Posts Tagged: plums
Plums and Prunes
By Donna Woodward, UC Master Gardener of Napa County When is a plum a prune? Short answer: When...
European Prunus Domestica (calphotos.berkeley.edu)
UC releases new cost studies for growing plums and raisins in the San Joaquin Valley
UC Agricultural Issues Center has released three new studies, one on the cost and returns of establishing an orchard and producing fresh market plums, and the cost and returns of establishment and production of dried-on-vine (DOV) raisins under two different trellis systems.
The cost and returns are multi-year studies based on hypothetical farm operations of well-managed orchards and vineyards, using practices common to the San Joaquin Valley. Growers, UC ANR Cooperative Extension farm advisors and other agricultural associates provided input and reviewed the methods and findings of the studies.
The plum study, using double-line drip irrigation, estimates costs from orchard establishment through the production years. The economic life of the orchard used in this cost analysis is 18 years.
The DOV raisin establishment and production cost studies are under different trellis systems; overhead trellis system (OHTS) and open gable trellis system (OGTS). The two separate DOV raisin studies use single-line drip irrigation. The economic life of the vineyards used in these cost analysis is 30 years.
The authors describe the assumptions used to identify current costs for each crop, material inputs, cash and non-cash overhead. A ranging analysis table shows net returns over a range of prices and yields. Other tables show the monthly cash costs, the costs and returns per acre, hourly equipment costs, and the whole farm annual equipment, investment and business overhead costs.
The new studies are titled:
- Sample Costs to Establish an Orchard and Produce Fresh Market Plums in the San Joaquin Valley – South- 2016
- Sample Costs to Establish a Vineyard and Produce DOV Raisins (OGTS) in the San Joaquin Valley - 2016
- Sample Costs to Establish a Vineyard and Produce DOV Raisins (OHTS) in the San Joaquin Valley - 2016
Free copies of these studies and other sample cost of production studies for many commodities are available online. To download the cost studies, visit the UC Agricultural Issues Center Cost Studies website at http://coststudies.ucdavis.edu.
The cost and returns program is funded by the UC Agricultural Issues Center, which is part of UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the UC Davis Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
For additional information or an explanation of the calculations used in the studies, contact Donald Stewart through the UC Agricultural Issues Center at (530) 752-4651 or destewart@ucdavis.edu. Contact UC Cooperative Extension advisors through the local UCCE office http://ucanr.edu/County_Offices
California summer fruit smaller and tastier this year
"That smaller peach this year very likely is sweeter than the moderate-sized peach of last year," said Kevin Day, UC ANR Cooperative Extension advisor and director in Tulare and Kings counties.
Most of the change in fruit size can be attributed to the drought. When irrigation is limited, water content of the fruit diminishes and sugars become a greater proportion of the fruit mass. However, Day says drought isn't the only reason for 2015's smaller fruit size. California also had unusually warm temperatures in January and February 2015, causing fruit to ripen faster.
"A variety that might ripen after 120 days of being on a tree in a year like this ripens in only 110," Day said. "And, so it's consequently shortchanged out of 10 days of growing."
Fruit brown rot protection preharvest
At least one on-line weather forecasting site is predicting rain for Aug 20-22. That is right about the time prune harvest may begin in the Sutter/Yuba area. The forecast could be mistaken, but it might be a good idea to make sure your sprayer is ready and you have the best program (fungicide, sprayer set up and calibration) ready if needed.
Sprays to protect prune fruit from brown rot must be applied before rain. Research by Dr. Jim Adaskaveg, University of California professor of plant pathology, has shown the following materials and application practices to provide the best possible protection:
Best Materials (++++) in the 2011 UC Fungicide Efficacy and Timing publication followed by fungicide class (in parenthesis) appear below. Dr. Adaskaveg advises growers not to use the same fungicide chemistry more than 2 times in a single growing season. Check the label, consult with your packer and PCA before applying a fungicide preharvest.
- Bumper/Tilt (3)
- Indar (3)
- Quash (3)
- Pristine (7/11)
- Quilt Xcel (3/11)
Complete information at: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PDF/PMG/fungicideefficacytiming.pdf
I strongly suggest growers talk with their PCA about tank mixing two chemistry groups if allowed by the label and a premixed material has not been selected. For fruit brown rot control, Group 9 materials are rated +++ (good and reliable) by Dr. Adaskeveg compared to ++ (moderate and variable) for Group 11 materials. Group 9 materials should provide better resistance management support of Group 3 materials for fruit brown rot control than Group 11 materials.
Best results with research by Dr. Adaskaveg on prune fruit brown rot control include the following practices:
- Adding 1-2 gallons of 415 weight summer oil for each 100 gallons of spray water in the tank. Use of 440 weight oil instead of 415 oil may provide similar results, although this has not been tested. 440 weight oils are labeled for summer use, but max rate is 1 gallon per 100 gallons. Check the label of the oil product before spraying. Make sure there is NO sulfur in your spray tank (or sprayer filters) before adding oil to the tank.
- Using high spray volume ( for example 160-200 gallons/acre)
The most difficult spray job of the season is preharvest, when the canopy is most dense and weighed down by the weight of the crop. Slow tractor speeds will deliver the best spray coverage under these conditions. Slow down and do the best job possible.
Aerial application will provide less control than careful ground application.
Finally, lower your expectations. Fruit brown rot control preharvest is difficult. This is especially true when conditions (warm and wet weather + clustered fruit) favor infection. Complete control may not be possible.
A Plum Assignment
When something is a "plum," it's something desirable, whether it be a "plum" position, a "plum"...
Bee Heading Toward Plum Blossom
Sharing a Plum
Heavy Load