Introduction to the California Almond Industry David Doll UCCE Farm Advisor Merced County, CA
Background: California Production Commercially grown for over 100 years, 400,000 ha Water system provides adequate irrigation Largest coordinated pollination event in world Price, Highly mechanize, reduction of input costs driving growth
Background: California Production Unique components of CA industry: Floor harvesting High water demands and applications (9000-12000 m 3 applied/ha) High density plantings (but not too high- 296-350 trees/ha) Thin shelled, noncompatible, early blooming varieties.
Production area (1000 ha) Introduction Development Establishment Industry Transition Expansion Stabilization Expansion 450 Background: California Production 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Initial Plantings Varieties in Selected rough ground, almond rootstocks Deep soil, irrigated Dividends of Research and trials plantings, peach Formation increasing of market, with new Expansion rootstocks, due to rootstocks grower assessed good price irrigation profitability systems, over commodity board, dealing other with ag systems, new rootstocks marketing reduced headwinds input costs
CA Almonds: Acreage and Production Trends
1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 Production area (1000 ha) Expansion Stabilization Expansion CA Almonds: Acreage and Production Trends 600 1200 500 Increased Plantings Increasing Yields/ha 1000 400 300 200 100 0 Market Redevelopment Researching of new technologies 800 600 400 Tighter Spacings Reduced Pruning 200 Micro-irrigation systems Better Nutrient Management 0 Production (1000 tons)
1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 Production (1000 tons) Expansion Stabilization Expansion CA Almonds: Production and Price Trends 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 Re-starting of marketing and nutrition research Bad Fat Era Market Expansion International Market - Developing Countries 2 Good Fat Era 1 2002 Healthy Claim as result from research 0 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 Price per kg (USD)
1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 Gross income/ ha USD (Adjusted 2016 CPI) Expansion Stabilization Expansion CA Almonds: Farm Value Trends 30000 25000 Increased Revenue from gains in production AND marketing! 20000 15000 10000 5000 0
CA Almonds: Farm Value Trends Year Statewide AVG Yield Unadjusted Cost/kg (USD) 2014 CPI Adjusted Cost/kg (USD) 1985 2250 kg/ha 2.36 5.29 1992 2250 kg/ha 2.40 4.12 2003 2700 kg/ha 2.80 3.62 2011 2800 kg/ha 3.33 3.52 Decreasing input costs due to mechanization, labor reduction Dilution of expenses over greater yields/ha
California Almond Industry In 40 years, the California Industry has went from an average of 840 kg/ha to 2533 kg/ha More acreage + More Yield = Bigger Crops How did we get there?
California Almond Industry Yield Improvements Higher Density Less Pruning More water and better nutrition Better pest and disease management
Almond Industry Development: Production Research The best orchards alternate around this line 4000 at 80% interception 2500 at 50% int.
Almond Industry Development: Tree Density Integration of rootstock technology, planting density and arrangement, and minimal pruning.
Almond Tree Planting Density Tree Spacing Nonpareil (14 th year) Nonpareil (Cumulative) Carmel 14 th year 3 x 6.7 3.27 36.74 2.38 34.12 4.25 x 6.7 3.35 37.41 2.41 34.04 5.5 x 6.7 3.22 36.97 2.29 32.40 6.7 x 6.7 3.00 35.56 2.13 30.86 Carmel (Cumulative) Wider spacing decrease early yield, yields of less vigorous varieties
Almond Tree Pruning Structure in Year 1, 2; no pruning in later years How did we get there?
Why Prune Almond Trees? Manage light distribution through the tree to maximize life of fruiting spurs, maintain lower wood (prevent shade out) Invigorate and renew fruitwood Reduce alternate bearing Control tree size (height) to improve nut removal and spray coverage Reduce Disease Pressure
Long Term Pruning Trials in CA No yield benefit to pruning!
Long Term Almond Pruning Trials in CA Stanislaus County Pruning Trial Planted fall, 1999 Very vigorous orchard in development years Four pruning strategies Four tree spacings Roger Duncan, UC Farm Advisor
1) Standard trained, annually pruned 2) Standard trained, left unpruned
3) Minimal training & pruning 4). Untrained & unpruned
First dormant pruning February 2001 Trained to 3 scaffolds Minimally trained Untrained
2 Year Old Spring 2001 Standard trained & pruned Untrained & unpruned 10 x 22
After Second dormant pruning Spring 2002 Standard trained, pruned annually Minimally trained, minimally pruned Untrained, unpruned
Standard Trained, Annually Pruned Nonpareil.7 th Leaf
Standard Trained, Unpruned five years 7 th leaf
Untrained/unpruned Nonpareil. 7 th Leaf.
