Your source for orchard news & information in the Sacramento Valley
Janine Hasey, UCCE Farm Advisor, Sutter/Yuba/Colusa Counties, Greg Browne, USDA Plant Pathologist, UC Davis, Astrid Volder, Plant Sciences, UC Davis and Bruce Lampinen, UCCE Walnut Specialist, UC Davis 2017 brought unprecedented high and fluctuating water flows in the Sacramento and Feather Rivers, damaging … Continue reading
Allan Fulton, UCCE Water Resources Advisor, Tehama, Shasta, Glenn and Colusa Counties; and Luke Milliron, UCCE Orchards Advisor, Butte, Tehama and Glenn Counties. Experienced Pressure Chambers Users As a person gains experience with using the pressure chamber, they become more … Continue reading
Allan Fulton, UCCE Water Resources Advisor, Tehama, Shasta, Glenn and Colusa Counties; and Luke Milliron, UCCE Orchards Advisor, Butte, Tehama and Glenn Counties. SWP Levels Vary Among Orchard Crops What do the pressure chamber measurements mean? The range in stem … Continue reading
Stem water potential is a direct measure of water tension (negative pressure) within the plant. Continue reading to learn more about the basic concept of stem water potential and measurement in the field. Continue reading
2017 brought us unprecedented high and fluctuating water flows in the Sacramento and Feather Rivers, damaging orchards from direct flooding and indirectly via under-levee seepage. Many trees had a long exposure to waterlogged conditions through the winter and spring. This article discusses strategies for minimizing losses in 2018 in flood-impacted orchards. Continue reading
Written by Allan Fulton, UCCE Farm Advisor Tehama, Glenn, Colusa and Shasta counties and Richard P. Buchner, UCCE Farm Advisor Emeritus, Tehama, Glenn and Butte counties. Overly aggressive, early irrigation can saturate soils and deprive roots of necessary oxygen. Without oxygen, … Continue reading
In 2017, high and fluctuating water flows, unprecedented for their duration, passed through the Sacramento and Feather Rivers. Orchards were hurt by these flows due to direct flooding, indirect flooding via under-levee seepage, and loss of land through river bank erosion. Many orchards had standing water from January through mid-May. In other orchards, ditches overflowed with nowhere to pump water out. Part 2 of this article discusses best practices to consider for orchard management after a flood event. Continue reading
In years when walnuts have a lower value, it is important to produce quality, light-colored kernels to maximize profitability. Here are some suggestions for producing high quality nuts. Continue reading
The University of California Cooperative Extension invites fruit and nut crop producers in the northern Sacramento Valley to attend a combination workshop/field day on Thursday, June 16, 2016. The meeting begins at the Red Bluff Elk’s Lodge, 355 Gilmore Rd Continue reading
Adapted from the article “Irrigation Management Tools for Developing Walnut Trees” by Richard P. Buchner, UCCE Farm Advisor, Tehama County, Allan E. Fulton, UCCE Farm Advisor, Tehama, Glenn, Colusa and Shasta Counties in the July 2014 Sacramento Valley Walnut News. … Continue reading
Adapted from the article “Why are some individual young walnut trees turning yellow and not growing?” by Richard Buchner and Joe Connell, UCCE Farm Advisors, Tehama and Butte Counties in the September 2010 Sacramento Valley Walnut News When an individual … Continue reading
Adapted from the article “A new season – When to begin irrigating and how much water to apply?” by Richard P. Buchner & Allan E. Fulton, UCCE Farm Advisors, Tehama County in the April 2011 Sacramento Valley Prune News Crop … Continue reading
Adapted from the article “Deficit Irrigation for French Prune” by Richard P. Buchner – UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Tehama County and Allan E. Fulton –UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Tehama, Glenn, Colusa and Shasta Counties in the June 2014 … Continue reading
Adapted from the article “Irrigating French prune during a drought” by Richard P. Buchner – UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Tehama County and Allan E. Fulton –UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Tehama, Glenn, Colusa and Shasta Counties in the April … Continue reading
Codling moth are challenging to control during the growing season because the larvae burrow inside nuts to feed, keeping them safe from natural enemies and insecticides. However, during winter months, larvae are more vulnerable to predators, offering opportunities for biocontrol by natural enemies, including insectivorous birds. Continue reading