IN YOUR ORCHARD
Farming in Tough Times Benjamin Franklin said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Today it is hard to find anything that has not increased in cost. The cost of water, land, fuel, fertilizer, and chemicals have all increased in the last year. We are currently at an 8.5% rate of inflation! Knowledge however, as Benjamin Franklin said, gives us the best value. The other remarkable thing about knowledge is that it does not cost much; maybe unless you are paying for your child’s college or still paying your own, but that is a different topic for a different day. Today I want to provide knowledge from local growers and industry professionals on ideas about how to farm during these tough economic times. Are there things growers can cut back on ? What should stay the same ? How can I make or maintain a budget ? With the help from our growers, hopefully some of that will be answered.
Justin Elam, Blue Diamond Regional Manager for Districts 5 & 6, had a discussion with Bill Brush, the CEO of B&B Ag Consulting, and got his take on how to farm in these times. Bill made an analogy of the four foundational walls of almond farming: water , fertility , bees , and pest management . The first thing that Bill said was critical is water . “Don’t cut water. If you don’t have enough don’t fall behind.” This has become increasingly difficult for many growers this year. We all know that the water availability is drastically different depending on where you farm in the state. In some areas, growers have received a full surface water allocation and can continue normal farming practices while others have received zero surface water and will have to rely on pumps or purchase water from other areas. What can growers do if their water has been reduced ? The UC ANR publication, “Drought Tip: Drought Management for California Almonds,” can help you determine the best practices on managing your water supply through drought. Fertility is the second of the four walls. We all know the cost of fertilizer has increased drastically, but as farmers you also understand the need for it. Do you know how much nitrogen you should apply ? According to the “Nitrogen Best Management Practices” from the California Almond Board, 68 pounds of nitrogen is removed for every 1,000 pounds of kernels. That means if you have a 2,000 pound per acre crop you are removing 136 pounds of nitrogen per acre in just crop. This calculation does not include the nitrogen needed for tree growth or nitrogen source efficiency. Bill said, “There are three sources of N (nitrogen)
applied, stored, and water”. Everyone knows what applied nitrogen is, but as a grower do you know what the levels are in your soil, trees, or water ? Tissue, soil, and water samples can help you determine the amount of applied nitrogen needed. If your irrigation water is high in nitrates, you may not need to apply as much fertilizer, thus saving on your fertilizer costs. Knowing current water source nitrate levels is actually a cost savings strategy. After determining how much nitrogen you need to apply, always remember the Four R’s: Right rate , right time , right place , and the right source . Potassium is also vital in the production of almonds. Bill told Justin “Potash is necessary even though it’s expensive. Since the cost of potassium can be excessive, it may seem like an easy expense to cut but can lead to production loss in future years. According to UC Davis, with each 1,000 pounds of harvested kernels, 70 to 80 pounds of potassium are removed from the orchard with kernels, shells, and hulls. How do you know where you stand as far as nutrition ? If you took soil samples last fall, go back to your soil and tissue samples and discuss them with your Pest Control Advisor (PCA) or Certified Crop Advisor (CCA). April tissue samples will let you know if you are ahead or behind on Nitrogen and Potassium. If you don’t have recent samples, having new samples pulled would be one simple way to determine how to manage costs. The third wall is pollination . Pollination is critical for a good almond crop, and the quality of bees can have an influence. Having a good relationship with your beekeeper is key. Before bees are placed onsite, make sure to have a discussion with your beekeeper on how many hives you
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ALMOND FACTS
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