke and fear
ByBill Pauli Early in themorning on Sept. 11, 2001, our California Farm Bureau delegation was in Washington, D.C. We were re- viewing appointment times and finaliz-
to be back in California with our families. For our organization, there were many immediate issues of concern for California agriculture. The first was get- ting agribusiness up and running after all harvesting, processing, shipping and sales had come to a standstill. The impacts were felt in all segments of our businesses—trucking, fuel, parts, avia- tionand the supply chains. Our focuswas on how to restore normalcy. Farm Bureau and other farm organi- zations worked collectively with lead- ers, including Secretary Veneman and California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Bill Lyons, to con- front serious, short-term issues facing agriculture after the national tragedy. We also had to begin to address the po- tential for bioterrorism, threats to food safety and water supply security in ways we had never had to consider. Because of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, we have had to learn to farmwith many additional rules and regulations related to food supply traceability, bi- ological agents and hardening infra- structure. We’ve had to review every aspect of food safety and security from production to consumption. Still to- day, these regulations continue to af- fect our farming and likely will govern ranching and processing operations long into the future. The news related to recent events in Afghanistan reminds us of the horror of that September day 20 years ago. It also remindsusof howsucha tragedycanhave broad-reaching and continuing impacts onour lives long after the traumatic event has passed. (Bill Pauli, a Potter Valley winegrape grower in Mendocino County, is a past president of the California FarmBureau.)
ing presentations on an important a d v o c a c y t r i p . Meetings await- e d w i t h t h e n - U.S. Agricul ture S e c r e t a r y Ann Veneman, mem- bers of Congress and officials of the U.S. Department of the Interior and
Bill Pauli
The Pentagon stands crumbled in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack in Arlington, Va. It occurred just before a California Farm Bureau delegation was to meet with Bush administration officials.
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Thenwe receivedword that aplanehad flown into one of theWorld Trade Center towers inNewYork. Just as we started watching live cover- age, the second plane flew into the south tower. Quickly we learned that other planes may be on the way to targets such as the U.S. Capitol or theWhiteHouse. About half anhour later, the thirdplane flew into the Pentagon, not far from our location.Wewere close enough to see the smoke billowing from the building. By now, therewere evacuationorders for the House and Senate and all governmen- tal buildings near the Capitol. We began planningwhat to do to protect our group. By 1 p.m. , the entire D.C. Capitol area was eerily quiet and deserted. A very limited number of police patrolled the streets. Our group, including Farm Bureau Vice President Doug Mosebar, National Affairs Director Jack King and other CFBF staff, decided to walk to- ward Georgetown. We actually walked down the center of
streets. There were no cars, no buses or cabs—nonoise, nopeople. Eventually,we walked near one of the hospitals where military personnel from the Pentagon were being treated. Ambulances were still arriving. At one point, we passed a Catholic church. There, several people inour group prayed. It all seemed so surreal. The mil- itary was arriving and staging all around the Capitol. We felt very far from home and any sense of normalcy. Around 3:30 p.m., we began to hear re- ports that the president was returning to the White House. We walked to the gates near theSouthLawnandwatchedMarine One fly in just after 5 p.m. It was very somber—and an emotional moment as President GeorgeW. Bush landed. There was so much that we still didn’t under- stand about the magnitude of what had happened in our country and howmany people had lost their lives. Most of Tuesdayeveningwas spent call- ing home to let our families and friends
know we were safe. Our group talked about the events of the day and watched thenews reports. I later talked toSecretary Veneman and other elected leaders who were inWashington. On Wednesday morning, some of our group made the decision to stay in D.C. through the weekend to see if airports would reopen. After speaking with our contacts in and out of govern- ment, reflecting on the situation and learning as much as possible, a group of eight of us determined our best op- tion was to rent cars—a major chal- lenge—and drive to California. OnThursdaymorning, weheadedwest in two rental cars. After driving nonstop for 29 hours, we received word that the Denver International Airportwas reopen- ing. At that point the airport was still 110 mileswest of us. Butwemade thearrange- ments, dropped off the rental cars and caught the first flight departingat 5p.m. on Friday fromDenver to San Francisco. It is anunderstatement tosaywewere relieved
