New! Honey Almonds

MAY | JUNE 2014
News, Views & Industry Insights
New! Honey Almonds:
Co-op Donates $100,000 for Bee Health
NEW!
Blue Diamond
Participates in
Congressional
Hearing on Bees
Tips for
Delivering
High Quality
Almonds
CONTENTS
May | June 2014
P. 14
Features
14 Congressional
Hearing
28 Honey Almonds
Blue Diamond board member and bee keeper
Dan Cummings testifies before Congress on
the mutually beneficial relationship between
almonds and honeybees.
A campaign centered on honey bee
health ushers in a vast new honey
product line and partnership for bee
health research.
32 Immigration
reform
38 High Quality
Almonds
Congressional action is urged to reform
the country’s broken immigration system
to ensure a labor force to maintain and
harvest American crops.
Careful attention to foreign material,
allergens and chipped or broken
almonds can help bring in higher quality
premiums on deliveries.
08
10
18
42
46
FIELD SUPERVISORS
GROWER LIAISON
NEWS IN A NUTSHELL
TIME TO CONSIDER
CLASSIFIED ADS
Cover Photo:
A selection of new Honey-Roasted products sports a sticker touting bee health research.
MAY | JUNE 2014
Almond Facts 3
Worried
about bees?
Board of Directors
Clinton Shick
Chairman of the Board | McFarland
Dale Van Groningen
Vice Chairman | Ripon
Independence®
self-fertile Almond
Discuss the advantages with your
DWN sales rep today!
Arbuckle
Third Leaf
1,200 lbs/acre
Fourth Leaf
1,700 lbs/acre
Ripon
Third Leaf
680 lbs/acre
Fourth Leaf
2,100 lbs/acre
Turlock
Third Leaf
625 lbs/acre
Fourth Leaf
1,605 lbs/acre
Farmington
Third Leaf
630 lbs/acre
Fourth leaf
1,300 lbs/acre
Vernalis
Fourth Leaf
2,050 lbs/acre
Fifth Leaf
2,100 lbs/acre
Modesto
Fourth Leaf
2,030 lbs/acre
Seventh Leaf
2,500 lbs/acre
Westley
Fourth Leaf
2,000 lbs/acre
Fifth Leaf
2,100 lbs/acre
Hughson
Third Leaf
1,390 lbs/acre
Fourth Leaf
2,820 lbs/acre
Celebrating
75 Years of
Superior Fruit
Selections
1938 - 2013
800-654-5854
www.davewilson.com
4 Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2014
Dan Cummings | Chico
Charles Crivelli III | Turlock
Kevin Fondse | Ripon
Elaine Rominger | Arbuckle
George Goshgarian | Fresno
Stephen Van Duyn | Modesto
Robert Weimer | Atwater
Don Yee | El Dorado Hills
Officers
Mark Jansen, President and CEO
Dean LaVallee, Chief Financial Officer
Almond Facts Staff
Susan Brauner, Public Affairs Director
Cassandra Montgomery, Managing Editor
Mel Machado, Contributing Photographer
Gray Allen, Advertising Sales
916.783.4334 & 916.765.3234
Creative • Print • Mail
DOMEPRINTING.COM
AlmondFacts.com
BlueDiamond.com
Blue Diamond, the world’s largest processor and marketer of almonds, exports to 90
countries. The cooperative marketing corporation also markets hazelnuts.
Almond Facts, established in 1922, is published bimonthly by Blue Diamond Growers,
1802 C Street, Sacramento, California 95811, phone: 916.442.0771. Address all
correspondence to the Editor, Almond Facts, P.O. Box 1768, Sacramento, California
95812 Advertising subscription rates provided upon request.
Blue Diamond is a registered trademark and marketing brand of Blue Diamond Growers.
Other registered trademarks are The Almond People, Smokehouse, Golden State, Celebration,
From the Valleys of California, Confetti and Almond Facts.
Advertising carried in this magazine does not necessarily reflect the beliefs, opinions,
or attitudes of Blue Diamond and does not imply product or service endorsement. Blue
Diamond reserves the right to refuse advertising. All rights reserved. Reproduction in
whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. © Blue Diamond Growers 2014.
Burchell Nursery – an
Return on Your Investment
Introducing the NEW
LONE STAR self fertile almond,
a Burchell Nursery Exclusive.
★ Large, light-colored kernel that is comparable
to Nonpareil / Sonora
★ Well-sealed shell with high crack out +/- 70%
★ Blooms 4 days before Nonpareil
★ Harvest 7 – 10 days after Nonpareil
★ Requires only one harvest
Burchell Nursery Exclusive
SUPAREIL almond,
(PP#21.934)
a Nonpareil look-alike.
✔ Potential to earn the same price as Nonpareil*
✔ Large kernel that resembles Nonpareil in
shape, color and taste
✔ Well-sealed, worm-resistant shell
✔ Pollinates Nonpareil, Carmel, Aldrich, Fritz,
Sonora, Price and Wood Colony
✔ Harvests early, 10–14 days after Nonpareil
*Returns vary by handler. Check with your specific buyer for detail on pricing.
800-828-TREE
burchellnursery.com
©2014 The Burchell Nursery, Inc.
(patent pending)(D61.124)
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
President’s Corner
Mark Jansen
President and CEO
Product Innovation and
Advertising Drive Prices Higher
The supply of almonds has not
meaningfully grown since the
2011 crop. Acreage has grown at
2 to 3 percent, but yields per acre
have not matched the high mark
of 2011 (not incidentally our last
wetter than average rainfall year).
The May Subjective Estimate of
1.95 billion for 2014 continues
this trend.
California Almond Crop
2.2
2.02B
LBS (billions)
2
Market demand is stronger than
supply so prices continue their
upward trajectory. With prices
at all time highs, it is instructive
to see which markets can sustain
demand. The U.S. continues
as the biggest, most consistent
source of almond-pound growth.
1.88B
1.2
1
2011
2012
2013
$3.70
2012
$3.20
$2.70
*NPX 23/25 Market Price
MAY | JUNE 2014
L
RI
AP
AR
C
H
Y
M
AR
RU
FE
B
R
UA
RY
N
JA
D
EC
EM
BE
R
BE
M
VE
O
N
TO
BE
R
R
EM
PT
O
C
BE
T
US
SE
AU
G
LY
$2.20
JU
2014 Est.
1.4
2014 Current
E
2013
1.6
$4.20
JU
N
1.95B
1.8
Market Prices Reflecting Limited Supply
6 Almond Facts
2.0B
Other developed markets are
also showing a willingness to
purchase higher priced almonds,
particularly those markets where
Blue Diamond has launched
Almond Breeze and has invested in
advertising. The U.S., U.K. and
Japan share this Blue Diamonddriven growth.
There is a wood carving in
my office that says “Fear is
Opportunity in Disguise.” My
mom gave it to me quoting one of
my first President’s Corners, which
referenced the market concern of
the day. I am sure you remember
the euphoria over the market
growth in China and also a fear
that a change in demand from the market
could drive prices downward. With two
years of double-digit declines in China and
still rising prices, we now realize the fears of
the day were unfounded. More importantly,
we rediscovered the opportunity for far
more growth than we could ever have
imagined from markets described as mature
by the industry.
It is not uncommon for industries to chase
new markets or customers, while neglecting
the established. Fortunately, we did not fall
into that trap. Instead, we renewed focus
on consumer insights, product innovation
and advertising that created a renaissance
of growth. This surprised and reignited the
confidence in the market potential of socalled mature markets.
Blue Diamond Brand and TV
Responsible for Growth Markets
BDG TV
Markets
{
Crop 12/13
YTD 13/14
US
+8%
+13%
JAPAN
+7%
+19%
UK
+8%
+13%
CHINA
-12%
-31%
INDIA
+5%
-25%
-2%
+4%
TOTAL
Going forward, the almond industry, and
Blue Diamond in particular, must remember
that our greatest opportunities for growth
may not come from those markets with
the least consumption. In many cases it is
easier to get your best customer to consume
more than introduce a new customer. With
U.S. per capita consumption at only a can
a month we have plenty of room for next
generation almond products and marketing
before reaching our Can A Week standard.
MAY | JUNE 2014
Almond Facts 7
Bob Ketcher
Mel Machado
Dave Baker
209.545.6222 Salida
209.541.9148 Cell
Field Receiving Manager, Westside
Stanislaus and Merced Counties
209.761.2289 Cell
209.545.6218 Salida
209.742.2089 Home
Mike Griffin
Ryan Christy
Dennis Meinberg
209.531.6352 Cell
209.545.6221 Salida
Tehama, Butte and
Eastern Glenn
Northern Fresno and
Southern Madera Counties
530.518.9109 Cell
530.458.2669 Home
530.864.0619 Cell
530.674.4724 Home
559.779.6400 Cell
559.449.9751 Home
Rob Kiss
Matt Willson
Ernie Reichmuth
Western Glenn, Colusa, Yolo,
Solano, Yuba and Sutter Counties
Kern and Southern
Tulare Counties
559.474.2996 Cell
559.645.4708 Home
559.554.4118 Cell
559.897.0304 Home
KC Stone
Fresno, Kings and
Northern Tulare Counties
559.269.6809 Cell
559.561.4508 Home
Stanislaus County South of Tuolomne
River, West of Hwy 99 and East of
San Joaquin River, Merced County,
North of Merced River
209.596.5375 Cell
209.545.6225 Salida
Other Inquiries
Salida Membership Department | P 209.545.6225 F 209.545.6215
Sacramento Membership Department | P 916.446.8368
8 Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2014
Stanislaus County East of Hwy 99
209.531.4112 Cell
209.668.7708 Home
209.545.5225 Salida
Jereme Fromm
Northern Madera and
Southern Merced Counties
Steve Rothenberg
FIELD SUPERVISORS
Assistant Director, Member
Relations, San Joaquin County
East of Jack Tone Rd
Director, Member Relations
San Joaquin County West of
Jack Tone Rd Stanislaus County,
North of the Tuolomne River
209.596.9520 Cell
209.545.6225 Salida
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2014 GROWER LIAISON
District 1
District 4
Legend
Eric Behring
(530) 342-8313
Dustin Wagner
(209) 651-5192
Bruce
McClintock
(530) 895-8771
Phil Mohler
(209) 985-8617
VC
Chairman
C
Greg Overton
(530) 865-2520
VC
Matt Visser
(209) 765-9297
C
Vice-Chairman
VC
Hank Wallace
(530) 342-8770
!
