FIELD NOTES with MEL MACHADO
2026 Harvest Observations: Early Insights from the Season California’s almond harvest has nearly finished. While some of the crop remains to be shaken, swept and delivered, enough almonds have been received and tested to offer some valuable early insight into what worked, and what challenged growers this season. These observations are intended to spark discussion while the season remains fresh in our minds. They represent the results of the test data recorded on the early crop deliveries. A more complete assessment will emerge once the entire crop has been received.
A Positive Start for Nonpareil Quality One encouraging trend emerging from early deliveries is a noticeable reduction in reject levels in the Nonpareil. Based on early crop receipts, reject percentages are tracking near 2022 levels and represent the lowest levels seen since 2020. That said, deliveries received in the first days of September revealed an uptick in damage, most likely from the third flight of navel orangeworm (NOW). While statewide averages appear favorable, some growers have unfortunately experienced significant damage. Reports of double-digit reject levels continue to surface, with NOW accounting for most of the losses in these situations. Orchard sanitation, treatment timing, local pest pressure and neighborhood influences can all contribute to elevated damage levels. In many cases, these factors interact with one another, creating situations that overwhelm otherwise effective management programs.
The Continuing Challenge of Under-Managed Orchards The total bearing acreage as measured by Land IQ satellite data and what is actual “productively bearing” is quite different. The relative health of the actual bearing acreage also distorts the industry’s true average per acre yield. The 2026 growing season did nothing to change this issue. There are a significant number of low or minimal care orchards throughout the Central Valley. Aside from the mathematical issues these orchards create in calculating the true average yield, they also create problems for neighboring growers by acting as a source of navel orangeworm inoculum. Pollinizers Highlight the Complexity of NOW Control Managing navel orangeworm becomes even more challenging when dealing with Nonpareil’s orchard partner pollinizer varieties. While treatment timing in Nonpareil can be difficult enough, later-maturing pollinizer varieties face an additional challenge. A
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ALMOND FACTS
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