Stanislaus County Almond Pest Management Alliance Project Progress report after year 3 Roger Duncan Walt Bentley Lonnie Hendricks Merlyn Garber Art Bowman Cara Cross, Clinton Bowman

Almond PMA Alliance: University of California Cooperative Extension UC Statewide IPM Project Almond Board of California California Department of Pesticide Regulation Community Alliance with Family Farmers Almond Hullers and Shellers Association

Almond PMA Objectives: To scientifically evaluate the effectiveness and economic viability of pest management programs using less broadly toxic pesticides over the long term. To demonstrate IPM monitoring techniques and decision making processes.

“Standard” Pesticide Program Dormant spray with oil, copper, Asana (pyrethroid) May spray with Lorsban (organophosphate) Omite for mite control if needed Lorsban for ants if needed

“Soft” Pesticide Program #1 Bloom-time spray with Success ® May spray with Confirm ® Savey ® for mite control if needed Clinch ® for ants if needed

“Soft” Pesticide Program #2 Dormant spray with oil only Two bloom Bt sprays piggy-backed with fungicides Two May sprays with Bt Potassium nitrate & oil for mite control if needed Esteem ® for ants if needed

“Untreated” - New for 2001! No Dormant Spray No bloom, May, or hull split insecticide sprays Potassium nitrate & oil for mite control if needed Esteem for ants if needed

Stanislaus County PMA Project Three programs replicated three times each in 120 acre Nonpareil orchard Each replication is approximately 14 acres Extensively monitored from March through October Examine 3000 nuts in each treatment at harvest

PMA Monitoring Program PTB - total of 18 traps checked twice weekly NOW - total of 18 traps checked weekly San Jose scale - 18 traps checked weekly S. J. scale parasitoids - 18 traps checked weekly S. J. scale crawler traps - 72 traps checked weekly Mites monitored weekly (more or less) 9000 nuts cracked out at harvest Ants periodically baited with hot dogs S. J. scale adults checked on dormant spurs

Peach Twig Borer Populations as Related to Pesticide Program May Sprays 5/8 - 5/9

Peach Twig Borer Populations as Related to Pesticide Program

Season Total of Peach Twig Borer per Trap Stanislaus County PMA Trial, 2001

Brown Almond Mite Populations as Related to Treatment

Spider Mite Populations as Related to Pesticide Program Presence / Absence Sampling Treatment threshold ~ 33%

Spider Mite Populations as Related to Pesticide Program Mite treatment threshold ~ 33%

San Jose Scale & Scale Parasitoid Populations as Related to Treatment :1 16:1 37:1

San Jose Scale & Scale Parasitoid Populations as Related to Treatment :1 12:1 70:1

Summary of Ant Counts. Stanislaus County PMA trial, 2001

Stanislaus PMA Nonpareil Harvest Rejects

Cost / Treated AcreCost / Planted Acre Standard$152.13$ Success / Confirm$200.44$ Bt$170.47$ Untreated $56.04 $39.46 * Includes $13.65 per acre application costs. **Does not include ant treatments. Treatment Costs Stanislaus PMA Trial 2001