Will Drost
(209) 838-3263
!
Ex-Officio
*
P. Samantha
Lewis
(530) 891-1660
Joseph Due
(209) 982-1972
Director
**
Doug Bentz
(530) 891-0878
Dan Lagier
(209) 838-1192
(530) 891-5252
C
(209) 838-8280
!
Darren Rice
Richard Johns
Appointed
(Member-at-large)
Greg Watts
(530) 934-7660
!
Almond Board
Alternate
ABA
Kevin Borror
(530) 385-1250
Fred
Montgomery
(530) 520-2062
Matt Vernoga
(53) 624-4153
Larry Bradley
(530) 893-5347
Dan Cummings
(530) 894-5494
W. Howard
Isom
(530) 891-0375
Joey Adrian
(209) 685-6895
Jake Sonke
(209) 573-3738
David Costa
(209) 599-4393
Herman
Doornenbal
(209) 614-0872
!
Donovan Adrian
(209) 679-3345
!
**
ABA
Kevin Fondse
(209) 599-2751
**
*
Kenneth Roos
(209) 599-3037
*
1
2
!
3
45
6
8
9
District 5
District 2
Matt Cotter
(916) 919-1307
Jim Manhart
(530) 682-5957
Joe Martinez
(530) 795-1928
Ryan Romness
(530) 790-6716
Leo LaGrande
(530) 681-6380
Halbert W.
Charter
(530) 867-4003
C
!
VC
Merlyn Garber
(209) 522-3851
Gordon
Heinrich
(209) 524-8989
Ron Harding
(209) 522-4159
Sid Miller
(209) 238-9946
Mike Verdegaal
(209) 886-5056
Brum DeVisser
(209) 541-4737
Pete Van Nes
(209) 604-5187
Joe Martins
(209) 595-1900
!
VC
C
2014
Kyle Green
(530) 681-5319
David Swartz
(530) 682-9832
John W.
Monroe
(650) 327-3214
Harry H.
Johns III
(209) 499-8513
Jim Peart
(530) 713-9047
Dennis Bowers
(209) 531-8455
Ralf Sauter
(209) 394-0001
Bill Weller
(530) 624-6053
Jake Verberg
(209) 595-3038
Joseph S. Enos
(209) 606-6132
Mary Ann
Warmerdam
(530) 668-8983
Jerad Heinrich
(209) 599-3124
!
Leo Lamb
(209) 383-5225
(209) 599-4094
**
Elaine
Rominger
(530) 476-2103
Stephen
Van Duyn
Pete Bandoni
(209) 722-0123
Neil Van Duyn
(209) 545-1055
(209) 634-7157
Gerald
Rominger
(530) 476-2103
Andrew
Littlejohn
Douglas Hoyt
(209) 358-8882
Douglas D.
Mathews
(530) 476-2576
!
!
**
(209) 838-7064
*
C
Kathy Thomsen
(209) 914-2580
Joe Rishwain
(209) 477-5841
Joe Molina
(209) 479-1359
Rita E. Low
(209) 823-8762
Stephen
Schmeidt
(209) 825-5430
Lloyd Van
Dyken
(209) 239-6031
Nick Alta
(209) 480-6221
Bill Koster
(209) 836-4690
Allen Sipma
(209) 499-5366
Bruce
Oosterkamp
(209) 505-6234
Craig Miller
(209) 914-4601
!
Bert Van Ryn
(209) 482-1295
!
Dale Van
Groningen
(209) 599-3713
John Thoming
(209) 835-2792
10 Almond Facts
*
*
District 3
Paul Voortman
7
!
VC
**
District 7
Greg Vierra
District 6
Rich Gemperle
(209) 604-8660
C
Lisa Giannini
(209) 535-4121
Randy Bergman
(209) 883-0642
Gerry Costa
(209) 484-4506
!
Greg Nunes
(209) 531-8873
VC
Gary Crowell
(209) 606-3094
Jeff Cederlind
(209) 606-8586
Jeff Abraham
(209) 883-0233
Jeff Lee
(209) 541-7763
Aaron Piazza
(209) 678-0787
Darrell Cordova
(209) 874-4042
Rod Vilas
(209) 602-8537
!
Brian Ramos
(Re. Elwood
Swanson)
(209) 634-6917
*
Charles
Crivelli III
(209) 667-4547
Steve Vilas
(209) 668-4466
*
Bill Brush
(209) 537-8857
ABA
ABA
MAY | JUNE 2014
!
**
District 8
(209) 632-3670
George
Goshgarian (Jr.)
(559) 281-4392
Duane Cunha
(559) 259-5905
Norman Pretzer
(559) 485-9496
Dennis De
Freitas
(559) 864-3456
David Tolmosoff
(559) 250-7005
VC
Riley Chaney
(559) 269-6001
!
John Chandler
C
!
VC
!
Scott Abraham
(209) 605-2671
(559) 289-1152
C
Dan Clendenin
(209) 777-3292
Ken Basila
(559) 908-7632
!
Don Harcksen
(209) 620-1955
G. Peter Fry
(559) 665-1980
Michael Ohki
(209) 485-1844
Dr. S.S.
"Toki" Takhar
(209) 765-4050
Robert J.
Weimer
David L.
Zollinger
R.J. Maan
(559) 871-6048
!
Kyle Rodrigues
(559) 970-4906
(209) 394-2005
**
Richard
Markarian
(559) 269-9829
!
(209) 632-4013
*
George
Goshgarian
(559) 246-4918
**
Aldo Sansoni
(209) 826-4665
*
Vince Balakian
(559) 284-9192
!
Dominic Fino
(559) 591-3711
District 9
Jeff Noble
(559) 359-3844
Don Davis
(661) 792-3423
John Allen
(661) 834-8439
Ernie Spencer
(559) 433-9501
Sean Shick
(805) 234-4608
!
Ben Wilson
(661) 746-4423
Raymond
Van Beek
(559) 791-1126
C
Diana Clark
(661) 792-2171
!
Jason Dhillon
(559) 783-3317
Clinton Shick
(661) 792-2660
**
Robert Larson
(949) 291-5868
Kent Stenderup
(661) 854-6337
ABA
VC
*
EXTINGUISH ANTS IN YOUR ORCHARD
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®
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and to find a list of regional sales representatives near you
visit extinguishfireants.com or call 800.347.8272.
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LOOK!
®
Receive a Spyker spreader with every 1,000 lb order through June 30, 2013.
Contact your Ag distributor or call 1-888-334-1588 for more information.
Always read and follow label directions. Extinguish is a registered trademark of Wellmark International. © 2013 Wellmark International. Spyker is a registered trademark of Brinly-Hardy Company.
Half marathoners charge
down C Street through
Blue Diamond Alley.
PAINTING THE TOWN GREEN
Members of Team Blue Diamond before the start of the half marathon. From left:
Business Director of International Retail Bob Carroll, President and CEO Mark
Jansen, Snack Group Marketing Manager Maya Erwin, Manufacturing Manager
Angie Raimondi, Communications Manager Cassie Montgomery, Customer Service
Accounts Representative Bobby McCuan, and R&D Food Scientist Scott McClure.
Quality Assurance Coordinator
Molly Hosmer cheers on Team Blue
Diamond from Blue Diamond Alley.
Employees Join Thousands of
Runners in Community Race
Blue Diamond employees helped paint
the town green in the 10th annual Blue
Diamond Almonds Shamrock’n Half
Marathon and 5k, March 15-16 in
Sacramento. This is the second year Blue
Diamond participated as the title-sponsor
of the race weekend, getting its healthy
12 Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2014
lifestyle message out to the Sacramento
running community. As the largest half
marathon in Sacramento, more than
8,500 runners completed the 13.1mile trek. New to the Shamrock’n race
weekend was a 5k, held the day before
the half marathon. The 3.1-mile course
attracted more than 1,000 runners.
Altogether between the two races, more
than 30 Blue Diamond employees and
employee family members got their
good going, decked out in Blue Diamond
apparel, to spread the “Good” lifestyle.
Members of Blue
Diamond’s Accounts
Receivables team prepare
to run the Shamrock’n 5k.
From left, Credit Analyst
Klaudia Zevada, Credit
Manager Elaine Dykhouse,
Senior Credit Analyst Dolly
Foote and Credit Analyst
Erika Martin in front.
General Manager of Global
Ingredients Bill Morecraft
completed the half marathon
with his daughter, Katie Abela.
Blue Diamond employees and family
members get ready to cheer on runners.
felt it only appropriate to welcome half
marathoners to run down C Street
through the main Blue Diamond campus,
past the normally closed guard gates.
Blue Diamond Alley welcomed runners
near mile 3.5 of the race. Nearly
100 employees and their families
volunteered to cheer on runners, joining
Communications Manager Cassie
Montgomery and Customer Service Accounts
Representative Bobby McCuan show their Blue
Diamond pride after finishing the half marathon.
100 additional local junior and senior
high school students, proudly clapping
thunder sticks and sporting “Get Your
Good Going” yellow shirts. The energy
and enthusiasm on display was the
perfect chance to show the Sacramento
community that Blue Diamond is THE
BEST place to work!
Quality Assurance Coordinator Molly
Hosmer celebrates her 5k finish!
While the half marathon course
stayed mostly true to its traditional
route from West Sacramento, past
the Capitol, through downtown and
midtown, around the American River
Bike Trail, through Old Sacramento
and finally back across Sacramento’s
iconic Tower Bridge and onto Raley
Field for the finish, race organizers
worked with Blue Diamond to add in a
new feature: Blue Diamond Alley! As the
title sponsor, Blue Diamond management
NETAFIM RECYCLING picks up used irrigation tubing and
leaves you with CASH. Get 4¢ per pound cash OR get a 7¢
per pound credit towards the purchase of new Netafim
irrigation products. Offer good until June 30, 2014. For
details, go to www.phxoffer.com or call (559) 246-8264.
MAY | JUNE 2014
Almond Facts 13
CHICO GROWER PROVIDES
CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY
ON BEE HEALTH
Board member and bee keeper Dan Cummings,
second from left, testifies about the beneficial
relationship between bees and almonds.
