Each year, California Almond Leadership Program participants select a topic or issue they would like to investigate that provides value or insight for the benefit of the California Almond industry.
After selecting a topic, participants research background information, focusing on a specific angle or issues, and in some cases, conduct trials. In November, the participants present their reports to peers and mentors, Almond Board of California’s (ABC’s) Industry Services Committee members, and ABC staff. Each participant is scored on their presentation, and the project with the highest score is formally presented by the winning participant at The Almond Conference in December.
Almond Leadership special projects for 2016 are:
California Almonds and Phytophthora infections, by Ashley Bandoni and Jason Thomas. Assess Phytophthora infections throughout California Almond orchards in relation to agronomic practices.
Managing almond orchards tree by tree and exploring 21st century farming, by Daniel Chui. Leveraging PowWow Energy’s new and proprietary technology that calibrates tree-by-tree images to determine the technology’s usefulness (or lack thereof), and discover what kind of operational difficulties need to be overcome when managing the use of this new technology.
That’s hull $h!t, by Joe Barnett and Rory Crowley. An exploration into new alternatives for hulling/shelling by-products, and the economic viability of those alternatives.
Off-grid growing: renewable solutions for diesel irrigation, by Chad Cummings. This project will examine circumstances needed to allow the replacement or augmentation of diesel irrigation pumps with viable renewable off-grid energy solutions.
Managing with technology, by Blake Davis. How technology can improve management of almonds.
Comparable grower returns for Independence variety, by Scott Donald. Examining the expected grower return of planting a block of Independence versus a grouping of Nonpareil and a cross-pollinator by modeling growing and harvesting costs, expected yields and market price trends.
Marketing mix and new logo for ABC Leadership Program, by Rita Edwards. Creating a well-defined marketing mix with special focus on a complete promotion of the California Almond Leadership Program, including creating a logo and recognition of Class 2016, as well as future classes.
In situ nut dipping: discovering the maximum potential of a navel orangeworm (NOW) ovi-larvicide spray program, by Sarah Gooder. Comparing NOW damage in almonds that have been dipped in insecticides (thereby achieving 100% ‘spray’ coverage) to untreated almonds.
Dust reduction in mechanized harvesting, by Jarred Hettinger. The project will explore what possibilities we have to reduce dust in mechanized harvesting.
Viability of spot replants in almond orchards, by Mallvinder Kahal. Determining under what conditions (such as soil health, canopy coverage and orchard age) spot replants in an almond orchard are successful.
Potassium efficiency trial in almonds, by Michael Locke. Discovering the most efficient way to deliver potassium to trees by applying four different forms of potassium to the soil of a group of trees, and taking leaf analysis of each to determine which one produces the fastest result.
Precision irrigation management with Phytech decision-support system, by Ethan Nicol. Using Phytech decision-support system to assist in irrigation management decisions for the 2016 crop year.
Almond hulls for almond production, by Edgar Perez. Investigating the merits of utilizing almond hulls in a soil-applied compost.
Expanding the reach of social media in the almond industry, by Angie Raimondi. This project will look at ways to better widen the network of Almond Ambassadors spreading information about the almond industry to a larger audience.
Almond marketing in India, by Wes Romero. Identifying new opportunities to sell almonds in India while limiting risk to California Almond handlers.
Botryosphaeria in almonds — a search for control, by Chris Taylor. Evaluating fungicides and application methods to control or prevent band canker in almonds.
Irrigation management systems using evapotranspiration, by Miguel Vasquez. Comparing two irrigation management systems that use evapotranspiration to give irrigation recommendations.
How much does your almond tree drink? by Robert Willmott. This project will investigate how much water a 2-year-old almond tree will consume during a growing season, and propose a different type of technology for irrigation management.
Comparing efficacy of weed suppression and effects on abiotic factors between two types of weed mats, by Brandon Windecker. Evaluating the effectiveness of and compare various changed factors between white and black weed mats in the orchard, using sensors that provide inputs on PAR light, ambient temperature and humidity, soil moisture and soil temperature every 15 minutes.
