Growing the Valley

ACC research in olives with Becky Wheeler-Dykes

Fruit removal is a serious issue in table olive production, namely because the fruit are harvested before they are ripe. ACC, an ethylene precursor, has the potential to

Distribution uniformity return on investment tool

Anyone who has an irrigation system knows that it needs to be maintained for peak performance. Anyone who has an irrigation system also knows that almost everything seems

2026 Prune Fruit Set, GDH30, and Cost of Thinning

In 2026 the Sacramento Valley prune industry is experiencing high fruit sets, high GDH 30, and a high cost of fruit thinning because of very diesel prices. Jaime Ott (UCC

Last update from the 3rd generation Regional Almond Variety Trial

The 3rd Generation RAVT recently wrapped up, and Luke, Phoebe, and Roger sit down one final time to discuss the findings. While the overall results are discussed, they al

The effect of pollen on pistachio fruit and polyphenol deposition

Giulia Marino and Pat J Brown (both UC Davis) have been examining another potential influence on polyphenol deposition in pistachio: whether the pollen source impacts dep

2026: Earlier Almond Irrigation Start Revisited

Dr. Or Sperling (ARO-Volcani) and Zac Ellis (OFI) discuss the exciting 2025 results from their proactive irrigation scheduling application in California almond orchards.

Encore: Earlier Irrigation Start in Almond

Drs. Or Sperling (ARO-Volcani) and Maciej Zwieniecki (UC Davis) discuss their groundbreaking research on almond irrigation. That research has culminated in an exciting ir

Polyphenol deposition in pistachios - what is it, and how do cultivar and irrigation influence it?

Polyphenol deposition in pistachio kernels, also known as internal kernel discoloration, is a harmless phenotype of pistachios, where dark coloration appears on the inter

Encore: Climate Change Part 4: Weeds with Lynn Sosnoskie

Our concerns about how climate change will affect agriculture don’t just extend to crop performance; pest species will also be affected. In this week’s episode, Lynn Sosn

The benefits of applying almond hulls and shells as mulch in orchards

Almond production creates a lot of byproduct. While there are some alternative uses for almond hulls and shells, like livestock feed and bedding, there is still not enoug

Red Leaf Blotch (2026)

Today on the podcast we’ll be discussing Red Leaf Blotch a new invasive disease in California almond production. I want to offer my sincere apologies to listeners and to

Boron fertilization of olives

Like many fruiting orchard crops, olives benefit from boron fertilization. Elizabeth Fichtner (UCCE Tulare County) goes over how olives benefit from fertilization, as wel

Pistachio hull split - how does it happen and why does it change across years?

The pistachio hull is critical for protecting the kernel. Insect pests can’t get through it until it begins to break down. However, it is known that hull integrity can ch

Encore: Leslie Holland on Botryosphaeria in Almonds

Leslie Holland, Assistant Professor at University of Wisconsin, Madison, shares the results of some of her work examining fungicides to suppress Botryosphaeria infections

Pistachio pollination biology and artificial pollination

Phoebe sits down with Elizabeth Fichtner to discuss the biology of pistachio bloom, how it impacts orchard design, and why picking the correct male pollinator is so impor

Water use in regenerative and cover cropped orchards

One concern about growing cover crops is that they might compete with the orchard for water. This is an additional concern if you let cover crops continue to grow after b

2026 Water outlook episode

Phoebe and Sam Sandovol Solis discuss the water outlook for 2026. They also discuss some things that everyone can do to maximize water infiltration. If you are interested

Self-Fertile Nonpareil: Sierra Gold (2025)

Self-fertile Nonpareil has the potential to be a gamechanger for California almond growers. Both Sierra Gold Nursery (FruitionOne™) and Burchell Nursery (Nonpareil SC+) a

Self-Fertile Nonpareil: Burchell (2025)

Self-fertile Nonpareil has the potential to be a gamechanger for California almond growers. Both Sierra Gold Nursery (FruitionOne™) and Burchell Nursery (Nonpareil SC+) a

Walnut Mold (2025)

Dr. Themis Michailides (UC Davis Plant Pathologist at the Kearney Ag Center) provides a critical update on his lab’s research on the biology and management of walnut mold