VOL. 48, NO. 33
September 8, 2021
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2 Ag Alert September 8, 2021
Organic almonds net higher price, but transition is risky
ganicduring the last several yearsbecause of the “potential for slightly higher profit- ability per acre.”He said he thinks organic almond production is now “pretty close” tomarket demand. But he acknowledged production chal- lenges remain, with 25% to 30% lower yields for organic compared to conven- tional. Getting enoughnitrogen to the soil represents oneof thebiggest challenges to organic production, he said. Even thoughorganic almonds continue to earn a premium to help offset the low- er production, Koretoff said grower prices
last year “droppedsignificantly”alongwith conventional prices due to the larger crop. The decline in pricemade it “very difficult fora lotof growers tomakeaprofit,”hesaid. Though prices are expected to rise this year, he said growers now face soaring production costs in fuel, labor, materials and transportation. One of the best ways to bolster organic production, Koretoff said, is for growers to be successful. But with California agri- culture facing water shortages and other
ByChing Lee Lower market prices for convention- al almonds may motivate more growers to consider going organic, which still commands a premium. But p r o d u c t i o n c h a l l e n g e s and other eco- nomic factors continue to make the transition a risky endeavor for some farms. Demand is still increasing for organ- ic almonds, marketers and others in the business say. But state production remains tiny—and has been for years. Organic almonds represent about 1% of total state production of the nut, with bearing acreage in2019 at 15,206, accord- ing to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Because supplies are small, Big Tree Organic Farms in Stanislaus County, which markets organic almonds, has consistently looked to sources outside California, often overseas, to satisfy de- mand, said SusanCook, a sales represen- tative for the company. California remains the world’s top al- mond producer. But with farmers remov- ing their treesdue towater shortages,Cook said she expects state organic almond acreagewill drop. Limited state production has ham- pered growth, she said, as it has resulted inpricingvolatility. Some foodcompanies looking touseorganic almondshavebeen reluctant to do so. “The market could go sky high,” Cook said. “The demand could go even further, but a lot of these larger companies say the production isnot stableenough for them.” That may be changing, however. With conventional almondprices lessprofitable for farmers in recent years and organic almond prices remaining “relatively sta- ble,” JoeGardiner of Treehouse California Almonds in Tulare County said he’s seen moregrower interest inproducingorganic almonds. He said he expects to see “sig- nificantlymore” organic almond acreage come online in the next few years as new plantings enter into production. “Whenyou’re lookingat $1.50(apound) return for conventional almonds com- pared to a $4 return on organic, it starts to incentivizegrowers tosay, ‘Maybe I should do a little bit into organic,’” he said. Gard iner ’s bus ines s grows and handles organic and conventional al- monds. His family jumped into organic “rather heavily” five years ago by con- verting several hundred acres, which he said will be tripled by next year. The transition represents a substantial , long-term financial investment, he said, with expectations of lower yields and higher production costs and ques- tions about whether stability of organic pricing will hold. Learning how to apply organic fertiliz- ers and get nutrients to the trees remains a struggle, he said. Dealingwith increased
disease pressure is another. “I think there’s still quite a few un- knowns that make it a risky transition or not avery comfortabledecision” for grow- ers, Gardiner said. Steve Koretoff of Purity Organics in Fresno County, which grows, processes and markets organic almonds, said he’s alsoseenmoregrowers transitioning toor-
See ALMONDS, Page 5
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September 8, 2021 Ag Alert 3
Organic trees fare well in research on almond yields ByBob Johnson
