Orchard Management Monthly Newsletter
Carpophilus Beetle Continues to Damage Tree Nut Crops
Carpophilus beetle (CB) has spread to tree nut-growing regions throughout the Central Valley since it was first detected in California in 2023.
Featured StoryWhat I’m Watching
What Harvest Is Telling You About Next Year’s Crop
Harvest reveals the season’s successes and its weak spots. Gary Osteen explains what to watch for and how to prepare for the crop ahead.
Read the StoryOrchard harvest, photographed for West Coast Nut. Photo courtesy JCS Marketing.Orchards and water management from the MyAgLife footage library. JCS Marketing.
News and Analysis
The Latest
Fertility Management
Get Nutrition in Before the Rains Come
A field perspective on postharvest nutrition, soluble fertilizers and soil amendments before wet conditions limit orchard access.
Crop Management
Cooperative Efforts Score Major Safety Win with Cal/OSHA
A commitment to worker safety earned Tessenderlo Kerley’s Hanford plant Cal/OSHA STAR status. Cecilia Parsons reports on the people and practices…
Featured StoryFrom the Orchard
Grower Profiles
A Trial by Fire and an Eye on Precision Ag
Madera grower and crop consultant Will Cosyns reflects on taking on the family operation at 25 and where he sees opportunity for California almonds
Into the OrchardFrom the Orchard
The People Behind the Crop.
Conversations with
California Growers
Diamond C Farming
Will Cosyns
Grower and Independent Crop Consultant
Will Cosyns farms 500 acres of his family’s operation and works with growers in Madera and Fresno counties. His interest in precision agriculture starts with the details: irrigation, fertility and the differences between orchard blocks.
A Trial by Fire and an Eye on Precision Ag
Read the Interview with Will Cosyns
P-R Farms
Vincent Ricchiuti
Chief Operating Officer
At P-R Farms, Vincent Ricchiuti connects the orchard to the customer. The family business grows, sells and markets organic and conventional almonds, with a focus on products that reach consumers directly.
Vertical Integration Positions P-R Farms for the Future
Read the Interview with Vincent RicchiutiThe Crop Desk
Research for Your Orchard.
Crop Management, Research
and Field Reporting
Crop Management
Pollination Still Pays in Self-Fertile Almond Varieties
Honey bees can still improve yields in self-fertile almonds. The Almond Board of California examines hive stocking rates, rental costs and the…
Pest Management
Tackling Problematic Weeds in Hazelnuts
Growers need to start early and stay vigilant when managing two weeds that can create havoc at harvest in hazelnuts.
Disease
Walnut Mold Pressure Builds as Researchers Refine Management
UC researchers are tracing when walnut mold develops and how harvest conditions affect quality. Cecilia Parsons reports on orchard practices and…
West Coast Nut Contributors
Meet the Voices in These Pages.
Gary Osteen
PCA, CCA and Certified Professional Agronomist
Gary Osteen brings 45 years of experience walking California fields to his West Coast Nut reporting. An independent PCA, CCA and certified professional agronomist, he writes about the decisions growers face in the orchard.
View Profile for Gary Osteen
Cecilia Parsons
Associate Editor, JCS Marketing
Cecilia Parsons reports on agriculture from the Central Valley community of Ducor. Her work draws on longstanding relationships with growers, processors and UCCE advisors, with a focus on the practical details of food production.
View Profile for Cecilia Parsons
The Magazine
West Coast Nut
Magazine
October / November 2026
Field research, grower perspectives and the people shaping the tree nut industry. Read the complete edition, with every photograph, story and advertiser in place.
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