need, and the strength of the hives you are receiving. According to Bill Brush, “four frames are just maintaining the hive”. To elaborate, if you have an eight-frame hive, four frames are staying at the hive, while the other four are gathering resources for the hive. We have all heard the saying “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” and that has never been truer than here. If you receive a low or reduced price for bees, ask about the quality, and make sure you are receiving the number of frames requested.
The last segment of Bill’s four walls is pest management . As growers, you know pest management encompasses several factors including diseases, weeds, and insects. Are there areas where savings can be made ? According to Bill “monitoring is key” when it comes to deciding if a pesticide application is needed. This year for example we experienced a fairly dry bloom, which led growers to defer a fungicide at bloom. Many growers opted to skip a “Pink Bud” spray since the conditions were not favorable for disease at that point in time. This saved on costs and let growers focus on spraying material at “Petal Fall or Post-Petal Fall’ timings. Therefore, monitoring is critical and needs to be done by you, the grower, alongside your PCA. In order to maximize and obtain top premiums you should continue to maintain focus on keeping rejects to a minimum. This includes a solid Navel Orangeworm program, as well as monitoring for plant bugs and ensuring orchard floors are free of ants. According to Mel Machado, VP of Member Relations, “growers should seek to keep rejects at two percent or less in order to take advantage of Blue Diamond ’s Quality Premium Program. It can cost the grower over $240 an acre when rejects rise from just two to three percent, and can cost an additional $125 per point, per acre thereafter.” (Please see Mel’s accompanying article on page 40). Another area that may be able to be scaled back is weed sprays. Steve Moeller, a Blue Diamond Grower in Livingston, said “With the increase in drip irrigation, and middles not receiving water through the summer, it has reduced the need for tree to tree weed sprays.” Weeds typically do not grow where water does not flow. Growers who have flood or full coverage sprinklers do not have this advantage, so what are they to do ? Having a strategic plan with your PCA is a good start. This allows you to plan for pre- and post-emergent applications and will help you keep a timely schedule. All growers know once you realize you need to spray for weeds, they seem to grow a few inches overnight.
FARMER PROVEN SINCE 1938.
• Proudly offering quality almond, walnut, and pistachio trees. • Choose from over 25 nut varieties, including the industry’s leading self-fertile almond - the Independence®. • Our knowledgeable staff provides guidance throughout the life of your orchard.
Contact Your Rep Today! № 1-844-DWN-TREE
DWNTREES.COM
@davewilsonnursery
Blue Diamond Growers does not endorse or verify statements made by advertisers within this publication.
37
MAY–JUNE 2022
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker