March 19, 2019 - Modesto
March 19, 2019 - Modesto
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Detailed session descriptions and speaker bios (PDF)
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Timeline:
8:30-9:00 am - coffee/bagels/pastries
9:00-9:50 am - large group sessions
10am-12:30 pm - rotating station sessions
12:30-1:00 pm - lunch from Panera's
Session Descriptions:
Tuesday, March 19th (8:30-12:30pm)
9:00-9:30
Welcome! Grower/management conversation about goals and practices Description: This session will 1) provide the method of developing the farm’s almond nutrient plans, 2) describe how and when nutrients are applied, 3) discuss the results of the farm’s nutrient and irrigation plan and implementation with detail about the farm’s irrigation scheduling procedure.
9:30-9:50
ABC Overview and Almond Sustainability Program (large group talk) Description: The ABC Overview and Almond Sustainability program will be an overview of the current industry as well as look at why being involved in the Almond Sustainability Program is so important to the entire supply from the grower to the consumer.
Rotating Stations (10:00-12:30) each 30 minutes.
- Forward tissue sampling and overview of BMP trials to manage N and water. Description: Dr. Brown will present results from trials in Almond contrasting different approaches to N management and the implementation of the improved nutrient management protocols (early leaf sampling, yield based nutrient forecasting, 4 R’s nutrient management). Bio: Patrick Brown is Professor of Plant Nutrition at the University of California, Davis specializing the management of nutrients in Almond, Walnut and Pistachio. With 30 years of experience at UC Davis, Dr. Brown has been at the forefront of research to increase the efficiency of nutrient use in orchards.
- Barriers to adoption of nitrogen management practices. Description: This group share findings from grower surveys on nitrogen management collected by UC Davis in winter 2017 in the northern Central Valley. We will discuss nitrogen management practices and barriers to adoption of those practices. This will be an interactive session in which we facilitate conversation between participants on how these barriers may be experienced in their own operations. We will discuss the next stages in our research project, that includes a large survey UC Davis is fielding in 2018 to ask growers across the Central Valley about barriers and motivations to adopting N management practices, including fertilizer, soil and irrigation management practices, and their experiences with education, outreach and policy around N management. Bio: Sat Darshan S. Khalsa is a Project Scientist in the Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis.
- High frequency low nitrogen fertigation trials (HFLC). Description: Growers face emerging regulatory requirements to minimize nitrogen fertilizer use and to monitor impacts on groundwater quality. In this session, we will talk about a ongoing trial aimed to improve groundwater sustainability using “high frequency low concentration” (HFLC) fertigation in orchards, and by performing a comparative assessment of three monitoring models that measure nitrate loss to groundwater: 1.mass balance (NUE), 2.water and nitrogen flux monitoring in the vadose zone, and 3. groundwater quality monitoring. Bio: Hanna Ouaknin and Thomas Harter. Hanna Ouaknin is a Post. Doc. Hydrologist working with Professor Thomas Harter to reduce groundwater nitrate leaching using High Frequency Low Nitrogen fertigation practices.
- CASP online tools. Description: In depth discussion on the ABC tools that are offered to growers through CASP. We will focus our time on the Nitrogen Management tool and illustrating how it can help you with your NMP as well as the Irrigation Calculator. Bios: Spencer Cooper is the Senior Manager of Irrigation and Water Efficiency with the Almond Board of California. He works with growers on increasing water efficiency through adoption of irrigation technologies. Spencer also works with growers on the California Almond Sustainability Program.
- Nutrient management in first year recycled orchards. Description: The grinding and incorporating into soil of whole almond trees, during orchard removal, could provide a sustainable practice that enhances both air and soil quality. This session will be located across the street from Chandler Farms where a trial has been established in a first year orchard after being recycled. Nitrogen dynamics as well as soil and plant nutrients corresponding to fertigation and irrigation events in recycled and conventional orchards will be discussed. Brent Holtz is the County Director and Farm Advisor for the Cooperative Extension in San Joaquin County.