on NOW damage in preharvest samples and possible quality premiums tradeoffs between inshell and shelled product. Preharvest samples for NOW damage help with the decisions regarding inshell production of Nonpareil, Independence, and/or Sonora. Timely shake of varieties like Winters, Padre and Independence should leave the fewest nuts in the trees. Stockpiles: If the objective estimate confirms the 3.2 billion lb. crop from the subjective estimate, this year will be another big year for stockpiling. How those stockpiles are constructed and managed can impact nut quality and grower returns. The following are best management practices for stockpiles developed by UC research and industry experience. Don’t place stockpile(s) where water will accumulate. On a high spot or on a slope are the best locations. Carefully check nut moisture from across the row (in the shaded and exposed parts of the orchard floor) ahead of windrowing and pickup (upper and lower parts of the windrow). When stockpiled, nuts should be dry: kernels at or below 6% moisture, hulls less than 12% moisture and whole nuts (in hull) less than 9% moisture. Stockpiles should be oriented N-S to avoid excessive moisture and mold found on the shaded (north) side of an E-W oriented stockpile and flatten humps on the ridgeline of the stockpile resulting from separate elevator stations while building the stockpile. Use white on black tarps (white facing out) to cover stockpiles if wet weather is forecast. Remove the tarps in dry weather to allow moisture to escape the stockpile and recover the stockpile if rain or increased humidity threatens. Finally, More information on stockpiles at: almonds.com/sites/ default/files/grower_stockpile_management_best_ practices_from_abc_2014%5B1%5D.pdf Dust management: Wherever possible, take steps to minimize harvest dust. Reducing dust is a safety consideration on public and private roads in addition to being a chronic health hazard/ environmental contaminant. Make sure your employees
Harvest photo.
Harvest Timing: Shake timing is critical to a successful harvest and long-term health of the orchard. Timely harvest (shake) can mean reduced NOW damage, but can also hinder inshell production and increase the risk of ant damage as nuts have higher moisture content at shake and so take longer to dry longer on the orchard floor. On the other hand, growers committed to inshell production usually let the crop dry longer on the tree, literally exposing the nuts to increased NOW damage. Finally, shaking too early (not all nuts are split) too early harvest and/or poor shaker operation can result in bark damage that harms trees and income for the remaining life of the orchard. The orchard is ready for timely harvest when 100% of the nuts on all trees are at least at Stage 2C of hull split. To confirm that the orchard is ready to harvest, test shake representative trees across the orchard, especially focusing on wetter areas (low spots, etc.) where the trees may be more vigorous and nut maturity delayed. If the trees shake clean without extended, hard shake, harvest can start. Be ready to wait on harvest if trees don’t shake clean without an excessively long, hard shake. Someone with shut-down authority (owner, manager, and/or key employee) should check on the harvester(s) on a regular basis to make sure the job is done carefully and safely. Review harvest options with your Blue Diamond field rep to time shake to deliver maximize income per acre based
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