Pest identification workshops series offers hands-on education for almond growers

The Almond Board of California (ABC) is hosting a series of regional field workshops to offer growers an opportunity to improve their pest management strategies. The workshops have been designed to be more accessible for growers who have not been able to attend larger industry events.

The regional, hands-on workshops will focus on pest identification and windrow sampling, which help growers assess their pest management programs at the end of each growing season. Cracking open almonds that have fallen to the ground after harvest can help growers identify pest damage, calculate damage rates and determine what adjustments are needed ahead of the next season.

“It’s a good time to assess your pest management systems and get a quick picture of how well they worked,” said Taylor Hillman, senior specialist of industry communications at ABC,

The workshops will take place in four California locations:

• March 11 – Orland, Glenn Success Conference Center
• March 12 – Modesto, Modesto Junior College East Campus Ag Building
• March 18 – Fresno, Fresno County Farm Bureau
• March 19 – Bakersfield, UC Cooperative Extension Kern County Farm and Home Advisors Office

Each workshop will be held from 9 to 11 a.m.

Lauren Fann, ABC’s pest management specialist, will provide an overview of windrow sampling during each workshop. She will also discuss the importance of reporting beetle infestations to local agricultural commissioners. Regional pest control advisors (PCAs) and University of California farm advisors or Extension specialists will join Fann to talk about pest identification, proper sampling techniques and damage rate calculations. The regional PCAs and Extension staff will share information that is tailored to the specific pests and challenges growers face in that particular area.

The workshops are free to attend, but registration is required. Growers and industry professionals can register for the pest identification workshops with the ABC.