tilizer 400-2 was injected through the irri- gation system,” Edstrom said. “This was expensive, and organic treatment blocks were still nitrogendeficient basedonsum- mer leaf nitrogen levels.” Last year, researchersmadeaconcerted effort to rampuporganic fertilitywitha se- riesof fertigatedandshankedapplications. They included 30 pounds of liquid nitro- genthroughthe irrigationsysteminMarch and100poundsofnitrogeninfeathermeal that was shanked in late April. “Organic production was good, and summer leaf levels were up compared to previousyears, althoughright onthenitro- gen-deficiency threshold,” Edstromsaid. Thedifference in leaf tissuenitrogenbe- tween the conventional and organic trees in a July sample—2.52% to 2.20%—was measurable, despite a significant invest- ment in organic fertilizers. Pest damage fromnavel orangeworms was easier tomanage in the organic trees after a rigorous programof orchard sani- tation. Implemented at the beginning, it was supplementedin2020byamatingdis- ruptionprogramwithpheromone puffers throughout the block. Navel orangeworm damage to the or- ganic nonpareil nuts dropped from 2% to just 0.5% in the first year of the pher- omone program. See ORGANIC, Page 8
A 15-year-long comparison of organic and conventional almonds, grown side by side at theNickels Soil Lab inArbuckle,
ha s y i e l ded va luabl e in- formation on key challenges in organic nut production—
andwhat can be done about them. In the most recent harvest, the organic nonpareil trees produced good-sized ker- nels. Their yields were not too far short of nearbyconventional treesand, despite the absence of any pesticides, there were few rejections for quality issues. But most important is the informa- tion gathered by a team of University of California researchers about major dif- ficulties in making those plots econom- ically viable. “During the 15 seasons of this trial, organic production levels, disease man- agement, weed control and nitrogen fertility have been the most challenging issues,” said John Edstrom, manager at the Arbuckle research orchard when the trial was planted. “Recently, nitrogen nu- trition has eclipsedweed control and dis- easemanagement as the largest, sustained challenge to economically sustainable or- ganic production in this orchard.”
Almond orchards are seen at Nickels Soil Lab in Arbuckle. For 15 years, University of California researchers have tracked organic almonds grown side by side with conventional almonds.
The trial hasbeenona7-acreblock split between conventional and organic areas, both planted in a 3-to-1 ratio in nonpareil and the pollinator variety Fritz. In 2020, the conventional nonpareil trees approached 2,700 pounds an acre while theorganic treesyieldeda littlemore than 2,100 pounds, with kernels that were only slightly smaller. While the organic nonpareil trees pro- duced a respectable 85% of the yields of their conventional neighbors, that harvest came after considerable head scratching and expenditure on fertiliz-
ing the nitrogen-hungry trees. “Almondsuseroughly60 to70poundsof nitrogen per 1,000 pounds of kernel crop, the highest nitrogen use of any tree crop commonly grown in California,” Edstrom said. “Maintainingorchardnitrogenstatus while maximizing organic production is challenging and expensive.” Ten years ago, researchers began in- jecting various liquid organic fertilizers through the irrigationsystemandstopped broadcasting yard waste compost, which provides little nitrogen. “From 2011 to 2019, liquid organic fer-
4 Ag Alert September 8, 2021
Almonds Continued from Page 3
trees and reduce their growth. They can then make the transition to organic the next three years and be certified by their fifth or sixth year when the trees begin to reach peak production. “You’re not going to have a crop your first two years anyway, so I’d concentrate on growing that tree,”Holtz said. Historically, very little investment has gone intoorganicagriculturecompared to conventional, saidHoustonWilson, direc- tor of the University of California Organic
Agriculture Institute, which was formed last year. Because of the lackof research in thisarea, hesaid, growersneedhelpacross the board, though their top two priorities are crop nutrition andweed control. Wilson said he thinks lower yields and higher costsarenot inherent inorganicag- riculture per se. But that may be the case now due to historic underinvestment in the sector. “Organic production in its current form definitely has not had a chance to be opti-
mized,” Wilson said. “If you measure the amount of effort and investment that has gone into the development of these con- ventional systems compared to organic, it’swayoutof syncbyordersofmagnitude.” Establishment of the institute, he said, represents an effort to address organic growers’ needs—so that theyhavea“more reliable set of technical practices inplace” for their cropping systems. (ChingLeeisanassistanteditorofAgAlert. Shemaybe contactedat clee@cfbf.com.)