Blue Diamond grower and board member, Dan Cummings, recently participated in a congressional hearing before the House
Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Horticulture, Research, Biotechnology and Foreign Agriculture, to review current
research and application of management strategies to control pests and diseases of pollinators. California congressmen Doug
LaMalfa, Jeff Denham and Jim Costa attended the hearing. The following is a summary of his testimony:
California almond growers depend on honeybees for their livelihood. California almonds are the first and
largest crop each spring to require honeybees for pollination. We are very concerned about the health of
honeybees. Approximately 1.6 million honeybee colonies – more than half of all the commercially kept
honeybees in the United States – are needed to pollinate California’s almond orchards. An almond crop
depends on cross-pollination. Each almond orchard has at least two compatible varieties of almonds planted.
The Almond Board of California
has invested $2.3 million in honey
bee health since 1995. Almond
growers have also contributed $2.2
million to Project Apis m, a non-profit
organization that brings together
representatives from the pollination and
crop production industries to support
research aimed at improving the health
of hives, including honeybee nutrition,
managing pests and diseases effectively,
restoring honeybee genetic stock
diversity, and helping honeybees cope
with parasites and disease.
Blue Diamond Growers will contribute
$100,000 to Project Apis m this year
for research dedicated to healthier
honeybees. This is in conjunction with
14 Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2014
Blue Diamond’s introduction of several
new honey almond products.
Almonds are the earliest blooming
natural food source for honeybees after
wintering on supplements. Honeybees
found in California’s almond orchards
are faced with an abundance of natural
forage. Those honeybees not involved
with almond pollination remain on
supplements for a longer period of
time. As a result, hives typically increase
after almond pollination and bloom.
These larger hives are then “split” into
smaller units by beekeepers. It is best
to ensure honeybees have a diverse,
season-long chain of food sources.
Research has also resulted in
establishing best practices for dealing
with the Varroa mite. This is a pest that
emerged in the mid-1980s that attacks
beehives by weakening and shortening
the life span of the honeybees on
which they feed. Initial feedback
from beekeepers has been that those
who have adopted these newer bee
management practices experience
improved honeybee hive health and
performance.
Our industry is also part of an
alliance that created a farming
guide to promote reduced-risk and
environmentally responsible pest
management practices based on over
5 years of field data and experience
in almond orchards. The health of
the honeybee is a top priority in the
TGSV-Blade20144.5x5FINAL.pdf
Another project extends best practices
to queen honeybee breeders to assure
honeybee health and genetic diversity.
Dr. Marla Spivak at the University of
Minnesota leads this research. It has
12/31/13
1:01 PM
GET EVERY NUT
Best Management Practices. These
guidelines include recommendations
to avoid applications of insecticides
during bloom; and to minimize
exposure by honeybees to any spray
by avoiding applications when pollen
is available and honeybees are feeding.
Several promising new bee research
programs funded by the almond
industry are underway. Dedicated
research to improve honeybee
genetic stock has resulted in breeding
honeybees for hygienic behavior to
help control diseases like the Varroa
mite. Current research by Dr.
Walter Sheppard and Sue Cobey
at Washington State University is
aimed at restoring genetic diversity
to commercial honeybee stock. By
increasing the gene pool within
breeding stock, honeybees will be
better able to cope with parasites and
pathogens.
1
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Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
The New Schmeiser V-Blade Roller combines all the
advantages of a durable V-Blade with a Rear Roller to
provide groove-free smoothing and reduced loose dirt
at the row ends.
Contact us for complete details.
1-800-288-8128 • www.tgschmeiser.com
MAY | JUNE 2014
Almond Facts 15
increased the proportion of improved stock in commercial
breeding lines. It has also implemented diagnostic and
integrated pest management (IPM) programs resulting in
better control of bee hive pests with fewer chemicals.
A third research project being conducted by Dr. Louisa
Hooven at Oregon State University builds on past
research assessing the impact of fungicides on honeybees.
This work is evaluating the impact of four fungicides
currently used in almonds on honeybee development.
The almond industry is instrumental in the development
of MegaBee, a new nutritional supplement for
honeybees, which can be used in the late summer and
fall when natural sources of pollen are at low ebb. It
has helped establish later summer-fall feeding practices
that are important for strong hives. For example,
Dr. Frank Eischen of ARS/USDA is conducting an
ongoing study in Kern County, which indicates that
hive build up resulted in an average of a 27% increase
in hive strength. He notes, that at the beginning of
almond bloom, the hive strength averaged 11 frames of
honeybees and at the end of bloom; the hive strength
averaged 14 frames of honeybees. This improves in warm weather conditions, like we just
experienced in February 2014, where a hive of 8 to 10
frames of honeybees will increase to 15 to 16 frames
of honeybees. This is an increase in size or “strength”
ranging from 50% and up! Further research is currently
being conducted on this year’s bloom and its impact on
the health of honeybees.
A full copy of Dan’s remarks are available at: http://
agriculture.house.gov/sites/republicans.agriculture.
house.gov/files/pdf/hearings/Cummings140428.pdf.
Cummings is CEO of Capay Farms in Chico, California; and
CFO of Olivarez Honey Bees.
Almonds
Walnuts
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16 Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2014
Making your voice heard
in D.C. and Sacto.
Blue Diamond piles on the miles,
representing your best interests with
lawmakers at the national and
state level.
“My frequent flyer miles
are piling up.”
A non-profit organization, our Political
Action Committee works to support
policies that benefit California almond
growers.
And, by building relationships, we
promote a better understanding of
issues that impact your business,
resulting in more favorable legislation.
Raising your visibility on Capitol Hill
and in Sacramento is one more way
Blue Diamond brings value to our
grower partnerships. Add to that our
flexible contracts, global marketing
and top returns…all good reasons
to call us now and join the thousands
of California growers who prosper with
Blue Diamond.
Partner with the world’s leading
grower-owned cooperative!
Call 209-545-6225
email [email protected]
Almond Facts -Frequent Flyer ad 7” x 10” no bleed, cmyk. Version 3
Eating Nuts Daily
Results in Nearly 30
Percent Reduction in
Heart Disease Deaths
NEWS IN A NUTSHELL
Researchers found that individuals who ate a serving of tree nuts less than
once a week had a 7 percent reduction in mortality (tree nuts included
walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, macadamias, pecans,
Health
Magazine
Highlights
Disease
Prevention
Benefits of
Almonds
In an online feature designed to
help consumers choose the best nuts
for their health, Health magazine
names almonds the “Best nuts for
disease prevention.” The segment
also points consumers to Blue Diamond
by recommending the cooperative’s
Wasabi & Soy and Lime ‘n Chili flavored
snack items. “Relatively low in calories,
almonds have more calcium than
any other nut, making them a great
food for overall health. Plus they
are rich in fiber and vitamin E, an
antioxidant that helps fight dangerous
inflammation and possibly health
conditions such as lung cancer and agerelated cognitive decline,” the article
touted.
18 Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2014
PREP-ARATION
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Don’t just stand by and hope for the best. Use the E-250 to turn your product,
removing sticks, grass, and leaves and evenly metering the cleaned
product into the middle of the row.
The
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• Reduce drying time
• Increase your product turnouts
• Minimize crop exposure
Built by farmers for farmers…we understand!
Please visit www.exactcorp.com
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ing can improve
To learn how condition
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Heart Disease
Reduced by
30%
with NUTS
cashews, pistachios and pine nuts).
Those consuming a serving once a week
experienced an 11 percent reduction;
two to four times per week, a 13 percent
reduction; five to six times per week, a
15 percent reduction; and seven or more
times a week, a 20 percent reduction in
death rate.
Risk reductions were seen across a
number of potentially fatal chronic
illnesses, including cancer, heart
disease, stroke and diabetes, as the
scientists attributed lower death rates
to an improvement in cholesterol ratios
and reductions in oxidative stress,
inflammation, adiposity and insulin
resistance. The lead study author, Dr.
Charles Fuchs, concluded, the most
obvious benefit was a reduction of 29
percent in deaths from heart disease, the
major killer of people in America. But
we also saw a significant reduction, 11
percent, in the risk of dying from cancer.
Eating More
Tree Nuts
Lowers
Death Risk
by Up to 20
Percent
A group of researchers from the DanaFarber Cancer Institute, Brigham and
Women’s Hospital, and the Harvard School
of Public Health have published the results
of a study in the prestigious New England
Journal of Medicine that explains how people
who ate a daily handful of nuts were 20
percent less likely to die from any cause
over a 30-year period than those who didn’t
consume nuts were. As an aside, regular
nut-eaters were found to be more slender
than those who didn’t eat nuts, a finding
that should alleviate the widespread worry
that eating a lot of nuts will lead to excess
weight gain.
News continued on next page »
MAY | JUNE 2014
Almond Facts 19
NEWS IN A NUTSHELL
Team Blue Diamond at the Sacramento-area Ride
for the Cure. From left, General Manager of Global
Supply Chain Ken Lehman and his friend Debbie
Biggane, Director of Planning and Purchasing
Dave Allen, Internal Auditor Francis Bueb, Global
Ingredient Regional Sales Manager Richard Andonian
and Logistics Administrator Gary Allen.
Employees Bike
For A Diabetes Cure
Team Blue Diamond was the fourth highest fundraising team
for the 2014 Gold Country Tour de Cure for the American
Diabetes Association. Six riders teamed up for the 31-mile bike
ride on May 3rd, surpassing their fundraising goal of $3,500
by posting a total of $3,732 for the cause. The course wound
through the scenic back roads of Rocklin and up into Lincoln.
News continued on next page »
20 Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2014
MAY | JUNE 2014
Almond Facts 21
NEWS IN A NUTSHELL
Congratulations
to the winning
team! From
left, Curt Van
Elderen, John
Barnes, Derek
Wood, Tim
Fitzgerald, Todd
Morganson, and
not pictured,
Greg Dabney.
Annual Golf Tournament Brings
Hullers, Sheller and Growers Together
Tournament organizer and field supervisor Bob Ketcher was very pleased with the outcome of Blue Diamond’s 2014 Huller/
Sheller Golf Tournament, saying it was an “awesome event that went off without a hitch.”
“The weather was great, the turnout was great, the lunch and dinner were great and the players were great! It doesn’t get any
better than that,” he said.
Blue Diamond would like to thank all of the sponsors for their continued generous donations and those who made donations of
cash or items for the tournament raffle. “I would also like to thank the non-golfer volunteers who come out each year and help
on the course, making it a great combined effort. This is what makes this tournament a success!” Ketcher explained.
Save the date for next year’s tournament: April 21, 2015 at the Turlock Golf and Country Club.
