Almond Short Course

2016 Agenda

Modesto Centre Plaza/DoubleTree Hotel in Modesto, California

Download the flyer (pdf)

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

7:30 a.m.Registration
8:45Welcome and Announcements
Bruce Lampinen, UC ANR CE Specialist, UC Davis
9:00Welcome
TBD

Session 1: Marketing and Economics
Moderator: Bruce Lampinen, UC ANR CE Specialist, UC Davis

9:10The California Almond Industry: History and Production Research
Tom Gradziel, Dept. of Plant Sciences, UC Davis
9:35Marketing of California Almonds
Bill Morecraft, Senior Vice President, Global Ingredient Division, Blue Diamond Almonds
10:00Economics of Orchard Establishment and Almond Production
Christine A. Gutierrez, Dept. of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Davis and UC ANR Agricultural Issues Center
10:25Questions and Answers: Marketing and Economics
10:45Break

Session 2: Orchard Establishment, Part 1
Moderator: Roger Duncan, UC ANR CE Advisor, Stanislaus County

11:05Evaluation and Modification of Soils, Soil Characteristics, Salinity, and Understanding Soil and Water Reports
David Doll, UC ANR CE Advisor, Merced County                
11:50Rootstock Selection
Roger Duncan, UC ANR CE Advisor, Stanislaus County
12:15Questions and Answers: Orchard Establishment Part 1
12:30Lunch

Session 3: Orchard Establishment, Part 2
Moderator: Dani Lightle, UC ANR CE Advisor, Glenn County 

1:30Evaluation and Selection of Current Varieties
Dani Lightle, UC ANR CE Advisor, Glenn County
1:55Orchard Planning, Design and Development
Roger Duncan, UCANR CE Advisor, Stanislaus County
2:20Tree Training and Pruning
Katherine Pope, UC ANR CE Advisor in Solano, Yolo and Sacramento Counties
2:45Canopy Management in Mature Orchards: Hedging and Pruning with Food Safety Implications
Bruce Lampinen, UC ANR CE Specialist, UC Davis
3:10Questions and Answers: Orchard Establishment Part 2
3:30Break
3:50Spur Dynamics
Bruce Lampinen, UC ANR CE Specialist, UC Davis
4:15Irrigation Systems
Larry Schwankl, UC ANR CE Specialist Emeritus, Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center
4:40Questions and Answers: Orchard Establishment, Part 2
5:00Reception

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Session 4: The Almond Tree: Root and Shoot Growth
Moderator: Katherine Pope, UC ANR CE Advisor in Solano, Yolo and Sacramento Counties 

8:15Root Growth, Biology and Physiology
Astrid Volder, Dept. of Plant Sciences, UC Davis
8:40Bud Development, Pollination and Fertilization of Flowers
Ted DeJong, UC ANR CE Specialist Emeritus, UC Davis
9:05Carbohydrate Dynamics
Maciej Zwieniecki, Dept. of Plant Sciences, UC Davis
9:30Noninfectious Bud-Failure, Other Genetic Disorders and Discussion of Certified Stock
Tom Gradziel, Dept. of Plant Sciences, UC Davis
9:55Questions and Answers: The Almond Tree: Root and Shoot Growth
10:15Break

Session 5: Producing the Crop, Part 1
Moderator: Mae Culumber, UC ANR CE Advisor, Fresno County 

10:35Variety Improvement
Tom Gradziel, Dept. of Plant Sciences, UC Davis
11:00Bee Management for Almond Pollination
Elina Nino, Dept. of Entomology, UC Davis
11:25Food Safety Considerations       
Christopher Thoefel, Western Center for Food Safety, UC Davis
11:50Questions and Answers: Producing the Crop, Part 1
12:10 p.m.Lunch

Session 6: Producing the Crop, Part 2
Moderator: Emily Symmes, UC ANR CE Area IPM Advisor, Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter-Yuba and Tehama Counties

1:05Nitrogen and Potassium Utilization in Almond Orchards
Franz Niederholzer, UC ANR CE Advisor, Yuba, Sutter and Colusa Counties
1:30Mineral Nutrition of Almond Including Micronutrients
Patrick Brown, Dept. of Plant Sciences, UC Davis
1:55Soil Amendments
Terry Prichard, UC ANR CE Specialist, UC Davis
2:20Organic Production
Brent Holtz, UC ANR CE County Director and Advisor, San Joaquin County
2:45Questions and Answers: Producing the Crop, Part 2
3:05Break

Session 7: Producing the Crop, Part 3
Moderator: Elizabeth Fichtner, UC ANR CE Advisor in Tulare County

3:25Nut Quality as Affected by Practices During and After Harvest
John Labavitch, Dept. of Plant Sciences, UC Davis
3:50Physiological Aspects of Water Use by Almond Trees
Ken Shackel, Dept. of Plant Sciences, UC Davis
4:15Irrigation Scheduling                      
Allan Fulton, UC ANR CE Advisor, Tehama County
4:40Questions and Answers: Producing the Crop, Part 3
5:00Reception

Thursday, November 10

Session 8: Protecting the Orchard and Crop, Part 1
Moderator: Jhalendra Rijal, UC ANR CE Advisor, Merced and San Joaquin Counties 

8:00Weed Identification and Control
Brad Hanson, UC ANR CE Specialist, UC Davis
8:25Vertebrate Pest Management
Roger Baldwin, UC ANR CE Specialist, UC Davis
8:50Navel Orangeworm and Mites
David Haviland, UC ANR CE Advisor, Kern County
9:20Plant Bugs and San Jose Scale
Kent Daane, UC ANR CE Specialist, Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center
9:40Ants and Peach Twig Borer
Kris Tollerup, UC ANR CE Advisor, Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center
9:55Questions and Answers: Protecting the Orchard and Crop, Part 1
10:15Break

Session 9: Protecting the Orchard and Crop, Part 2
Moderator: Mohammad Yaghmour, UC ANR CE Advisor, Kern County 

10:35Frost Protection and Orchard Floor Management
Joe Connell, UC ANR CE Advisor Emeritus, Butte County
11:10Spray Technology           
Franz Niederholzer, UC ANR CE Advisor, Yuba, Sutter and Colusa Counties and
Ali Pourreza, UC ANR CE Advisor, Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center
11:35Foliage, Blossom and Nut Diseases
Jim Adaskaveg, Dept. of Plant Pathology, UC Riverside
12:10 p.m.Questions and Answers: Protecting the Orchard and Crop, Part 2
12:30Lunch

Session 10: Protecting the Orchard and Crop, Part 3
Moderator: Rick Buchner, UC ANR CE Advisor, Tehama and Glenn Counties 

1:25Limb, Trunk and Root Diseases
Florent Trouillas, UC ANR CE Specialist, Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center
1:50Viruses, Phytoplasmas, Union Disorders and Almond Leaf Scorch
Mohammad Yaghmour, UC ANR CE Advisor, Kern County
2:15Nematode Parasites of Almond
Andreas Westphal, UC ANR CE Specialist, Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center
2:40Questions and Answers: Protecting the Orchard and Crop, Part 3
3:00Break
3:20Replant Disorder
Greg Browne, Research Plant Pathologist, USDA ARS
3:45Year Round Almond Orchard Management Summary
Emily Symmes, UC ANR CE Area IPM Advisor, Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter-Yuba and Tehama Counties
4:10Questions and Answers: Protecting the Orchard and Crop, Part 3
4:30Wrap up and Adjourn