challenges, organic may not be the right choice for every farmer. “At the end of the day, the price really makes the decision,” Koretoff said. “Until weget thewater situation inCalifornia fig- uredout, I thinkwe’regoing toactually see a decrease in acreage.” Some progress has been made to help farmers groworganic almonds, saidBrent Holtz,UniversityofCaliforniaCooperative Extension farm advisor in San Joaquin County, who authored a cost study on or- ganic almond production. For example, mating disruption tools now represent a viable pest control option to combat the destructivenavel orangeworm(seerelated story, Page 15), with a couple of products available fororganicproduction.But farm- ers still needbetterandmorecost-effective ways to control weeds and address crop nutrition, he added. His general advicehas been for growers to start their orchard conventionally for the first two to three years so they cancon- trol weeds, soil-borne diseases and other problems that can severely stress young Industrial hemp board seeking to fill 5 vacant seats TheCaliforniaDepartment of Foodand Agriculture Pest Exclusion Branch has fivemid-termvacancies on the Industrial HempAdvisory Board. The boards seats to be filled include two openings for registered cultivators of industrial hemp. In addition, the panel is seekingone representative frombusiness- es that sell industrial hemp products, one from the Hemp Industries Association or a successor groupandone from anestab- lished agricultural research institution. The successful candidates will be ap- pointed to serve the remainder of terms that expireMay 31, 2023. Applicants for board appointments should send a letter of interest and a brief résumé to Juan Koponen by Sept. 30, by email to industrialhemp@cdfa.ca.gov or bymail to: CaliforniaDepartment of Food and Agriculture, Pest Exclusion Branch, 1220NSt., Sacramento, CA 95814. Establishedby theCalifornia Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013, the board is composed of 13 members. Termof office for boardmembers is three years. The board advises CDFA and makes recommendations on matters including industrial hemp law and regulations, en- forcement, annual budgets and setting an assessment rate. Members meet at least onceayearbutmaymeetmorefrequentlyif needed.Theyreceivenocompensationbut areentitledtosometravel reimbursements. For additional information, visit www. cdfa.ca.gov/plant/industrialhemp/, contact the Nursery, Seed and Cotton Programat 916-654-0435or sendanemail to industrialhemp@cdfa.ca.gov.
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September 8, 2021 Ag Alert 5
Organic growers target nitrogen balance for crops ByBob Johnson
happens are soil temperature, soil mois- ture and thequalityof theorganic source.” This processmovesmore quicklywhen the soil iswarmandmoist. A lower ratioof carbon tonitrogenalso speeds thisminer- alization process, whichmeans nitrogen becomes available fastest inmost growing areas in the summer. “In the summer, the soils arewarm, and they are moist from irrigation,” Geisseler said. “In the winter and spring, the tem- perature is limiting. In the fall, moisture is limiting if the field is fallow.” Nitrogenmineralizes slower fromcover crops and residuewhen the percentage of nitrogen is low. “Broccoli, lettuceand legumesarehigh- er in nitrogen, and tomatoes, melons and young cereal cover crops are lower in ni- trogen,” Geisseler said. That difference impactswhat cover crop varieties to plant—and how to manage cover crops at termination and crop resi- due after harvest. “Legumeandmustardcover crops tend to have a higher percentage of tissue ni- trogen,” said Louise Jackson, a UC Davis plant sciences professor emeritus who did pioneering studies on organic nitro- gen management. “If you have a legume cover crop, youshouldavoida lagbetween incorporation and planting the cash crop See NITROGEN, Page 11
Organicvegetableandberrygrowersface agreatchallengeknowinghowmuchnitro- genwillbeavailabletotheircropandwhen. While conventional growers apply syn-
thetic fertiliz- ers and know w i t h s o m e certainty how much nut r i - ent s wi l l be
available to the crop, organic growers rely on a variety of ways to build soil with nu- trients that becomeavailable slowlyover a period of months and even years. “A lot of the ni trogen from cover crops, crop residue and compost is be- ing built into the soil, and that is where we get this tremendous ongoing release of nitrogen in organic systems,” said Margaret Lloyd, University of California CooperativeExtensionsmall farmsadvisor inWoodland. “With cover crops, residue andcompost,webuildthis robustnitrogen source in our soil.” Hitting the target in applying nitrogen fertilizer is important foreconomicanden- vironmental reasons but is challenging in organic systemsbecausemost of thenitro- genbecomes availablegradually, she said. “It’s very difficult to precisely apply ni- trogen in organic systems,” said Richard Smith, UCCE farm advisor in Salinas.