2014 Huller Sheller Golf Tournament
Sponsors:
Donors:
Bayer CropScience – ROVRAL – SCALA
– GEM – RELY280 – MOVENTO – LUNA –
Drew Neilsen
Bank of America – Bob Munn
CoBank – Ed Nishio
Yosemite Farm Credit – Melba Miyamoto
V-V Enterprises – Dave Van Vliet
American AgCredit – Audrey Lopes-Dermond
Caloy Quality Natural Oils – Wayne
McCalley
International Paper – Jay Jordan
Oakdale Trading Company – Jim Parola
O.M.C./WESCO – Ken Stewart & Joe
Martinez
22 Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2014
Interstate Truck Center – Idealease – Dean
Barnes
JKB Energy – Joe Bonander
Marzon Trucking Inc. – Greg Mazon
Button Transportation – Bob Button
Valley Farm Transport – Dave Nickum
Winton, Ireland, Strom, & Green
Insurance – Tom Murphy
Garton Tractor, Inc. – Bill Garton & Eugene
Kajioka
KEVKO Enterprises – Kevin Kollmeyer
The Hat Source – Teresa & Mike Hansen
Fleisig Consulting – Bill Fleisig
R. L. Wells & Associates – Rick Wells
Salida Hulling & Shelling – Tony Plaza
Pan American Insurance – Ray Avila
Minturn Huller Co-op – Jeff Hamilton
Geri Johnson Crop Insurance – Lisa
Stavrianoudakis
Pacific Distributing – Billy Ashby
Dunlop Almond Hulling – Paul Vermuelen
Hilltop Ranch Hulling/Shelling – Rich
Miller
Beeler Industries – Greg Dabney
Flory Industries – Jason Flory
News continued on next page »
LENDING
A HAND
SINCE
1916
We are the Farm Credit System — a nationwide
network of customer-owned lending institutions
focused exclusively on agriculture.
We’ve been around since 1916 and we’re not going anywhere – except forward.
When you need financial help for your farm or ranch, come to us. Because this
system works. For you.
Find the Farm Credit member location near you.
FarmCreditAlliance.com
American AgCredit
(855) 611-4110 toll-free
CoBank
Farm Credit West
MAY | JUNE 2014
Almond Facts 23
NEWS IN A NUTSHELL
Team Blue Diamond Raises $2,875
for March of Dimes, March for Babies
Several Blue Diamond Growers employees and family members participated in April’s March of Dimes, March for Babies
event in Sacramento. Walkers helped fundraise for the organization, raising nearly $3,000 to support research into the
problems that threaten the health of babies. The cooperative sponsored a mid-way checkpoint, handing out almonds and
cold water, servicing many walkers and showing Blue Diamond’s commitment to its community.
Team Up with
Project Apis m.
‘Seeds for Bees’ Forage Project
February, 2015, it will take 1.7 million
honey bee colonies to pollinate the
almond crop. Growers need healthy
and vigorous bees for pollination.
Now more than ever, we need to work
on building honey bee nutrition and
habitat. Well-fed bees live longer,
over-winter better and result in a
greater supply of bees for almond
pollination.
How can you help? Project Apis m.
provides almond growers with free
seed – growers provide the land.
Working with land manager cooperators, PAm has identified low-moisture-requiring seed mixes, seed
suppliers, and planting regimes. Our
24 Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2014
goal is to provide honey bee colonies
diverse, nutritional resources prior to
and after almond bloom. Dedicate
any amount of acreage for honey bee
forage. Areas to consider planting:
• When trees are being taken out
of production
• In between young, non-bearing
trees
• As a cover crop between rows
• Orchard margins or borders
• Along access rows and waterways
• Fallow or unused land
In addition to providing needed food
resources for honey bees, you may
also profit from cover crop planting.
Benefits include enhancing soil fertility, fixing nitrogen, improving water
infiltration and reducing soil erosion.
We are now enrolling almond
growers in the forage project. Contact Meg Ribotto at ProjectApis@
gmail.com. Ideal time to sow is after
harvest, while the soil is still warm
and before the first germinating rains.
Learn more at www.ProjectApism.
org. Be part of the solution. Together,
we can build a sustainable honey bee
supply for pollination services.
Project Apis m. is a 501(c) (5) non-profit
organization.
Whole Foods Honors
Blue Diamond with
Supplier Award
Each year, Whole Foods Market celebrated the suppliers that best “embody
its mission and core values.” For 2014, Blue Diamond was honored in the
“Commodity Ingredients” category for “high quality products, and its
partnership to meet Whole Food’s business needs.”
Global Ingredient Regional Sales
Manager Debbie Rogoff accepts
the Whole Foods supplier award
on Blue Diamond’s behalf.
“Shoppers trust Whole Foods Market to uphold the highest quality, ingredient
and sourcing standards in the industry, and our suppliers go to great lengths to
help us deliver on that promise every day. Our supplier award winners set the
gold standard for producers in the industry, and we’re proud to celebrate their
achievements,” said Edmund LaMacchia, Whole Foods Market’s global VP of
procurement and perishables.
Breeze Recipe of the Month:
Tropical Mango Pancakes
MAY | JUNE 2014
Almond Facts 25
JACKRunner 180
Save Time
HIGH SPEED
SELF PROPELLED SHUTTLE
ЅF+BDL3VOOFSNBUFTXJUIUIF8FEHFSFTFSWPJSDBSUPOUIFNPWF
The JackRunner is the original nut
harvesting system that can travel in
both directions up to 30 mph
For the fastest shuttle system from the reservoir cart to the elevator choose JackRabbit. Fast entry, fast
exit, never crossing berms or running over irrigation.
tFastoЅF+BDL3VOOFSBQQSPBDIFTUIFSFTFSWPJSDBSUBOEIBSWFTUFSUSBWFMJOHJOSFWFSTFGBDJOHBXBZGSPNUIFSFTFSWPJSDBSU
t Economicalo8JUIUIFSVOOFSWBMWFUIFSFTFSWPJSDBSUBVUPNBUJDBMMZTUBSUTUPVOMPBEOVUTJOUPUIF+BDL3VOOFSCJOBTUIF
IBSWFTUFSDPOUJOVFTEPXOUIFPSDIBSESPX:PVSIBSWFTUOFWFSTUPQT
t Efficiento0ODFUIF+BDL3VOOFSCJOJTGVMMUIFPQFSBUPSESJWFTBXBZUSBWFMJOHGPSXBSEUPUIFFMFWBUPSUPVOMPBE
t ProfitableoЅF+BDL3VOOFSSFEVDFTFYQFOTJWFMBCPSBOEFRVJQNFOUUJNFCZUSBWFMMJOHCPUIEJSFDUJPOTUPUIF
IBSWFTUFSGSPNUIFIBSWFTUFSBOEUPUIFFMFWBUPS
$VNNJOHT-5JFS)15VSCP
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'JOHFSUJQDPOUSPMT
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+BDL3BCCJUt*OEVTUSJBM"WF3JQPO$"ttXXXKBDLSBCCJUC[
and Harvest Expense
ЅF+BDL3VOOFSQVMMTBMPOHTJEFUIF+BDL3BCCJU&MFWBUPS#JO
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JOUPUIF+BDL3BCCJU
&MFWBUPS#JOJOMFTTUIFOTFDPOET'BTUDPOUJOVPVTVOMPBEJOH
XJUIPVUQMVHHJOH
New Cockpit for less Operator Fatigue
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t .PSFDBCWJTJCJMJUZGPSGPSXBSEBOESFWFSTFUSBWFMUIFOBOZPUIFSTIVUUMF
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t +PZTUJDLDPOUSPMTGPSGPSXBSEBOESFWFSTFTQFFECJOEVNQBOEBVHFS
DPOUSPM
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Total System Control means the Operator Stays in Runner
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NEW
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Honey Product Line
Supports Honey Bees
CORNERING THE MARKET
Honeybees and almond trees go together like, well, honey and
almonds. As a cross-pollinated crop, almonds are 100 percent
dependent on honey bees for the pollination of the crop and every
spring, more than a million colonies of honey bees are trucked into
California to get the job done. Honeybees are also responsible for
pollinating one-third of the world’s food supply.
Since 1976, Blue Diamond has helped fund research in more than 70 projects
focused on the health of bees, pollination and colony health. This is the largest,
most sustained investment of any agricultural organization. Through this effort,
the cooperative has partnered with beekeepers and research institutions to fund
new ways to support honey bee health by addressing issues of nutrition, stock
improvement, pest and disease management and the impact of pesticides.
Beyond Research, Blue
Diamond is also taking
the following steps to
help honey bee health:
• Planting diverse
ground cover to
improve honey bee
nutrition and foraging
• Minimizing exposure
of bees and pollen to
fungicides
• Investigating
management
techniques for
eradication of varroa
mites and other bee
pests
• Strengthening and
improving bee
stocks and breeding
programs
28 Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2014
Blue Diamond remains committed to investing in bee health research and instituting
industry-leading practices to ensure healthier bee colonies. The cooperative
recently donated an additional $100,000 to Project Apis m., a non-profit 501 (c)
(5) organization whose mission is to direct research that will enhance the health of
honey bees while improving crop production. Almond Facts contributors Christi
Heintz and Meg Ribotto cover the activities of Project Apis m. in their ongoing
column, The Bee Box. Their organization is committed to providing growers with
healthier bees resulting in better pollination and increased crop yields. Blue Diamond
believes in their mission of pursuing science-based solutions to bee challenges.
See What All the Buzz is About
To show Blue Diamond’s support for bee health and pollination research, the
cooperative launched the “BeeCause We Care” campaign, a cross-platform
marketing campaign introducing a full-line of honey-flavored products from Snack
Steakhouse Cheese
and Almond Spread
Almonds and Nut Thins, to Almond Breeze
Almondmilk. Each new honey-flavored
item, including a revamped “Honey
Roasted” can, features a “BeeCause
We Care” sticker, highlighting the
importance of honey bees to food
production and almonds, in particular.
“Honey offers a subtle sweetness that
can satisfy any craving,” said John
O’Shaughnessy, General Manager of
North American Retail. “Honey is the
perfect flavor enhancer for consumers
who want natural products but want
them to taste like indulgent foods.”
The honey-flavored Snack Almond line
starts with the cooperative’s popular
“Honey Roasted” almonds and using
Blue Diamond’s unique honey roast
process, takes it to the next level with
three new flavors, “Honey Roasted
Vanilla,” “Honey Roasted Cinnamon”
and “Honey Roasted Chipotle.” Each
new product is made with real honey
and packs five grams of protein per oneounce serving.
