1 / 23

The Almond Pest Management Alliance 1998 – 2003

The Almond Pest Management Alliance 1998 – 2003. Outline for Today’s Presentation. Why did we pursue a PMA? What were our expectations? What have been our accomplishments? What have we learned?. Why an Almond PMA?. Good fit with industry goals Supplements our research program

justin
Download Presentation

The Almond Pest Management Alliance 1998 – 2003

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Almond Pest Management Alliance1998 – 2003

  2. Outline for Today’s Presentation • Why did we pursue a PMA? • What were our expectations? • What have been our accomplishments? • What have we learned?

  3. Why an Almond PMA? • Good fit with industry goals • Supplements our research program • Enhances relationship with regulators

  4. Industry Goals • Inform growers of reduced risk production practices that complement IPM systems • Proactively seek solutions to emerging environmental challenges • Be responsible stewards of land, water and air • Pursue partnerships to seek ways to improve the impact of agriculture production on land, water, and air resources

  5. More about the almond industry • Acreage: Estimated 525,000 bearing acres • Grower Returns: Exceed $1 billion • Growers: 6000 • Handlers 114

  6. Snapshot of the Almond Industry Worldwide significance: • Export to approximately 80 countries • Top agricultural export in California • 75% of worldwide production • California-based

  7. Top 5 California Exports by Value 2000 Millions of Dollars

  8. Who are the partners in the PMA? • Almond Board • Almond Hullers and Processors • UC Statewide IPM Project • UC Extension Farm Advisors • Community Alliance of Family Farmers • Dept. of Pesticide Regulation

  9. What is the overall goal of the PMA? • Evaluate the possibility of managing pests with less disruptive pesticides

  10. What are the specific objectives? • Promote a reduced risk system of almond production • Demonstrate alternative products and practices • Compare orchard management systems as influenced by region, growing conditions, pest and disease pressure • Provide economic comparisons of conventional vs. reduced risk methods • Open channels of communication within almond industry and with regulators

  11. How is the PMA designed? • 3 Regional Plots • Northern Sacramento Valley • Central San Joaquin Valley • Southern San Joaquin Valley • Conventional vs. Reduced Risk Treatments

  12. How is the PMA funded? DPR Funding Year 1 - $99,000 Year 2 - $98,976 Year 3 - $98,756 Year 4 - $100,000 Year 5 - $79,487

  13. How is the PMA funded? Direct Costs for the Almond Board Year 1 - 0 Year 2 - 0 Year 3 - $9,595 Year 4 - $16,000 Year 5 - $38,000

  14. How is the PMA funded?

  15. What are the target pests of the PMA? • Navel Orangeworm • Peach Twig Borer • San Jose Scale • Mites • Ants

  16. What were our first lessons? • Hard to find growers willing to take risk • It’s difficult to define “conventional methods” of orchard management • Need to standardize reporting in the different plots • Need a “no input” plot • We needed more pests, more disease, and more years

  17. What have we now learned? • Reduced risk can work for some pests in some areas • Extensive monitoring is the key • Other pests may build in population • Reduced risk may not mean reduced input

  18. Outreach and Education - Lessons Learned Coincide meetings with spray decisions • Dormant • In-season

  19. Outreach and Education - Lessons Learned A successful PMA program includes: • A thorough and scientific evaluation of alternative v. conventional methods of pest control • Proper pest identification • Timing crop protection methods using carefully considered monitoring and weather data

  20. Why has the PMA been successful? • Regional Plots • Cooperation from growers • Commitment by UCCE • Contains an economic component • Outstanding turn-out at field days • Well-distributed publications • Visibility with State and Fed agencies

  21. What are other measures of success? • > $1/2 M in additional research • Use of OP’s declining

  22. How can you find us on the web? 1) almondboard.com /programs/environmental/PMA 2) lookercomm.com /Almond PMA

  23. Who do we thank? DPR UC Cooperative Extension Project Manager: Mark Looker CAFF Grower Cooperators

More Related