Broccoli grows at Lakeside Organic Gardens in Watsonville. Applying nitrogen is challenging for organic farmers, who look to build soil with nutrients slowly added over months or even years.
reallymany sources: the soil, cover crops, poultrymanure, compost, granular fertil- izer, the irrigation water,” Lloyd said. “All of the nitrogen contributions frommany places are building the nitrogen program in an organic system.” Micro-organisms in the soilmakenitro- gen available to the crop through a com- plexprocess thatdependsonmany factors, including theweather. “When you add crop residue or organ- ic amendments, the nitrogen needs to be converted to ammoniumor nitrate by micro-organisms,” said Daniel Geisseler, UCCE specialist innutrientmanagement. “The main factors affecting how fast this
“Improvingnitrogen fertilizer applications will revolve around growers’ experience and skills, soil-nitrate testing and under- standing the crop growth characteristics.” Lloyd and Smithmade their remarks as UCCE advisors and specialists presented their advice on matching available nu- trients with crop needs in presentations during the virtual Organic Fertility Series. Presentations by the seven experts on the role of cover crops, compost and crop residue in building fertile organic soil are available through the Monterey County Cooperative Extensionwebsite. “Wemay thinkof amendments in terms of their contribution to nitrogen, but it’s
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6 Ag Alert September 8, 2021
A SPECIAL GROWERS’ REPORT OF AG ALERT ® C A L I F O R N I A Trees & Vines ®
Oranges roll on conveyer belts at a Tulare County packinghouse in the file photo above. To prevent spread of the Asian citrus psyllid, right, citrus fruit moving within and between quarantine zones is tightly regulated.
Photo/Mike Lewis, University of California, Riverside
Fruit movement a focus in fighting citrus disease ByDennis Pollock
an inch long or less, from escaping. “It’s as small as the tip of a pencil,” Tucker said.
Packinghouses face challenges to prevent the spread of a dangerous vector-borne dis- ease that candestroy the fruit theypackanddevastate farms acrossCalifornia’s citrusbelt. “We need to protect the industry and not move the vector or the disease,” said Keith Watkins, vice president of Bee Sweet Citrus and operations subcommittee chair for the Citrus Pest andDisease PreventionProgram. The vector in this case is the Asian citrus psyllid, which can spread the disease huanglongbing, or HLB. It has already crippled the Florida citrus industry and threat- ens California’s. The issue is critical for the San Joaquin Valley, which boasts more than 70% of the state’s citrus acreage. It’s led by Tulare County, the state’s perennial leader in fresh citrus production. Local agriculture officials in the valley have been offering briefings on safeguarding packinghouses, farms and the citrus industry as awhole. One of the top precautions they suggest is to keep psyllids from spreading by tarping truckloads of fruit. Tom Tucker, Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner, emphasized the need to do that properly under requirements put in place in 2017. He said tarps must extend down the sides to truck beds to keep the psyllids, which are an eighth of
The tarpsmust beused formovement of juice, anywhole fruit parts andbulkcitrus that has beenbrushed, washed, waxedandpacked in standard container ready forwholesale or retail. Movement within and between quarantine zones is tightly regulated. It is tracked through lotsof paperwork, includingnotices 72hours inadvance for routes extendingone quarantinezone toanother. Then there’s a24-hournotice required toapackinghouse that is receiving fruit in a different zone. Tucker saidtherehasbeenamarkeddecrease in2021 innumberof violationsconnected to citrus inspection. Violations were highest in 2019, he said. VictoriaHornbaker, a citrus programmanagerwith theCaliforniaDepartment of Food and Agriculture, credited establishment in 2009 of the 17-member California Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee. The first California detections of the psyllid were near theMexican border in SanDiego County in 2008. The first detection in the Central Valleywas in 2012. Most of the detections were along transportation corridors, hence the move toman- datory tarping.