The Nut Thins line is expanding with
two honey-flavors, “Honey Cinnamon”
and “Honey Mustard.” Made with real
almonds and a touch of honey, these
crackers join the co-op’s popular line
of snack-friendly wheat and gluten-free
crackers. Rounding out the product
introductions is Almond Breeze Almondmilk
with “Hint of Honey” and “Hint of
Honey Vanilla.” Made with real honey,
these provide a hint of honey in a rich
and creamy milk-alternative.
Check out your local Blue Diamond
Nut and Gift Shop for these new and
exciting products this summer!
Submitted by Patty Mastracco,
of Patty Mastracco Food, Inc.
www.idofood.com
Crumble crisp, cooked bacon over top just
before serving if you like
Prep time: 10 minutes
1 (8 oz.) block 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup Blue Diamond Hint of Honey Almond Breeze
1 teaspoon steak seasoning blend
2 cloves garlic
2 green onions, sliced
1/4 cup chopped Blue Diamond Honey Roasted Chipotle Almonds
Blue Diamond Honey Mustard Nut Thins
Fresh cut vegetables
Puree cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, Breeze, seasoning and garlic
in a food processor. Add green onions and pulse on and off until
finely chopped. Transfer to a small bowl and sprinkle with nuts.
Serve with Nut Thins and vegetables. Spread may be prepared 1
day ahead and stored tightly covered in the refrigerator.
MAY | JUNE 2014
Almond Facts 29
2014 Marks 50th Anniversary of
Blue Diamond-Hardwani Partnership
Singapore-based agent distributes almonds throughout southeast Asia
CORNERING THE MARKET
With a 104-year-old history, Blue Diamond
is synonymous with almonds around
the world, but it took many years of
market- and relationship-building to get
there. Starting when the cooperative was
known as the California Almond Growers
Exchange, finding and cultivating the right
partnerships across the globe was and is key
to growing the business.
One such key partner is Hardwani PTE LTD,
a Singapore-based agent who has represented
Blue Diamond since its inception in 1964. Rajesh
Hardwani heads the family-owned agency, known
formerly as “TN Agencies.” He serves as CEO and
owner of the company that his late father Nanik
started. Hardwani’s sisters have also worked at the
company throughout the years, helping to manage
logistics and customer service.
Enviromental Benefits:
Blue Diamond’s Global Ingredient International Sales team
commemorates the cooperative’s 50-year partnership with Hardwani PTE
LTD by presenting a plaque to Rajesh Hardwani on his most recent trip to
Blue Diamond’s headquarters in Sacramento. From left, Global Ingredient
Sales Manager Jeffrey Sleeper, Director of International Sales Warren
Cohen, CEO and Owner of Hardwani PTE LTD Rajesh Hardwani, and General
Manager of Global Ingredient Sales Bill Morecraft.
As the local representative for Blue Diamond in Southeast Asia,
Hardwani is the face and voice of the cooperative. Working closely
with the region’s sales manager based in Sacramento, Hardwani
takes care of day-to-day business on Blue Diamond’s behalf, handling
everything from customer interactions to order processing, in order
to meet regional sales goals and projections. Covering territory that
expands from Singapore to Malaysia and Indonesia, Hardwani
has introduced almonds to both ingredient and retail customers
throughout the region.
Shru-Crop is bio-converted from Kelp
and Molasses into a marine and
micro-nutrient rich fertilizer that increases
the availability of 17 essential nutrients
that’s needed for maximum plant growth;
it helps to raise brix levels, increase crop
yield, retain soil moisture, reduce insects
such as nematodes, stink bugs and
reduce chemical fertilization needs.
Popular products in the region include the full range of value-added,
flavored and Nonpareil almonds. Hardwani also works extensively
with research and development teams of the many major food
companies in the region to develop new uses for almonds.
Ron Barnes: Agronomist, Chemist and
CEO of Monarch Labortory INC., Chico CA
Thanks to the hard work of Hardwani PTE, Blue Diamond is now
well established as the premier almond ingredient in the region.
Confectionary, bakery and food ingredient customers all know to
call on Hardwani for their almond ingredient requirements. Blue
Diamond enjoys the majority of almond business in the region, and
almond consumption continues to rise. The cooperative’s success
in southeast Asia would not be possible without the hardwork and
dedication of Hardwani.
Consultant for James Tanioka Farm
(209) 769-5627
Shur-Crop Is manufactured in California since 1970
Ingredients: Certified Organic
Icelandic Kelp & Molasses
BY LEE KENDER, INC. P O BOX 472, ORVILLE CA 95965
(808) 531-3141 Office | (808) 531-2473 Fax
30 Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2014
“They have always promoted Blue Diamond and touted the value
of almonds,” said Warren Cohen, Director of International
Sales. “They have literally been a part of bringing the benefits of
almonds to the world.”
“We are very fortunate to have such solid partners in Hardwani
and look forward to working with them for many more years,”
Cohen said.
MAY | JUNE 2014
Almond Facts 31
IMMIGRATION REFORM
NEEDED TO AID
ECONOMIC RECOVERY
Blue Diamond Growers is fighting hard in the nation’s capitol to support a comprehensive immigration
program, because without workers, agriculture as an industry cannot survive. The cost of food is at stake,
as growers without labor resources weigh whether or not they can afford to plant and harvest their crops,
potentially limiting supply and causing the country to look outside its borders for food imports. Let’s explore
the need for immigration reform and the proposed solutions to this important national issue.
Severe worker shortages and an
inefficient visa program are hurting
American farmers and putting domestic
jobs at risk. Without access to a legal,
reliable workforce, fields go untilled,
crops spoil and hundreds of millions
of dollars in economic potential go
to waste.
Immigration reform will help the
American economy and create jobs.
According to a report from the National
Council of Farmer Cooperatives,
the United States stands to gain an
estimated $1.5 trillion over 10 years
from comprehensive immigration
reform, in addition to a $66 billion boost
in federal tax collection. Immigrant
farm workers help contribute billions to
the U.S. economy every year. As a whole,
agriculture contributes $100 billion to
the nation’s economy, thanks in large
part to the immigrant farm workers
who make up 80 percent of the farm
workforce.
Economic success in agriculture has
a ripple effect on industries down the
line. Each of the 1.6 million hired
32 Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2014
farm employees working on American
farms and ranches supports two to
three full-time jobs in food processing,
transportation, farm equipment,
marketing and retail, and other sectors.
The almond industry alone supports
88,400 jobs down the value chain!
Without immigrant farm workers,
economic output would decline and
thousands of U.S. citizens would lose
their jobs.
In the meantime, farmers are struggling
to find workers. A 2012 survey by the
California Farm Bureau found that 71
percent of tree fruit growers, and nearly
80 percent of raisin and berry growers
were unable to find an adequate number
of employees to prune trees or vines, or
pick the crop. This lack of workers is
costing farmers millions of dollars each
year — in 2010, agricultural employers
reported more than $300 million in
losses.
What does this mean for the price of
American grown food?
Using the dairy industry as an example,
a 2012 Texas A&M University study
concluded that farms using immigrant
labor supply more than three-fifths of
the milk in the United States. Without
immigrant labor, the number of dairy
farms would drop by 4,532, reducing
milk production by 29.5 billion pounds
and raising retail milk prices by an
estimated 61 percent!
A 2008 study by Texas A&M University
reported that 77 percent of vegetable
farmers reported scaling back
operations. More than 80,000 acres of
fresh produce that used to be grown in
California have been moved to other
countries. Estimates are that thousands
of farms could fail and farm income
could drop by $5 to $9 billion if this
trend continues.
To right this agricultural ship, swift and
comprehensive immigration reform is
needed. The crisis must be addressed
through legislative reform that includes
both a program to provide access to a
legal workforce into the future and add
adjustment for current experienced
unauthorized agricultural workers.
Agriculture supports border security
and enforcement measures so long as
it is coupled with a solution providing
agriculture with a legal and stable
workforce.
The solution must address two
populations: the current workforce
and the future agricultural workforce.
In order to maximize the impact
on current economic activity, the
Agriculture Workforce Coalition, a
coalition representing a broad crosssection of American agriculture,
supports an adjustment of the status
for experienced, but unauthorized,
agricultural workers who currently
reside in the United States. This
adjustment should include the following
components:
•
These workers have a future
obligation to work in agriculture
for several years.
•
Upon completion of this future
work obligation, the workers
could obtain legal status and
the right to working in whatever
industries they choose, including
agriculture.
The Agricultural Worker Program
will ensure a future legal workforce for
agriculture. The new program must
offer both the employer and employee
choice and flexibility through two
different work options: an “At-Will”
visa and a Contract visa. “At-Will” visa
employees have the freedom to move
from employer to employer without any
contractual commitment, replicating
the way market forces allocate the labor
force now. Contract visa employees
commit to work for an employer for a
fixed period of time, giving both parties
increased stability where it is mutually
preferred.
For more information about
immigration reform, visit the National
Council of Farmer Cooperative’s
website at www.ncfc.org, or the website
of the Agriculture Workforce Coalition
at www.agworkforcecoalition.org.
Social Media Campaign
Aims to Recharge
Immigration Reform Push
Through a partnership with the Agriculture Workforce Coalition and
the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives — the leading lobbying
arm for cooperatives in the country, including Blue Diamond
Growers — the Partnership for a New American Economy launched
the #ifarmimmigration campaign, an industry-wide campaign to
support renewed efforts to enact immigration reform. The campaign
joins the larger #iamimmigration campaign, which aims to unite
industries from across the economy to help fix the nation’s broken
immigration system.
Using social platforms such as Twitter and Facebook can connect your
stories to others’, providing useful, real-life context for the need for
immigration reform. Use the official hashtag #ifarmimmigration in
all your posts to connect your content to the broader conversation,
making it easier for the immigration reform community and the
general public to see and amplify the campaign. Tweet about your
personal reasons for supporting immigration reform or about key
facts related to the issue. Take and share photos with your followers
using the official hashtag.
For more information, visit www.iamimmigration.org.
MAY | JUNE 2014
Almond Facts 33
Drought Irrigation Management
Making the Most of Dry Conditions
With the final snowpack measurement for the season reporting 32 percent of normal water content for the
year, the 2013-2014 snow year is no longer the driest year on record, but rather the third- or fourth-driest
snow year since California began recording the statistic. The slight increase in snowpack, however, does
little in terms of agricultural water supplies in the state. Though the State Water Project and the Central
Valley Project have both increases their allotments from zero to 5 percent, it seems unlikely that contract
allotments will rise much more, if at all. For agriculture, there seems little option but to proceed with the
original plan, and that means sticking to a drought irrigation strategy.
