California’s pistachio crop this season could exceed last year’s 354-million pound output, according to Andy Anzaldo, director of grower relations for Paramount Farms, the state’s largest pistachio grower and processor.

Anzaldo made his prediction in the latest edition of Tree Nut Farm Press, a twice monthly e-newsletter written and distributed by Western Farm Press.

The e-newsletter is sponsored by Cheminova and is e-mailed free to subscribers.

The editorial content targets almond, pistachio, walnut and pecan farmers and marketers in California, Arizona and Far West Texas.

Even though the 2010 pistachio crop may be larger, growers can expect prices to be higher this year. Learn what Paramount is offering as an opening price for the 2010 crop at Tree Nut Farm Press.

Walnuts

A big California walnut crop may also be in the cards, according to Joe Grant, UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor for San Joaquin County.

“The trees seem to be pretty well loaded with nuts this year,” says the farm advisor in the largest walnut-producing county in the state.

“That’s pretty much the case up and down the state — we’ve had a good growing season so far.” Learn more about why the crop is large and when Grant expects harvest to begin at Tree Nut Farm Press.

Almonds

Walt Bentley, University of California IPM specialist, understands that in many cases growers have no choice but to apply preventive miticides.

Spider mite pressure built up significantly in almond orchards in southern San Joaquin Valley and on the West Side of the Valley in early July — but those are the only areas where numbers have been high.

This scenario, according to Bentley, is why some growers and PCAs should monitor before making a miticide spray decision.

Pecans

Because pecans are alternate bearing is no reason to cut back on fertilizer in the off year, according to Monte Nesbitt, Extension Pecan and Fruit Crops specialist with Texas A&M University.

You may save a few pennies, but it could cost you a lot in the following year when the crop is larger.

To learn more about these topics go to http://subscribe.westernfarmpress.com/subscribe.cfm?tc=NNWEB. There you will find an archived copy of the latest TNFP as well as all past issues.

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