See CITRUS, Page 8
September 8, 2021 Ag Alert 7
Citrus Continued from Page 7
County, 19 in SanBernardinoCounty and one in SanDiegoCounty. There have also been recent detec- tions of another citrus threat—sweet or- ange scab—in Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino andOrange counties. Within the same psyllid bulk citrus re- gional quarantine zone, tarping or use of a fully enclosed vehicle is required. To transport to a different zone or within the HLB quarantine area, fruit must also be field cleaned by machine or treated, and transportersmust completeanpsyllid-free declaration form. There are required spray and harvest products. None are organic. Field cleaning must be done by a ma- chine that uses rollers. An alternative is
grate cleaning powered by gravity to re- move stems and leaves. Users of the latter must seekapproval fromtheir local county agricultural commissioner. Okasaki saidthe reviewprocesscantake some time. He said detection of an HLB-positive tree triggers a mandatory response. The grower is required to treat the tree with a University of California- recommended foliar insecticide within 72 hours of notification. The grower must remove and destroy thediseasedtree.CDFAsurveysall treeson theperimeterof thegroveandgroveswith- in 250meters (820.2 feet) of the detection. All growers within 250meters from the detectionare required to apply one or two ganic trial, the lownavel orangewormlev- els in the organic block are encouraging,” Edstrom said. “The plan is to use mating disruption in 2021.” Weeds are another difficult matter. Researchers have struggled to find an organic system that is both effective and economical. “While propane flaming in the tree row hasbeenmostlyeffective, it is slowandex- pensive,” Edstromsaid. Some of the organic trees benefitted from installation of a 6-foot-wide cloth at planting, which prevented most weed growthwithin the tree line. This practice, however, costs $1,500 an acre at the beginning, with additional re- pair costs annually. It presented the chal- lengeof trying tocontrolweeds justoutside the6-footareawithoutdamaging thecloth. “Weeds were hard to control along the edges of the clothwheremowers couldn’t operate without catching or pulling the cloth,” Edstromsaid. “Theweed clothwas removed at the end of 2011 after annual maintenance became too expensive and
UC-recommended insecticides. The in- secticidemustbeonthe list recommended for bulk citrus quarantine requirements. “Be sure green waste is removed from field bins before sending them back to groves,” Okasaki said. “Sending dirty bins back to groves is a pathway for spreading ACP.” Binsinwhichfruitwithsweetorangescab hasbeencollectedmust bedisinfected. Okasaki said culls and rotted fruit are regulated, and fruit juice and cattle feed must be safeguarded in transit. Online resources may be found at cdfa. ca.gov/citrus/ and citrusinsider.org. (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.) time-consuming to continue.” With theweed cloth experiment aban- doned, researchers went back to the drawing board and came up with mod- ifications of the irrigation system that made propane flaming within the tree line more economical. “The surface drip systemwas replaced in October 2007 with a dual line subsur- facedripsystem, primarily to reduceweed growth, seed emergence and associated weed-control costs,” Edstrom said. “This hasreducedpropaneflamingexpensessig- nificantly compared toprevious seasons.” Thecombinationofburieddripirrigation and propane flaming largely worked, but the systemhad tobe redone to account for clogged lines invisiblebelowthe surface. “The subsurface drip lines were re- placed in spring 2016 due to plugging issues,” Edstrom said. “Vented end- caps for each line were installed with the new hoses.” ( 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.)