David Doll, University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) farm advisor for Merced County, covers
almond drought irrigation strategy regularly on the blog, The Almond Doctor (www.thealmonddoctor.com).
Here are some basics for tending to your orchard’s water needs in such dry conditions.
Determine the Situation at Hand
To determine irrigation schedule, Doll recommends employing a pressure chamber to pinpoint
the stem water potential of the trees. Taking into account the amount of water that a grower
has available, it is recommended that the water be spread out at the relative percentage of water
use. For example, if 15 percent of the season’s water were available, then each irrigation would be
15 percent of normal. Doll cautions growers to “keep in mind that in drought years, it is often hotter
than in ‘normal’ years.”
It is best to start irrigations when the trees begin to “work” for water. Using the pressure
chamber, as previously noted, growers should determine their baseline.
The point at which the trees start to “work” is around two bars beneath the baseline. If baseline
is -8, irrigation should begin at -10. If facing a moderate curtailment, it may be best to let the
trees stress a little more, dropping -4 below the baseline. The basic idea is to stress the trees,
which triggers a physiological response, making the trees more drought resistant.
A grower measures the
moisture status of his almond
trees. Photo courtesy of UC
Cooperative Extension.
Plan Your Nutrients Accordingly
To Pull or Not to Pull?
For growers facing water restrictions, reductions of inseason fertilizers and foliar nutrients will help decrease the
vigor of the tree. Post harvest fertilizer applications are still
recommended. Pay particular attention to mites, Doll warns.
With severely stressed trees, mites can flare up easily, causing
defoliation and adding to the tree stress. If the orchard has
a history of pyrethroid use, miticides will most likely be
necessary for the coming growing season. If softer chemistries
have been used, sprays may be limited or unnecessary. In any
case, monitoring the population of mites and beneficials will
be needed throughout the season to see if they approach the
treatment threshold.
One of the toughest questions for growers this year has been
whether to remove older blocks of almonds ahead of schedule
in order to divert the water to their younger, more productive
orchards. Doll recommends this option, especially if blocks
were planned to be cycled out and removed within the next
few years anyway. Water from these blocks would be put to
better use on younger trees, helping to negate the effects on
the developing block.
In terms of nitrogen, UCCE trial results suggest to reduce
nitrogen rates by about half of the water curtailment. For
example, growers facing a 50 percent water reduction should
reduce nitrogen by a minimum of 25 percent. In a second
year of drought irrigation, the reduction of nitrogen should
match the reduction in water – 50 percent water reduction, 50
percent nitrogen reduction. The takeaway to remember is that
too much nitrogen will flush growth, increasing vegetation,
which in turn, will require more water.
34 Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2014
“Almond trees can survive on as little as 7.6 inches of water,”
he said. “This severe of water reduction, however will reduce
crop and require multiple years of full irrigation to regain
production. A second point to consider is that since it takes
two full years of irrigation to regain production, water should
be diverted from orchards planned to be removed within the
next three years to younger blocks.”
Doll drove home the message that it will take two full years of
irrigation for trees to recover, stating that it is “better to think
of how the water shortage decreases growth, spur and bud
formation. All of these are needed for future production.”
For more information about drought irrigation strategies
and other almond-related research from the University of
California Cooperative Extension, visit www.thealmonddoctor.
com or www.fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu.
Spread the
Water Word
You may have noticed the recent
bout of unbalanced reporting
to hit the media regarding
agricultural water use. Specifically,
some in the media have targeted
almond growers who, they say,
may be using more than their
share of water! As California
continues to navigate through
the driest year on record, Almond
Facts would like to explore the
facts about the realities of water
use in our Golden State over the
next several issues.
Scapegoating and blame is not
only misleading, but it moves
us further away from what all
Californians need to do, which is
demand a long-term viable water
policy that works for everyone. We
are calling our ongoing column
“Spread the Water Word” because
there is no one better to educate
others, including your neighbors,
about the facts than you!
Q: Why should California focus
on building storage instead of
limiting certain agricultural crops,
such as almonds?
Annually, the amount of water
that is lost to the ocean with
little, if anything, to show in the
way of environmental benefits
is a shame. Outflows that fail
to demonstrate benefits to
fisheries or water quality are lost
opportunities to protect farms,
families and businesses from
devastating water supply cuts.
The focus for California, and the
media covering California water
politics, should be to ask why
agricultural and urban water
users are held accountable to
meet efficiency standards, but
environmental water managers
are not. They are unable to
quantify the benefits of the 48
percent of California’s dedicated
water supply that is committed
to environmental purposes.
Instead of advocating for landuse restrictions, addressing water
storage should be the state’s top
priority.
Q: Why not just retire certain swaths
of agricultural land to devote water
to other users?
The 2014 drought gives Californians
a taste of what a land retirement
program might look like. Farmers
have idled 800,000 acres or more of
farmland this year, costing roughly
20,000 jobs and a $7.5 billion hit to
the economy. This kind of economic
hit reverberates throughout the
supply chain as jobs in processing,
trucking, wholesale and retail are
affected. Imagine this on a larger,
permanent scale. The costs for
land retirement far outweigh the
perceived benefits.
Q: Is there water to be saved by
thinning out the Sierra Nevada
forests?
A University of California study is
exploring the possibility that denser
Sierra Nevada forests use more
water and physically interfere with
the ability of precipitation to reach
the forest floor. The Sierra Nevada
Watershed Ecosystem Enhancement
Project (SWEEP) proposes thinning
to reduce the density of trees to a
more sparse historic level. Thinning
reduces the amount of vegetation
using water and so results in
more precipitation, particularly
snowmelt, infiltrating into the
soil and eventually running off
as stream water. SWEEP will
use scientific methods to learn
how thinning affects a number
of hydrological parameters and
will leverage instrumentation
and results from other sites to
rigorously quantify the effect of
thinning on stream flow.
Q: Can improved irrigation
systems conserve up to 9 million
acre-feet of water?
According to the Center for
Irrigation Technology at Cal State
University Fresno, the actual
conservation potential from
California agriculture is about
300,000 acre-feet, or about
1 percent of typical applied
water. California farmers have
invested more than $3 billion
on 2.4 million acres to improve
the efficiency of their irrigation
systems. Between 1967 and 2007,
California farmers have almost
doubled their productive yield,
improving quality, while using
14 percent less water to do it.
Public investments in irrigation
infrastructure play a valuable role
in food cost savings for American
consumers.
MAY | JUNE 2014
Almond Facts 35
Agricultural
Council of California
TRICIA GERINGER, Vice President
AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA
Repeat Performance
In what seems like a bad movie sequel, California agriculture is dealing once again with a proposed law
that will require mandatory labeling of any food products that include genetically modified organisms
(GMOs). Senator Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) has introduced SB 1381, a bill with language that is
remarkably similar to Proposition 37. Since approximately 70 to 80 percent of food production involves
some form of GMOs, this potential law has significant repercussions for California agriculture. As with
most labeling laws, the devil is in the details, and actual implementation would be extremely difficult for
consumers and food producers, alike.
Over 400 studies conducted on genetically engineered food
ingredients have determined they have no negative impacts on
food safety. In fact, the American Medical Association, National
Academy of Sciences, World Health Organization and United
States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) all have studied
genetically engineered ingredients and found them to be harmless.
SB 1381, like its predecessor Proposition 37, has no basis in science.
That being said, consumers still have a choice if they want to
purchase food products that do not contain genetically modified
ingredients. Any food labeled with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) Certified Organic label must be free of GMOs.
Products can also be certified through third party certification
under the Non-GMO Project, and many growers and food
companies have already pursued this market-driven solution to give
consumers more information about the products they buy.
GMO labeling misleads consumers about a process that is an
important tool in feeding the world. Genetic engineering provides
the ability to grow crops resistant to pests and therefore rely upon
fewer chemicals. New crops with traits that offer higher nutrition,
better adaptation to harsh climates and are more efficient in water
and fertilizer use, are coming to market at this crucial time. It is vital
this research and development continues and not be stigmatized
with a label that is not grounded in science.
Mandatory labeling of all food products containing GMOs will
only hurt California farmers and consumers by raising production
costs disproportionately. This measure would force farmers and
food companies to implement costly new labeling, packaging,
distribution and record-keeping procedures for products sold in
California.
California residents with low or fixed incomes, especially those who
depend on food assistance programs, will be disproportionately
impacted by an unnecessary increase in food costs. Economic
analyses of Proposition 37 estimated that the law would have
increased food costs by as much as $400 per California family each
year. Two years later, California is facing a historic drought, which
already has the potential to impact food prices for consumers.
Adding additional costs with unnecessary and redundant labeling
laws will only hurt consumers.
36 Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2014
State-specific labeling requirements like SB 1381 disrupt national
supply chains, require a segregated handling and distribution
system and make compliance virtually impossible for products that
are sold across the nation. Conversely, companies will be forced to
switch to higher-priced, non-genetically engineered ingredients in
order to sell food in California.
On March 26, Ag Council member Mona Shulman, Vice President
and General Counsel with Pacific Coast Producers, testified before
the Senate Health Committee in opposition to SB 1381, and detailed
its costly impacts on farmer-owned businesses, including liability and
compliance costs, all of which will result in higher grocery bills for
consumers. Mona Shulman also spoke, along with Ag Council, at
the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on April 22.
Unfortunately, despite strong opposition to SB 1381 from Ag
Council and others, the Senate Health Committee approved the bill
by a vote of 5-2 and the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the bill
4-2. Ag Council is disappointed the Senate Rules Committee pulled
SB 1381 from consideration in the Senate Agriculture Committee
in late April. As a result, the bill will next be heard by the Senate
Appropriations Committee. Ag Council will continue to work with
other stakeholders to educate lawmakers about the negative impacts
of this unnecessary legislation.
We encourage you to contact your legislators to educate them
about the negative impacts SB1381 could have for farmers and
consumers, alike. With your help, we can encourage our elected
officials to help us stop these GMO “reruns” once and for all. If
you count the defeat of Prop 37 and the many failed attempts
to pass similar ordinances at the county level, it is obvious these
measures waste taxpayers’ time and money. Ag Council will work to
ensure that GMO labeling doesn’t become California agriculture’s
very own version of “Groundhog Day,” and instead will work
towards a sequel with a happy ending.
For more information, please visit www.agcouncil.org.
Low branches?
Sensitive Crops?
Narrow Rows?
That’s our specialty.
