August 2020 – Your Trusted Advisor

GAR Bennett has as variety of water treatment products that both clean your lines and maintain your filter stations, keeping your irrigation system in working order.

Almonds: This crop is winding down as growers are getting ready for harvest or already shaking. Ensure your orchard floors are cleaned up if you haven’t already done so. Navel orangeworm (NOW) sprays and fertilizers are finished up. Hull rot has been an issue in some fields, especially for growers who have not cut back on their water as much. Keep this in mind for next year when planning your growing season. Continue to monitor for mites and ants—ant bait should be out at this time. As we watch for mites, keep in mind that once we see dew on the leaves in the morning, this marks the end of mite season and the treatment window. This is a good time to collect hull samples to get a look at your Boron levels as well as soil samples to plan your post-harvest program. Pre-emergent herbicides are right around the corner as well.

Citrus: We are still monitoring for thrips in young trees and citricola scale in some blocks. Thrips have been relatively calm this growing season compared to others, but it’s important to keep new flush clean on young trees and rotate sprays as needed. Those planning on exporting to Korea should be in close contact with their GAR Bennett PCA and packing house on products to use for fuller rose beetle. The first of two fuller rose beetle sprays required for Korea export need to be done by the end of August. We are finishing up the second flight of red scale and have a hatch coming up. This hatch has previously created big blow ups during September. If your field has a history of red scale, be sure to watch these blocks that may have high populations. With the hot temperatures, be sure to keep an eye on your Cara Caras as you may consider reapplying sunburn protection. Growers are also cleaning up weeds currently.

Grapes: Harvest is happening in all varieties. At this time, your PCA may be vigilantly looking for mites and mealybugs. Bunch rot, worms, raisin moths and omnivorous leafrollers (OLR) have been spotted in some blocks that were only treated once for these issues. Keep close contact with you GAR Bennett PCA if these diseases or pests are a concern in your field. We wish everyone a great harvest!

Stone Fruit: We are in the bottom third of the season for this crop. Late varieties of peaches, nectarines and plums are being harvested. We are continuing our pre-harvest treatments and keeping a watchful eye on the orchard for population jumps. There have been some katydid and brown rot issues in the field. Consult your GAR Bennett PCA on treatment options. With the high temperatures be sure to keep an eye out for mites. Growers may be preparing their post-harvest fertilizer programs. There’s still some time to take tissue samples to assess field needs for these programs. Weeds are also being cleaned up.

Cherries: As we fight the summer heat, be sure to keep an eye on mite development and treat promptly. We are continuing to apply sunburn protection and clean up weeds. Some growers are applying fertilizers based on field demands.

Pistachios: Growers are getting their orchards ready for harvest. Hull split sprays are currently being applied. The crop load looks good this year across the Valley.

Walnuts: Ethephon applications are currently happening in the field. Be sure to check for packing tissue brown if you have plans to spray as we are 5-6 days early this season. PCAs are trapping for husk fly and treating as appropriate. If you have shady spots or areas of moisture in your fields, consult your PCA on checking these areas for possible husk fly damage. Mite populations have been OK despite the hot temperatures. However, if you see populations increase be sure to contact your GAR Bennett PCA. Looking at about 20 days out for harvest. Crop load looks promising across the Valley.

Tomatoes: We are about 50%-60% into harvest. Some growers are applying fungicides to late fruit that was hit by rain last week. Yields have been variable due to impacts from curly top virus earlier in the season.

Dehydrated Onions: This crop is reaching the end of the growing season as it’s beginning to lay over in the field. It will lay for about a month before being harvested.

Cotton: We are starting to treat for whitefly and watch for aphid. The crop is coming along well but seems a little behind when compared to last year. Lygus pressure has been better this season.

Alfalfa Seed: Earlier fields are being harvested. Later fields are being desiccated and will be harvested in 4-5 days.