So far, Southern California has taken thebrunt of damage fromthepsyllid, with over 2,400 trees turning up with the HLB disease.MosthavebeeninOrangeCounty. Quarantine areas include both man- datory and nonmandatory treatment re- quirements based on the extent of risk. Control efforts include detection, sur- vey, treatment and biocontrol. That in- cludes detection trapping in residential areas with five to 16 traps per squaremile andservicing those trapsmonthly. Incom- mercial areas, it’sone trapper 40acres and trap servicing every twoweeks. Delimitationsurveys aredone if there is a psyllid detection of all properties within 50 meters. If HLB is detected, the survey extends to a 250-meter radius. Biocontrols, includingreleasesof awasp predator of the psyllid, are used around HLBlocations. The focus isonbordersand trade routes, newly infested areas, and in buffer zonesbetweenurbanandcommer- cial citrus. KeithOkasaki, anenvironmental scien- tist with CDFA, said there have been 116 psyllid detections in Kern County since January 2020. Eight were reported in San LuisObispoCountyandoneeachinKings, Madera and Tulare counties. Meanwhile, there have been 439 HLB detections at sites in Los Angeles County, 1,255 in Orange County, 44 in Riverside
Organic Continued from Page 4
The Fritz pollinator variety, which har- vests later and is more susceptible to na- vel orangewormdamage, suffered 16.1% damage in the 2017 season. But it also dropped from 2% to 0.5% in the first year of the pheromone program. “While 2020 was generally a light navel orangeworm damage year and an adja- cent hard-shell block was removed the year before, reducing pressure in the or-
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A new weapon in pest control: bug-mounted drones
ByDennis Pollock What began as a side project while he was taking an integrated pest manage- ment class at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, has turned into a business for Chandler Bennett : spreading beneficial insects fromdrones. Bennett founded Parabug, headquar- tered in Salinas, a year after graduating fromCal Poly in biological resources and agricultural engineering. The company’s website opens with these words: “The Future of Farming is Smaller Than You Think.” A logo fanci- fully depicts an insect descending with a parachute. The bugs don’ t have parachutes, of course. Instead, they are released through small holes on tubes attached to drones. The tubes slowly rotate to pre- vent clogging as releases of insects, eggs or larvae are calibrated for uniformity. Bennett said the savings on release by drones range from50% to 75%of the cost for release by hand. He said the cost is “on par” with insecticide sprays. The cost for application from drones ranges from $16 to $25 per acre, and the cost of the predatory insects ranges from $50 to $100 per acre. Bennett recently told the San Joaquin WineGrowers Association there are both benefits and challenges to the use of in- sect biocontrols. Unlike pesticides, biocontrols have no re-entry restrictions and no post- harvest intervals. The insects are highly mobile, and there is little or no devel- opment of resistance. But there are challenges. “You are working with a living organ- ism,” Bennett said. “They leave. They die. There are no guarantees.” Bennett said large orders can require long lead times for the insectary. There
Chandler Bennett flies a drone over a field of green beans in the Salinas Valley to spread beneficial insects.
has been very little applied research and data available for outdoor crops, though there is more data on green- house use of biocontrols. “We have qualitative but need quanti- tative data,” he said. Amongweapons inhis aerial arsenal is Cryptolaemusmontrouzieri, also known as themealybug destroyer. The insect can beused to target the vinemealybug, a sig- nificant grapevine pest. Parabug has also applied predatory mites, lacewing eggs and larvae, the minute pirate bug and trichogramma, a parasitoid. Among the company’s customers is Michael David Winery of the Lodi area, where mealybug destroyers were re- leased over a vineyard. Almond growers, including Kern County farmer Kent Stenderup, have used drones to release predatorymites to control spider mites. Stenderup also uses
500 per acre. For the mealybug parasit- ic wasp, it’s 250 to 500 per acre. For the green lacewing, it’s 20,000 eggs per acre. Bennett saidit’s important toensure that those making applications are certified drone pilots and to check credentials. He said theymust request a certificate for op- eration of a drone and furnish a pest con- trol pilot’s license and proof of insurance. Drones can fly no higher than 400 feet above the ground and must not operate outside the visual line of sight. If the farm is within 5 miles of an airport or similar controlled air space, let the appl ication company know, Bennett said. The app l i cator may need ex t ra t ime to acquire a Federal Aviat ion Administrationwaiver andwill also need tower approval prior to flight. (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.) State board mulls water cuts for Mill, Deer creeks The State Water Resources Control Board later this month is scheduled to consider adopting draft emergency cur- tailment regulations to protect threat- ened fish species forMill andDeer creeks, both tributaries of the Sacramento River. Based on written comments that the board receives this week, the agency will review comments, make appropriate changes and release a revised proposed regulation for consideration at its Sept. 22 meeting. Members of the public may provide verbal comment on the draft reg- ulation at the September meeting. Learn more about the regulation and drought response in the Mi l l Creek and Deer Creek watersheds at www.waterboards.ca.gov/drought/ mill_deer_creeks/.