There’s a reason they’re called specialty crops. Whether they’re hard to tend, extra
sensitive, or just tough to get to… sometimes a regular tractor just won’t cut it. That’s
why John Deere offers a full assortment of hi-crop, low-proƟle, and narrow specialty
tractors to help you get the most from your specialty harvest.
Service your low-canopied tree crops or easily move in and out of your poultry house
with a low-proƟle tractor. Glide over sensitive fruit and vegetable crops with a hi-crop
tractor. Or work between the rows of your nursery or vineyard with a narrow specialty
tractor.
But just because they’re specialty tractors doesn’t mean they’re light on the stuff that
matters. Choose a new John Deere specialty tractor and choose from a wide range of
conƟgurations with impressive standard features. All with the reliability and uptime
you expect from a John Deere. See your dealer today.
www.JohnDeere.com/Ag
MAXIMIZING ALMOND
QUALITY… AND PROFITABILITY
The quest for top yields and the highest quality drives an almond grower’s quest for perfection throughout
the year. Fertilizer and water management are high on the list of priorities required to produce top yields.
Careful monitoring of insect populations, both pest and beneficial species, is necessary to reduce damage
by insect pests, and scrutiny of disease pressure and environmental conditions are required to reduce losses
caused by fungal and bacterial infections.
Growers tend to be well aware of the quality levels earned by their almond deliveries during the harvest. Premium values earned
by the highest quality deliveries are intended to reward growers producing high value almond deliveries and offset the costs
of production. Furthermore, high value deliveries are easier to process, taking less time and lower costs to produce finished
products ready for delivery to Blue Diamond’s customers.
When considering the factors that contribute to producing the highest quality, three rank at the top of the list.
Foreign Material
In the case of meat deliveries, foreign material consists of
anything other than the kernels themselves. Pieces of hull
and shell are the most common items. However, soil,
rocks and wood are also typically found in meat
deliveries received by Blue Diamond. Peach pits and
fragments of peach pits remaining in the soil in
lands that were previously planted to peaches
are also often found in almond deliveries.
Some growers have planted olive trees around
their property and olive pits have been known
to find their way into almonds during the
harvest. Clearly, planting olive trees in close
proximity to almond orchards is never a good idea.
Some of the more problematic items found in almond
deliveries include plastic, usually from sprinkler or drip irrigation
systems, glass and metal. These items are particularly troublesome due to the
dangers that they induce if found in finished goods and accidently consumed.
While it is true that Blue Diamond has invested in a variety of technologies designed
to find and eliminate foreign material from the flow of almonds during processing,
each piece introduced during the harvest is a piece that must be removed. And
commensurately, each piece introduced increases the possibility of something getting
through and winding up in a consumer’s package of almonds.
Allergens are especially troubling in today’s highly sensitive food safety environment.
Many orchards have oaks in close proximity. And many more have plantings of
other tree nuts, including walnuts and pistachios on adjacent lands. Each of these
presents a possible source of contamination with serious food safety consequences if
consumed by someone with a dangerous food allergy. Please take every precaution
to eliminate the delivery of these allergens to Blue Diamond.
While on the subject of allergens, special attention must be given to peanuts.
Peanuts are grown in California on small scale plots in the Central Valley and care
must be given if your orchard is adjacent to any planting of the legume. However,
the greatest hazard for contamination comes from incidental introduction into the
orchards carried in by employees, typically in their meals. Simply stated, peanuts
must never be allowed to enter an orchard at any time.
38 Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2014
Rejects
NOW in Mummy at Bloom, Caption:
A Navel Orange Worm larvae inside
an almond mummy during bloom.
Elimination of mummy nuts is key to
effective Navel Orange Worm control.
When considering crop quality, most
growers tend to focus on reject levels,
either from insects in the form of Navel
Orange Worm and Peach Twig Borer
or ants. Many years of research have
combined to assist you in making pest
management decisions for insect control
and the counsel of a good Pest Control
Advisor is virtually priceless when
making pest management decisions.
While the cost of controlling insect
or ant infestations can be substantial,
the rewards for producing low reject
deliveries are equally substantial when
compared to the potential losses. The
table below presents the financial impact
of varying reject level on a 3,000-pound
per acre yield at current prices of
$3.00 per pound. According to the
chart below, a 1 percent reject level can
produce a reduction in value of nearly
$125 per acre; at 1.5 percent, the loss is
in excess of $200 per acre.
One must also consider that the reject
level determined during grading reflects
the weight of kernels with reject damage
that remained in the delivery lot at
the time of receipt. One of the fringe
benefits of the shelling process is the
removal of as many reject kernels as
possible while also minimizing losses. It
is generally accepted that the shelling
and cleaning process can remove
approximately half of the reject kernels
from the flow of product. In other words,
the actual crop losses coming out of the
orchard can be much higher than the
level indicated on a delivery’s grade sheet.
Comparative Values at Varying Reject Levels
TMS
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
Yield
3,000 Price
$ 3.00 RJS% RJS Wt
TGM
0.00%
0
3,000
0.50%
15
2,985
1.00%
30
2,970
1.50%
45
2,955
2.00%
60
2,940
2.50%
75
2,925
3.00%
90
2,910
3.50%
105
2,895
4.00%
120
2,880
4.50%
135
2,865
5.00%
150
2,850
Base
$9,000.00
$8,955.00
$8,910.00
$8,865.00
$8,820.00
$8,775.00
$8,730.00
$8,685.00
$8,640.00
$8,595.00
$8,550.00
Total Premium
Rate
Amount
$0.1600 $480.00
$0.1600 $477.60
$0.1500 $445.50
$0.1400 $413.70
$0.1025 $301.35
$0.0500 $146.25
$0.0400 $116.40
$0.0350 $101.33
$0.0350 $100.80
$0.0275 $ 78.79
$0.0275 $ 78.38
Assumes full premium for Chipped & Broken and Foreign Material
Assumes Nonpareil variety, Meat delivery.
Total Value
$ 9,480.00
$ 9,432.60
$ 9,355.50
$ 9,278.70
$ 9,121.35
$ 8,921.25
$ 8,846.40
$ 8,786.33
$ 8,740.80
$ 8,673.79
$ 8,628.38
Loss
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
(47.40)
(124.50)
(201.30)
(358.65)
(558.75)
(633.60)
(693.67)
(739.20)
(806.21)
(851.63)
Continued on next page »
MAY | JUNE 2014
Almond Facts 39
Chipped and Broken
Chipped and Broken levels in meat deliveries probably earn
the lowest degree of a grower’s attention. Most growers
believe that they have the greatest direct effect on foreign
material and reject levels and the least on the chipped and
broken percentage. However, chipped and broken levels
have been earning an increasing degree of scrutiny by Blue
Diamond’s buyers in the past few years and growers’ practices
in the orchards can play a role in the amount of damage
their almonds sustain.
Grower deliveries are scored on the basis of a fourth-inch
chip, where a total of one-quarter square inch of the kernel
beneath the peel has been exposed. However, in recent
years, the buying community has been increasingly shifting
their standards to a one-eighth inch chipped level. At Blue
Diamond, we have continued to use the USDA Standard of
the one-fourth chip as the basis for grading grower deliveries.
Our research has shown that there is a seven to one
relationship between one-eighth inch and one-fourth inch
chipped and broken levels. That means that for every
percentage point of one-fourth inch chipped and broken,
there will be approximately seven percentage points of oneeighth inch. The buying community is interested in one-eighth
chipped levels at and below the middle teens, which translates
into one-fourth inch chipped levels at or below 2.0 percent.
This was the driving force behind the Q+ Grade category for
Nonpareil meets implemented several years ago, which set a
maximum chipped and broken level of 2.0 percent.
While it may seem that the bar continues to be set higher
and higher, many growers have met the challenge and are
able to deliver a significant proportion of their Nonpareil
meats with a chipped and broken level at or below 2.0
percent. In the 2013 crop, 53 percent of all Nonpareil meats
were graded at or below 2.0 percent chipped and broken and
46 percent of all Nonpareil meat deliveries qualified for the
Q+ Grade.
Driving quality higher…
and chipped damage lower
While this is good news for the growers involved and for
Blue Diamond’s operations, which is able to produce a greater
volume of high value products, there is still room for
improvement.
What can a grower do to improve chipped and broken levels?
• Proper harvest is the best place to start. Harvesting too
early while the nuts are still “green” can create significant
difficulties for the sheller operator as they hull and shell
the crop. Shear roll technology used to shell almonds
40 Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2014
must have enough space between the inside of
the shell and the kernel to crack the shell cleanly
without damaging the kernel. Green or wet kernels
do not provide sufficient space, resulting in increased
damage. Embedded shell is also a serious problem
that increases dramatically when almonds are shelled
at excessive moisture levels.
• Foreign matter in the crop can increase damage.
Rocks from the orchard floor and wood that falls
from the trees during the harvest can increase
damage to the kernels. Obviously more wood falls
from older trees and we see increased damage levels
from older orchards. Sheller operators have reported
reduced damage levels where growers pull wood
from the crop by conditioning windrows just after
sweeping, by employing de-sticker equipment during
the harvest, or both. Simply pulling wood from
the windrows can also help to reduce the level of
chipped and broken kernels. As the old saying goes,
“garbage in, garbage out.”
• Stockpiling. Not all almonds are stockpiled at harvest,
nor should they be. But stockpiling almonds, even for
a few days allows moisture levels in the harvested crop
to equalize, providing for easier shelling and a potential
reduction in damage. To be sure, green or wet almonds
will not dry in a stockpile and green or wet almonds must
never be stockpiled. While moisture levels can reach
equilibrium in a stockpile, they will not become lower.
• Obviously, proper setup and operation of the shelling
equipment itself plays a role in the quality of the almonds
produced and the level of damage sustained during
shelling. It can be said that shelling equipment is much
like a musical instrument and that the instrument must
be properly played to produce the best music, or in this
case, the best product. Every machine has an optimum
operating range at which it performs at its highest
efficiency. Shelling equipment is no different. However,
given optimum product, your sheller operator will be able
to produce the highest quality almonds at the highest
efficiencies.
Blue Diamond staff will be working with sheller operations
throughout the Central Valley to help them optimize their
equipment and reduce chipped and broken levels in our
grower’s deliveries. Please contact your Field Supervisor if
you would like to review your Grower Statements and find
out what you can do to produce the highest possible quality
and earn the highest possible returns.
