Fifth-generation nut grower Matthew Efird of EE Farms and Efird Ag Enterprises in Fresno, California, has maintained a strict pest management program this summer to protect his orchards from infestations migrating from unmanaged neighboring fields. His farm produces almonds, walnuts, pistachios, raisins, and processed peaches.
Efird said weather conditions have been mild going into harvest, reducing stress on his trees. Commercial harvesting began seven to ten days earlier than last year, though productivity varies depending on growers' input decisions. "There's a significant decline in production on some of these ranches," Efird said, noting shortages of water or fertilizer as factors. Almond production on his farm is described as about average.
Reports from California's Central Valley show that some landowners have stopped irrigating or harvesting vineyards and orchards due to unprofitable commodity prices. These abandoned crops provide breeding grounds for pests such as navel orangeworm, which then spread into nearby managed orchards. Rodent populations have also increased, damaging irrigation systems and consuming nuts from trees. Land IQ, a satellite imaging company, estimates 30,000 acres of orchards have been abandoned from Arvin to Chico, with about 10,000 acres in Fresno County.
Melissa Cregan, Fresno County agricultural commissioner and president of the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association, estimates that many abandoned orchards are contributing to pest pressure in the region. A bill in the California Legislature proposes to give county agricultural commissioners the authority to fine properties deemed a public nuisance due to abandonment.
Efird said cash flow problems caused by low almond prices are forcing many growers to cut back on essential sprays. "Typically, that's cutting out fungicide sprays in the spring as well as possibly foregoing their navel orangeworm insecticide spray prior to harvest. In ranches where growers are not putting these sprays on, we're seeing external pressure coming from those ranches as much as a mile or two miles away, and we could be influenced by that."
He explained that his farm is maintaining both integrated pest management practices and a regimented spray program. "We are having to be on a regimented spray schedule in addition to our integrated pest management, where we're out tracking our traps and seeing what our pest pressure is and timing that with the efficacy cycle with the insecticides we're using for navel orangeworm."
Efird advised other growers to carefully weigh budget decisions. "Obviously, economics are leading to the decisions you're making on your ranch. Just choose wisely; cut where you can, but be selective. I think quality is always key and delivering a quality product, so when you've got an orchard that may be later maturing, you really have to look at windows of protection and make sure you're covering that crop adequately to be able to deliver a quality crop."
Source: FarmProgress