of considering more expensive pest management methods like mating disruption, stating that the initial costs may be outweighed by lower damage rates, making it a net benefit for growers. Learn more about the economics of NOW control by watching the session (https://www.youtube.com/watch ? v=xROaSr4iScE) from the IPM + NOW Summit last year and the NOW session (https://www.youtube.com/watch ? v=OXfU_ntDsXc ) from The Almond Conference 2023.
Dr. Frank Zalom Receives Lifetime Achievement Award for Pioneering Work in IPM
As a pivotal figure from 1980 to 2018, Dr. Zalom served as the first Extension IPM Coordinator for the Statewide UC Integrated Pest Management Program, and from 1986 to 2002, he directed the program, establishing it as a gold standard for accurate and up to date IPM knowledge. One of Dr. Zalom’s noteworthy collaborations was with the Almond Board of California in the 1980s, where he worked alongside UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisors to develop a groundbreaking pest management program for NOW in almonds. This program, which included winter sanitation, early harvest and the development of a degree- day model, led to a substantial reduction in NOW damage and insecticide use, benefitting the entire almond industry. Dr. Zalom expressed his gratitude for the award, acknowledging the generational efforts that preceded him in developing the IPM concept. He thanked administrators and fellow IPM enthusiasts, including those at ABC, for their critical roles in transitioning IPM research into practical applications. Dr. Zalom’s legacy in the almond industry and beyond is a testament to his unwavering commitment to sustainable and holistic pest management approaches. His impact will continue to resonate, shaping the future of IPM practices and inspiring the next generation of consultants, specialists, researchers and decision-makers in the agricultural landscape.
Dr. Frank Zalom. Photo courtesy of UC Davis/UCCE
In a recent virtual ceremony hosted by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, Dr. Frank Zalom was honored with a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for his remarkable 40-plus year career as a distinguished professor of entomology at the University of California, Davis. The Almond Board of California (ABC) proudly recognizes Dr. Zalom’s outstanding contributions to integrated pest management (IPM) practices for all major almond insect pests, including Navel orangeworm (NOW). Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Zalom has been a driving force behind the advancement of IPM practices in California crops, fostering economic sustainability, environmental stewardship and human health. His dedication to reducing insecticide use, minimizing runoff impacts, lowering pesticide exposure and streamlining application processes has significantly shaped the landscape of pest management in agriculture.
Article contributed by the Almond Board of California
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