themtoapplybeneficial insects tograpes. MaderaCounty growerMikeTydal said he also has fly-overs with “good bugs to eat bad bugs” in his certified organic rai- sin crop. Tydal said he believes the aerial appli- cations are more uniform than previous hand applications. He said he has not sprayed “in quite a few years.” Bennett said scouting is a key to know- ingwhen to release beneficial insects. It’s also important to time pesticide appli- cations accordingly and to use selective materials whenever possible. Growers should not spray right after or before a release, he said. He suggested incorporating “insectary plants” that attract beneficial insects and provide alternative food sources. Bennett said the western predatory mite is typically applied at 5,000 to 10,000 per acre but can range up to 20,000. The mealybug destroyer is applied at
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Nitrogen Continued from Page 6
the weeks after planting but before fruit- ing, andthenincreasedto3poundsaweek while the plantswere producing berries. “You have to match nitrogen supply with the nitrogen demand of the plants,” said Joji Muramoto, UCCE specialist in organic production. “These figures were takenfromfour yearsof studyat anorganic strawberry fieldinMossLandingaveraging 37,800 pounds of berries.” Therecanalsobe significant differences in howmuch nitrogen the plants take up from the soil, as a deep-rooted crop such as broccolimay scavenge the soil formore thanmore than 150 pounds. From2016 to2019,UCresearchers eval- uated fertilizer use on 28 blocks at large- scale Salinas Valley organic vegetable op- erations and found that growers applied on average 205%asmuch nitrogen as was taken up by the crop, but the fertilizer still supplied only 85% of the nitrogen taken up by the crop. Much of the nitrogen in the fertilizer onlybecameavailableovera longperiodof time, but soilmicrobesweremakingother sources of nitrogenavailable to the crop to take up the slack. Soil quick tests can take some of the guesswork out of fertilizer application decisions in both conventional and or- ganic systems. When soil tests show 20 parts per mil- lion nitrates, that translates into 70 to 75 pounds of cropavailablenitrogenanacre, which should be enough to feed a vegeta- ble crop for aweek or two. Useof the soil quick test todecidewhen an application is needed is trickier in or- ganic systems, however, because unlike conventional fertilizers, organic fertilizers applied after the soil nitrate supply is ex- hausted release their nitrogen gradually over time. ( 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.)
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in order tominimize the loss of nitrogen.” Another important nutrient and wa- ter management tool is to encourage the growth inthesoil of beneficialmycorrhizal fungi, which attach to the roots andmine the soil for nutrients andwater. “Lots of information shows that con- tinuous cropping with less tillage and less fallow time is conducive to the symbiosis between mycorrhizae and crop roots,” Jackson said. Matching the nitrogen available in the soil with the amount needed by the crop begins with an understanding of the amount taken up by various crops over the course of the season. Spinach takes up 90 to 130 pounds an acre of nitrogen, full term lettuces from 120 to 160 pounds, and broccoli between 250 and 350 pounds, according to studies conducted byUCCE specialist TimHartz. Irrigationmanagement is another cru- cial pieceof thepuzzleofmakingnitrogen available in the root zone when the crop needs it. “You can do a lot of nitrogen budgeting, but if you’re not paying attention to water management, thatbudgetingfor theseason isnotgoingtobethataccurate,”saidMichael Cahn,UCCE irrigation farmadvisor. Spinach, for example, takesup6pounds a day of nitrogen in the final two weeks before harvest. That nitrogen must be available in the narrowband of soil that is reached by the shallow roots. “In spinach, we found that most of the nitrate is coming froma narrow band be- tween 4 and 12 inches deep, whichmakes irrigationmanagement critical tokeep the nitrate in this zone,” Smith said. Strawberriesalsohaveauniquecycle, as astudyshowedthecropat theorganic field inMoss Landing took up a littlemore than 90poundsofnitrogenover thecourseof the season. Uptakewas just apoundaweek in
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