MAY | JUNE 2014
Almond Facts 41
Time To Consider
ROB KISS, Field Supervisor
NOW and PTB
2014 looks like another good crop and growers
tend to feel that the potential for a significant
Navel Orange Worm (NOW) problem will be down.
Historically, there is no real reason to believe to the
contrary, except, many advisors and orchardists
have expressed concern about the number of
orchards that may have received inadequate winter
sanitation or mummy removal this last winter. And
that is a real problem.
TIME TO CONSIDER
Many contend that the lower reject level on larger crop years
was just a function of a larger crop diluting the percentage
of pests in relationship to the crop. However, recently
the attention has shifted to the shell seal and how this
phenomenon occurs morphologically, suggesting that a tight
shell seal may play a more important role in reducing reject
damage than originally expected. Hopefully, this will be the
case this year. Generally, when we have a tight shell seal, we
have lower NOW damage.
Apparently, in larger crops, the nuts are somewhat smaller
and the shell seal appears to be closed or “tighter.”
Consequently, pests cannot easily burrow into the almond
meat. This year there may be a concern. Early observations
on what may be a smaller Nonpareil crop may generate
somewhat larger, thicker hulls that could pull the shell
apart and expose the meat. If this occurs and we still have
significant NOW pressure, we could experience elevated
reject levels. So, heads-up!
Considerations that significantly influence NOW & PTB
damage:
•
•
•
•
•
History of damage
Over-wintering mummies (it was dry in January –
difficult to mummy shake)
Neighbors with threatening NOW populations
Neighboring host crops (Walnuts, Pistachios, other
deciduous crops)
Shell seal
Timing
As is the case with most aspects of farming – timing is
critical. With the investment we have in the crop to date, and
the return we’re all expecting, we had better get our bang for
the buck on this worm treatment. And “better late than never”
thinking never pays….never!
42 Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2014
Peach Twig Borer trap
Most of the insecticides currently in our pest control
arsenal are stomach poisons. Therefore, the material
must be deposited where the larvae feeds at (on the hull)
or immediately prior to hatch. Once NOW drill into the
nut, they are not prone to return to the surface and ingest
the material. Most growers did a good job last year and
hopefully the trend will continue.
However, 2014 may be slightly different. With the early
development of related deciduous fruit this year and
increased early heat units, there is no reason to believe
we couldn’t have significant worm pressure earlier this
year. The good news is that the newer “softer” chemistries
reportedly last a long time. Consequently, there is no reason
to be late. Get it on early in hull split.
Hull Split is defined as when it first occurs. This
is generally found near the higher parts of the tree
where most of us are reluctant to check, particularly in
100-degree plus temperatures. A good indicator marker is
when you first start seeing blanks. Also, look for nuts just
starting to crack slightly on the suture, because NOW can
lay eggs on barely sutured nuts, even before blanks appear.
The Key: Don’t be Late! Get your control material
deposited early and with good coverage. It’s pretty basic: if
your spray rig does not cover well in the tops (where hull
split begins), you are not going to get adequate deposition
and ingestion of the material; you won’t be happy with
your control effort.
Mites
Looks like it’s going to be hot and dry — perfect conditions
for mites. And when it gets hot, mites can complete a
generation a week (sometimes less!) and as many as 8-15
generations per year. No wonder we have such a hard time
catching up to them.
Prevent stress — The first and foremost marching order
to mite control is to try to control stress. Obviously, with
the constraints put upon us with the drought, it is much
easier said than done. The fact remains — stress prevention
NOW on Nonpareil
Mite Damage
remains the most profound truth in mite control. Actually, while this formula may be somewhat simplistic, it’s still somewhat
quantifiable: Stress + heat + dust = mites.
•
Recognition – if the conditions are right, be sure to monitor all the susceptible areas of your orchard; this year, the earlier,
the better. Recent history of no mite damage does not insure that the orchard is free from potential damage.
•
Weather-watch – It may sound simplistic, but mite pressure is directly proportional to heat units.
•
Economic damage – determine this potential early. If you have had a serious infestation annually, early applications before
populations explode are certainly worth consideration. It’s always easier to knock down early mite populations rather than
having to “nuke” them when they are out-of-control.
If you have to treat, make sure it’s the right material for your orchard and pest pressure. You need to determine whether it’s the
right material for your prevalent mite; how does it work in your area; what about beneficial insects; how long will it last; what
about pre-harvest interval; what about re-entry; and, what’s the cost?
Continued on next page »
MAY | JUNE 2014
Almond Facts 43
Ants
If you have a history of ant damage, there is no reason
to believe they left your farm; they are persistent and will
probably be here long after we are gone. Now is the time
to start counting back from anticipated time to harvest
to apply control; it may be closer than you think! After
applying baits, controlling the colony may take a little time,
so do not expect instantaneous results; most baits eliminate
brood or larvae. However, there are still a couple of
treatments that can get foraging ants.
Growers are recognizing that if there is heavy ant pressure,
or there are other plentiful food sources such as weed seeds,
etc, initial treatments may work better at higher label levels
and it also may be necessary to re-treat infested areas. This
may be a relatively cheap investment to secure good quality.
Also, many growers with newly planting orchards do not
consider ants to be a problem on young orchards. The fact
is that ants can be particularly damaging on second through
fourth leaf orchards where no ant control has been used. If
you have a new orchard on lighter soil with drip/micros and
have not treated for ants, keep your eyes open.
TIME TO CONSIDER
Make sure you have identified the right target ant. Many
growers complain that they have ants (and they probably
do), but there are several species of ants found in almond
44 Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2014
Ants in almond orchard
orchards throughout the state and not all are detrimental to
almonds. Many growers confuse Pyramid, Carpenter and
the common Gray ant with the almond pest, the Southern
Fire Ant. Be sure you key them out before you treat.
Potato chip test: researchers have for some time used hot
dogs to attract ants for identification. The bad guys (ants)
are generally protein eaters, so they are fond of hot dogs,
potato chips and almonds; all fairly high in protein. It’s
relatively simple to ID problem ants. Scatter some potato
chips. If they disappear, you probably have ants that like
almonds also.
Ants can
consume
1% of your
crop per day.
Bait
Back.
Seduce®
Bug-N-Sluggo®
Control multiple
pests. With one
bait application.
Seduce and Bug-N-Sluggo
control damaging soildwelling insects, including
ants, earwigs and
cutworms. Bug-N-Sluggo
also controls snails
and slugs.
Both products come in
highly compressed pellets
that are easy to accurately
apply. The weatherproof
pellets resist degradation
by rain and UV.
citrus. OMRI® Listed and
NOP approved.
Quick knockdown action
where the “bait bites back”
to control yield-robbing ant
populations in almonds,
pistachios, grapes and
]
[
MAY | JUNE 2014
2014 Certis USA
©
Almond Facts 45
1-800-250-5024 • www.CertisUSA.com
WANTED
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
Kohler model K582S 23-horse power
gasoline engine. Home (209) 394-3293,
Cell (209) 769-9810.
15 h.p. elect 3-phase motor with jacuzzi
centrifugal pump. Good condition. $1500
or best offer.
90-pound air hammer $400.
Phone (209) 838-3115.
Steel almond stakes, starting at 4’, $1.
Call (209) 969-0526
WANTED
Gasoline Memorabilia: Old Gas Pumps,
Gas Signs, Oil Signs and Car Signs Call
(559) 485-9496
WANTED
Running or not I need a White 2-60 Field
Boss or Oliver 1365 for parts. Trying to
keep mine operational. Contact Dean at
(530) 867-5207 or [email protected].
WANTED
Worthington 2 stage air compressor with
Baldor Industrial 2 hp motor and 50 gal
tank $350
John Deer Tractor 1948 Model AW
disassembled $750
(209) 968-0142, (209) 883-4836
FOR SALE
7300 Flory Pick-up Machine, completely
reconditioned, in great shape.
4950 Outback Sweeper, very low hours.
(209) 632-3111, between 8am & 5 pm,
Monday through Friday.
Flory 210 PTO almond harvester, excellent
condition, field ready, $5,000.
Red Ball 18-foot hooded boom sprayer, $300.
Call (209) 358-2244. Best time 12-12:30.
FOR SALE
2 Used 2004 Flory ST10 Shuttle Truks $57,500 each.
Used Huller/Sheller equipment – List and
prices available upon request.
Please call (209) 874-1268 for further
information.
FOR SALE
1983 John Deere Tractor, Model 650, $5,600;
1983 John Deere Front Loader, Model 67,
$1,400;
1983 John Deere Disk, Model 140; $300.00;
1983 BefCo Rototiller, $500.00;
1983 Woods Rear Scraper, $200; $8,000.00 or best offer for all. Please call Joan at (209) 579-2022.
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
CLASSIFIED ADS
500 Gallon Fuel Tank on skids,
with 110-volt pump. (209) 823-5930.
46 Almond Facts
FOR SALE
MAY | JUNE 2014
440 gal. fuel tank on low stand with hand
pump hose and filter, $500.
Call (209) 537-9491.
FOR SALE
Massey 399, 2-WD tractor with nelson
spray cap
Weiss-McNair blower, model B85
Case 2294 tractor, front wheel assist
(559) 665-3436
Free listings in this section are for
the exclusive use of Blue Diamond
members.
Classified ads for personal use — not
as an additional means of advertising
commercial ventures members may own.
Ads are limited to a maximum of 10 lines
and may be submitted to Blue Diamond
field supervisors or by contacting the
editor directly at:
Editor: Blue Diamond Growers
P.O. Box 1768,
Sacramento, CA 95812
Or contact Cassandra Keyse at:
Phone: (916) 446-8353
Fax: (916) 325-2880
Email: [email protected]
Unless advised otherwise, ads will
run two consecutive issues. In order to
guarantee placement, classified listings
must be submitted by the 10th of:
January, March, May, July, September
& November.
THAT’S HOW MOVENTO INSECTICIDE MAKES ALMOND TREES FEEL.
Movento® insecticide provides formidable protection against nematodes to keep almond trees
healthy. While nematodes are hard to spot, their damage isn’t. When nematodes feed on roots,
the tree gradually loses vigor, reducing yield and nut size. Movento insecticide offers the only
foliar application with two-way systemic action that moves throughout the tree to protect its roots,
ensuring trees stay healthier and stronger year over year.
For more information, contact your retailer or Bayer representative or visit www.Movento.us.
Bayer CropScience LP, 2 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Always read and follow label instructions. Bayer, the Bayer Cross, and Movento are registered trademarks of Bayer.
For additional product information, call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.BayerCropScience.us.
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