The Effect of Pruning on Yield Cumulative Diff to 4th 5th 7th 8th 10th 14th Yield conv. Conv Pruning 1885 2071 2773 3587 3272 2595 28773 3 Scaffolds, non-pruning 2084 2195 3165 3723 3417 2508 29875 1102 Minimally Trained and Pruned 2208 2095 2630 3611 3203 2509 28180-593 No Training or Pruning 2159 2153 3008 3704 3438 2625 30004 1230 Yields are reported in Kg/ha
Why Prune Almond Trees? Manage light distribution through the tree to maximize life of fruiting spurs, maintain lower wood (prevent shade out) Invigorate and renew fruitwood Reduce alternate bearing Control tree size (height) to improve nut removal and spray coverage Reduce Disease Pressure
Why Prune Almond Trees? Manage light distribution through the tree to maximize life of fruiting spurs, maintain lower wood (prevent shade out) Invigorate and renew fruitwood Reduce alternate bearing Control tree size (height) to improve nut removal and spray coverage Reduce Disease Pressure
Why Prune Almond Trees? There are reasons to prune Allow equipment access (shakers, weed sprayer, etc. Safety for tractor driver Reduce disease (Alternaria, hull rot, rust, etc.) Sunlight on orchard floor to improve drying Remove dead or diseased limbs Reduce sticks at harvest
Almond Industry Development: Production Research More efficient water applications More efficient delivery of nutrients Higher vigor, reduction of alternate bearing = Increased production
Almond Industry Development: Production Research ~ 20 insect pests. Management guidelines for insects have been developed.
Almond Industry Development: Production Research ~ 25 diseases. Management guidelines have been developed.
Almond Industry Development: Production Research Generally more management on diseases and insects Longer term production based projects always in focus Takes time, money, and considerable effort for those involved
Almond Water Use
Almond Water Use California orchards are characterized by high water applications. 4 ton/ha orchard 12000 cu meter/ha applied
Almond Water use - Effects Increased water applications lead to increased yield. In-season effects Next/future season effects Goldhamer and Fereres, 2017
Almond Water use In-season Effects In-season water shortages influence kernel size and weight. Size is influenced by summer stress which reduces accumulation of fats.
Almond Water use Next Season s Effects Impacts on Canopy Growth
Almond Water use Next Season s Effects 35% Light Interception 80% Light Interception Needs 600 mm of water, yield potential 1.6 ton/ha Needs 1300 mm of water, yield potential 4+ ton/ha
Almond Water use Next Season s Effects Post-harvest Irrigation Stress during the postharvest decreases nut counts the following year. Not enough carbohydrates to set the nut. Applied water (mm)
March 15-31 April 1-15 April 16-30 May 1-15 May 16-31 June 1-15 June 16-30 July 1-15 July 15-31 Aug 1-15 Aug 16-31 Sept 1-15 Sept 16-30 Oct 1-15 Oct 16-31 Almond Water Use - Implications Determining Water Management Strategies Determined by how much water is available Ability to time the applications Quality of water Strategies will vary based on amounts Most apply water at varying rates through the season Strategies outlined in FAO66 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Full Irrigation 75% PDI 50% PDI 85% RDI 75% Targetted 50% Targetted
Almond Leaf Scorch California Perspective
Almond Leaf Scorch California Perspective Causal Agent: Xylella fastidiosa 2 strains have been found to cause disease Xylem limited bacteria Vectored by xylem feeding insects Sharpshooters Spittlebugs
Almond Leaf Scorch California Perspective Symptoms appear later in the summer Increases water stress Toxins produced cause leaf symptoms Irregular leaf yellowing Does not originate at the leaf tip Leads to a golden appearance of a tree Death in severe cases
Almond Leaf Scorch California Perspective Transmission: Insect vectors move bacterium from weeds/cover crop into almond trees No tree-to-tree transmission detected Pruning does not spread bacterium Disease is graft transmissible More commonly observed in Peerless, Sonora, Wood Colony, and Independence
Almond Leaf Scorch California Perspective Management Confirm with PCR detection Limbs with isolated infections can be removed Since it is a dead-end host, trees are rarely removed, but occasionally they die Cold-curing has been documented, in which moderately affected trees recovered after a cold winter Insect control is not really effective
Almond Leaf Scorch California Perspective Confusing Symptoms: Over-irrigation Salt burn
Almond Leaf Scorch California Perspective
Muchas gracias por vuestra atencion! David Doll UC Farm Advisor DADOLL@UCDAVIS.EDU www.thealmonddoctor.com