Reporting, research and practical insights from West Coast Nut, Progressive Crop Consultant and Enterprise Ag Magazine.
West Coast Nut
The potential for a very strong El Niño is strengthening. This southern oscillation is no child’s play. The Pacific is over 2 degrees warmer and tropical depressions have already been threatening. That’s what brings…
September 25, 2026
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Crop nutrients are a significant portion of the input costs in tree nut production. Part of the value is trust in the source and management practices at the site. The nutrients need to be…
September 24, 2026
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For decades, California almond growers have relied on honey bees to provide consistent pollination and ensure a successful crop. However, in recent years, the introduction of self-fertile almond varieties has offered growers more flexibility…
September 23, 2026
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Growers need to start early and stay vigilant when managing two weeds that can create havoc at harvest in hazelnuts. In a presentation at the Nut Growers Society 2026 Summer Tour Aug. 5 in…
September 22, 2026
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As California charges ahead toward its climate change goals of “carbon neutrality” by 2045, many wonder how we are going to get there and what California will look like when the time comes. History…
September 22, 2026
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Leaving Eastern filbert blight-infected chippings on orchard floors is a viable alternative to burning or hauling them away and can enhance soil health, according to retired Oregon State University plant pathologist Jay Pscheidt. As…
September 21, 2026
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In 1994, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) had initially identified “soil NOx” as a significant source of air pollution coming from agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley. Soil NOx includes emissions of nitric…
September 21, 2026
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Fumigation is an important tool across California’s tree nut industry, from managing pests in the orchard to protecting harvested product. But it’s a tool that’s also receiving increased attention from regulators, making performance, planning…
September 20, 2026
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Introduction As a leafy brassica, bok choy (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis) needs reliable nitrogen during its short growth cycle to build healthy green tissues. However, this fast-cycling growth characteristic leaves growers, especially in the…
September 20, 2026
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Introducing ASA’s CCA Organic Specialty Certification Organic agriculture is not simply conventional production with a shorter input list. It is a federally regulated production system in which agronomic decisions, documentation, product flow and risk…
September 19, 2026
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Rain events during the 2025 harvest were blamed for higher percentages of mold in the walnut crop. Kearney-based UC Plant Pathologist Themis Michailides said mold percentages have been trending higher in the past several…
September 18, 2026
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“Fumigation is under the microscope.” That’s how Roger Isom, president and CEO of the Western Tree Nut Association (WTNA), describes the current regulatory environment surrounding fumigation in California agriculture. “The regulatory agencies, whether it’s…
September 18, 2026
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Legumes, plants from the bean family, are known for their ability to add nitrogen to the soil. This makes them a popular choice in cover cropping, supplying both nitrogen for the cash crop and…
September 17, 2026
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“Wet farming” requires good decisions. In light of recent National Weather Service forecasts of a strong El Niño-type weather pattern, almond growers may want to think back to last fall and remember what worked…
September 16, 2026
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Late-season fieldwork is where strong consultants separate themselves by documenting sensitive sites, tightening application windows, evaluating outcomes and turning the season’s evidence into a better plan for the grower. September can feel like the…
September 16, 2026
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Soils contain vast numbers of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and archaea. Most have neutral or positive effects on plant growth, and some are pathogenic. Only 2% to 5% of soil microbes are classified as…
September 15, 2026
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Every year in agriculture, we’re introduced to another new technology that’s supposed to change everything. A new sensor. A new drone. A new software platform. A new piece of equipment. Some of it ends…
September 14, 2026
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Five ways better storytelling can build trust, strengthen relationships and make your message more memorable If there’s one business lesson I’ve learned over the years, it’s this: the…
September 9, 2026
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Leadership, not legal documents, is what determines whether a farm survives to the next generation California growers spend years planning capital investments, planting decisions, water strategy and market…
September 8, 2026
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By the numbers 24 acresThe site features innovation barns where companies can refine machinery with high-end fabrication equipment, office spaces and 24 acres of dedicated commercial fields where…
September 7, 2026
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As California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act reshapes agricultural water use, growers are looking beyond simply replacing lost groundwater Historically, the conversation around California water has centered on scarcity,…
September 6, 2026
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Keeping California’s farms productive will require more than new water supplies. It will require unprecedented collaboration. Geoff Vanden Heuvel has played a leading role in bringing stakeholders together…
September 5, 2026
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Acadian Plant Health has expanded its direct market presence in California, appointing Michael Lombardi and Eric (Rick) Ebbinghausen as Territory Sales Representatives.
September 4, 2026
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By the numbers 45 yearsI’ve spent 45 years in the field, and in my experience, the fundamentals don’t change with scale. a thousand acresIf you’ve got a thousand…
September 4, 2026
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By the numbers fourth consecutive yearThe almond industry faces its fourth consecutive year of acreage reduction as well. five- to 10-year establishment periodIt is expensive to remove a…
September 3, 2026
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By the numbers 500 acresCan another 500 acres be added without hiring more people? 20 years ago“20 years ago, most farm decisions were made with experience, paper records…
September 2, 2026
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How large-scale growers can begin putting AI and automation to work without overhauling the entire operation Large-scale agriculture has always rewarded people who see change coming and move…
September 1, 2026
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Trio of Cerignoni, Chris Rose, and Matheus Gueratto to lead ambitious push toward $260M+ in North America by 2034 USA — August 2026 — BIOTROP, the microbiological solutions division of BioFirst Group, today announced…
August 25, 2026
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There was plenty of optimism in the room at this year’s Western Tree Nut Association Annual Meeting last month, and for good reason. After several challenging years, California’s tree nut industry is beginning to…
July 12, 2026
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California’s ‘farm to corrections’ program now reaches 29 prisons and moves about a million pounds of local produce a quarter — but can it scale to the volume larger growers need?
