Environmental Information for the
California Almond Industry

Almond Industry Headline Environmental News  March 21, 2008

Water Quality

  • Valley workshops set on future of irrigated lands program -- A series of workshops will be held throughout the Central Valley later this month and in early April to discuss the future of the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board is conducting the workshops to gather comments on the program elements and environmental information that should be considered in the development of a long-term program. The meetings will be held in Sacramento March 26; Modesto April 1; Tulare April 2 and Durham April 8. "The irrigated land program will very likely be changed to include groundwater and that is a very significant change which growers should be aware of," said Gabriele Ludwig, the Almond Board of California’s senior manager for technical and regulatory affairs. "These workshops will discuss how groundwater monitoring might be implemented and it is important for growers to attend and voice their opinions on how such a monitoring program should be developed. Thus, this program will affect every almond grower in the Central Valley.” <more> March 18, 2008 Almond Board of California Press Release
     

  • UC developing Web site for drought water management in almonds - - A number of critical issues are at play concerning the short- and long-term availability of water for the California almond industry. The most pressing of these is the recent Delta smelt decision that will impact about 216,000 acres of almonds served by the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project. In response, irrigation and water experts in the UC Division of Ag and Natural Resources are developing a Web site for drought water management in almonds and other crops. UC researchers, farm advisors and Extension specialists have developed extensive information over the years on water management practices during periods of reduced water availability. The Web site will compile this information, and in particular, will focus on drought management and irrigation. <more> March 21, 2008 Western Farm Press

Environmental Stewardship

  • Regulators view environmental successes on almond orchard tour - - More than 30 regulators, members of the media and local dignitaries gathered in February for the Almond Board of California's fourth annual Environmental Stewardship Tour in Hickman, Calif., to hear first-hand how the industry is tackling environmental issues. State and federal regulators praised the work of almond growers and handlers — including tour host Braden Farms — who are finding solutions to environmental challenges, including endangered species, air and water quality and reduced-risk pest management. Pamela Creedon, executive officer with the Central Valley Water Board's Irrigated Lands Program, said the Environmental Stewardship Tour helps illustrate not only the impacts of various regulations on industry, but opportunities for partnerships in meeting the Board's water quality mandates. "It's encouraging to see some of the things we've seen out in the field today," Creedon told tour attendees. <more> March 9, 2008 Western Farm Press
     

  • Almond industry 'greens up'. Stewardship tour highlights environmentally friendly operation - - Almond blooms were few and far between for the annual Environmental Stewardship Tour hosted by the Almond Board of California, but the springtime green hills complemented the "green" practices used on the 13,000-acre Braden Farms operation. The tour has been held for the past four years to show regulators and the media innovative ways growers reduce pesticides and dust and ensure food safety. Almonds are the nation's No. 1 horticultural export and the leading tree crop in the Central Valley, but the popular nut comes with an environmental price tag. Dormant sprays for pests have been implicated in surface-water pollution. Dust from harvest operations contributes to poor air quality. <more> March 3, 2008 Capital Press
     

  • Click here to view a video about the Environmental Stewardship Orchard Tour
     

  • Almonds grown greener. Tour shows farmers using environmentally friendlier techniques - - The rain kept bees from pollinating almond blossoms Friday, but there was a buzz about something else. The Almond Board of California held its fourth annual tour to show regulators and the media what growers are doing for the environment. They spray less pesticide than in the past. They try to capture irrigation runoff so it does not taint streams. They chip their pruned limbs and till them into the soil, rather than burning them in the open air. "We live in this area," said Jim Wagner, who works on pest control at Braden Farms, host of the tour. "We have children in this area. We aren't going to do anything negative." The Almond Board, based in Modesto, has done research on environmental issues as part of its effort to promote the industry. Almonds are second only to milk in gross income among farm products in the Northern San Joaquin Valley, bringing an estimated $833 million to growers in 2006. <more> Feb. 23, 2008 Modesto Bee
     

  • Almond industry explores sustainability - - By Gabriele Ludwig, Senior Manager, Global Technical & Regulatory Affairs, Almond Board of California. It seems everyone is claiming that the products they make or sell are “sustainable” or “green” nowadays. But what exactly is sustainability and what does it mean to California almond growers? Sustainability is about ensuring the health of a particular industry or company while also ensuring the health of the environment and local community. With the help of Dr. Keith Warner, director of the Faith, Ethics & Vocation Project at Santa Clara University’s Environmental Studies Institute, the Almond Board of California (ABC) has created a working definition of sustainable almond farming. That definition was developed based on input from focus groups of almond farmers, PCAs, farm advisors and handlers, all of who unanimously agreed that the almond industry should continue to pursue the concept of sustainability. <more> Feb. 19, 2008 Western Farm Press

Crop Protection

  • New Soil Fumigant Rules for Almond Orchard Replants - - The Department of Pesticide Regulation, as of Jan. 25, has placed new restrictions on soil fumigant applications that will impact almond growers planning to do orchard replant fumigations in the San Joaquin Valley from May to November. The new rules apply to the San Joaquin Valley and other areas of the state with poor air quality as part of DPR’s effort to curb emissions of smog forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the peak ozone period from May 1 to Oct. 31. <more>

     

General Industry News

  • DPR Recognizes Almond Industry’s Environmental Commitment

    The agency that regulates pesticide use in California has recognized the almond industry’s commitment to environmentally friendly crop production by declaring it an “IPM Innovator” and awarding a new grant to revive the successful Almond Pest Management Alliance Project. “The almond industry has always been a leader in developing and using environmentally sound, sustainable crop production practices, and DPR’s latest IPM Innovator Award and new Pest Management Alliance grant reflect that commitment,” said the Almond Board’s Gabriele Ludwig. <more>

     

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