Weighing the pros and cons of common orchard management practices in the face of tough economic times is a challenge.

What might be standard orchard practice one season can be considered as a way to cut expenses in a different season or orchard. It is possible cutting costs in tough economic times by eliminating some standard management practices can backfire, jeopardizing crop quality or yields. It will take a hard look at crop prices to justify all expenses.

Almond, pistachio and walnut growers must spend the time evaluating their orchard blocks for their potential to save management costs.

Crop consultant Justin Nay said to make money farming tree nuts, yield improvement is necessary. In almond, orchard practices like making sure pollination contracts are met can be an assurance of yield. If contracts are not met, Nay said growers can negotiate and save money.

Eye on Irrigation Costs

He also listed improving irrigation uniformity and irrigating to evapotranspiration (ET) as keys to improving crop yields and increasing income. Costs of pumping water or surface deliveries can be justified if water use is maximized.

Curt Pierce, UCCE area irrigation and water resources advisor in Glenn, Tehama, Colusa and Shasta counties, said understanding water application rates is vital in any orchard irrigation program. The application rate is how much water in acre inches is applied per hour of irrigation set runtime. This is necessary to match application with the ET rate for that crop. Pierce said sampling water output over time and comparing the emitter output can be done to determine water application rate in an orchard. Growers also must recognize that orchards are not uniform in their uptake of water.

The difficult part, Pierce said, is recognizing orchards are not uniform in their use of water. Achieving a high percentage of the application rate across the orchard may have to be the best a manager can do. While it might be a tedious job to conduct a distribution uniformity test, knowing that water application is consistent throughout an orchard can be a path to yield improvement.

Use 4Rs for Nutrition

Tough economic times should bring new attention to the 4R plan for crop nutrition. UCCE crop advisors promote the 4Rs: right time, place, rate and source for nutrient applications. This concept of fertilization management, besides being a factor in plant health, is also an economic consideration.

The right source minimizes environmental losses depending on the rate, place and time of application. The goal with the right rate is to match the crop needs with the nutrients supplied. Soil diagnostic testing may be an expense, but it could be offset by realizing savings in fertilizer amounts. Nay said fertigation in small doses more frequently could improve yield and save costs on wasted fertilizer. Placing nutrients where and when they will be taken up by the plant can also be an avenue to saving fertilizer costs while adding efficiency.

Nay also noted that foliar fertilizer applications should not be done alone and only added to the tank in necessary pest management treatments.

Integrated Pest Management

When it comes to integrated pest management, many growers and managers are already considering costs and return on investment with their programs. In the UCCE publication Sac Valley Orchards, area IPM advisor Sudan Gyawaly noted economic treatment thresholds can be found in a formula that considers the cost of the treatment, value of the crop, crop loss or damage and efficacy of treatment. Economic injury level represents the pest population density at or above where treating pays off. Where crop value decreases, Gyawaly noted, the population level at which it pays to treat increases. The same is true when damage decreases, where treatment efficacy decreases or costs of management increases.

When evaluating risk for the major insect pest in tree nuts, navel orangeworm (NOW), there are factors to consider and decisions to make. Processor bonuses for low damage percentage can be an incentive. There are sound IPM practices that should be followed, Nay noted, rather than just using a calendar to decide when to apply insecticides.

Sac Valley Orchards notes susceptibility of variety, history of damage in the block, level of sanitation and anticipated harvest date are factors that will determine risk potential for NOW damage.

The Sac Valley list of practices that are likely to result in yield and income improvement include performing pest management activities based on valid economic thresholds. This may reduce overall inputs. Spot treating where possible and prioritizing treatment locations and timing of applications can maximize the value of pest control treatments.

There are also instances where cost-cutting measures are not likely to achieve production goals. Reducing or eliminating sprayer calibration, driving too fast when applying pesticides or using lower volumes per acre.

Pruning

Keenan Farms Grower Services Manager Zack Raven said adopting mechanical pruning in mature pistachio orchards has led to cost savings.

“We adopted that two to three years ago, and where pruning was a $500 per acre production cost, now we are at $300 an acre.”

Almond and walnut growers can get away with annual pruning, but pistachio growers need to prune to control tree size and allow orchard access. Hand pruning is necessary on the side of the tree that didn’t get hedged and on places the hedging missed, Raven said. Still, he said, mechanical pruning can cut costs in mature orchards.

One thing pistachio growers should not skimp on this year, Raven stressed, is orchard sanitation.

Processor bonuses for low insect damage percentages are a good reason to spend the money on the mummy shaking this year, he said. If you can blow off the berms, disc or flail mow, that is even better, but at least put the mummy nuts on the ground.

Pistachio growers in the San Joaquin Valley are off to a good winter chill year with the fog and low temperatures, Raven said.