June 15, 2026
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Escalating Middle East tensions and disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz are pushing fertilizer prices higher and tightening supply, forcing California growers to rethink procurement and sharpen nutrient management.
June 15, 2026
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PAGA claims have become one of the most expensive legal threats facing California agriculture, where even clerical payroll errors can multiply into six-figure penalties across an entire seasonal workforce.
June 15, 2026
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Cal/OSHA’s new Agricultural Enforcement Task Force is intensifying inspections across California. Here are the five most-cited standards — and how larger operations can manage compliance as a system.
June 15, 2026
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As drought cycles intensify and groundwater rules tighten, California growers are turning to soil sensors, plant-based monitoring and AI-driven automation to get more crop per drop.
June 15, 2026
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They described her as fierce and independent, a farmer who thinks outside the box. They said her journey to agriculture didn’t follow the traditional path, that she does things her own way. In the…
May 15, 2026
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Tri-County Walnut Day, an annual event hosted by Tulare County UCCE, was held on a foggy February day but still attracted local walnut growers and crop advisors who braved the drive to hear timely…
April 19, 2026
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Lettuce Fusarium Wilt Fusarium wilt has become one of the most challenging diseases for California lettuce growers. Once established, the fungal pathogen that causes this disease, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae, persists in production…
April 19, 2026
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Trade dynamics are in constant motion and often shift with the political tides. At the same time, competition from other growing regions is intensifying and consumers are aging out of many traditional geographic markets…
April 17, 2026
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Provider of organic and conventional fertilizers will take ownership of global ingredient manufacturer’s botanical-based biopesticides and solutions for plant nutrition and soil health FRESNO, California (April 16, 2026) – AgroPlantae, which serves the plant…
April 16, 2026
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For pest control advisors working in vegetable crops, few insects inspire as much frustration as diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella). Despite decades of insecticide development, this pest continues to evolve resistance, exploit production gaps, and…
April 15, 2026
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Potential changes to the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP), as well as on-farm fertilizer use, could be on the way. In the fall of last year, the State Water Resources Control Board, or State…
March 20, 2026
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Mating disruption is a widely used tool in nut orchards to reduce navel orangeworm (NOW) populations by releasing pheromones that confuse male moths and interfere with mating. To monitor NOW activity, growers traditionally rely…
March 15, 2026
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Treehouse Almonds and Sitos Group's new Delano facility will turn 26,000 tons of almond shells into customizable biochar — with a 35% vineyard yield boost from a 10-year Monterey Pacific trial behind it.
March 1, 2026
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Chilean growers are expected to harvest more than 200,000 metric tons of hazelnuts annually by 2030, far outpacing Oregon’s expected production and firmly establishing the country as the second-largest hazelnut producer, behind only Turkey.…
February 16, 2026
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Cotton seed bug, or CSB, (Oxycarenus hyalinipennis, Hemiptera: Oxycarenidae), is a small seed-feeding bug that poses a significant invasive threat to cotton and other malvaceous crops, such as okra. It is generally regarded as…
January 26, 2026
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Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a drought-resistant tropical tree in the Meliaceae family, native to the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. This multipurpose species has been used for millennia in Indian Ayurvedic medicine,…
January 23, 2026
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Seasonal effort supports ongoing efforts to strengthen walnut relevance year round FOLSOM, Calif., Nov. 25, 2025 – The California Walnut Board and Commission is launching its “Be Merry. Feel Good.” holiday campaign in the US…
December 1, 2025
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What does “healthy soil” actually mean in a pistachio orchard, and how can growers measure it in a way that drives decisions, not just lab reports? In a recent two-part MyAgLife radio segment with…
November 16, 2025
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The USDA’s Economic Research Service recently released its 2024 agricultural production summaries, highlighting that California agriculture reached a total value of $61.2 billion, maintaining its position as the nation’s leader. This is encouraging news…
November 9, 2025
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In 1905, German scientist Fritz Haber successfully synthesized ammonia from atmospheric nitrogen gas, an inert form of nitrogen resistant to chemical and biological reactions. Shortly thereafter, BASF chemist Carl Bosch built upon Haber’s work…
September 6, 2025
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In California, avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is primarily grown in southern and central parts of the state along the coast where 88% (USDA-NASS 2023) of the avocados are grown in the United States. These…
May 24, 2025
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As we kick off 2025, it’s clear agriculture technology is not just a buzzword; it’s the lifeblood of modern farming. Every year, we at Progressive Crop Consultant witness an influx of innovations designed to…
March 12, 2025
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As the fastest-expanding tree nut industry in California, the pistachio industry has experienced a significant transformation over the past decade. Driven by steadily expanding pistachio-bearing acreage, the U.S. has become the largest producer, exporter…
January 8, 2025
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