Pacific Nut Producer Magazine

Category: Industry News

  • New Pesticides Could Better Control Mite Disease in Honey Bees

    The Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) is a parasite of the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) and is considered one of the species’ most serious threats, inflicting more damage and higher economic costs than all other bee keeping diseases. Varroa mites harbor numerous viruses and feed on honey bee adults and pupae, causing weakened immune systems, decreased body weight, and a shortened lifespan. The external wounds caused by repeated feeding can become infected with bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

    ARS researchers at the Bee Research Lab tested numerous pesticides for the chemical control of Varroa mites, and screened 40 compounds of samples in the lab (and three in the field). They documented how the viruses, carried by the mites, move within honey bee colonies and play key roles in bee-to-bee transmission. Through this research, two promising miticides were identified to manage the Varroa mite. This ARS research could lead to new management techniques that can minimize bee losses, reduce bee keeper and crop pollination costs, and ensure food security for all Americans. —By USDA Ag Research Service

  • Opportunity to Respond to Petitions for Reconsideration of Water Quality Certification for McCloud-Pit Hydroelectric Project

    On March 13, 2026, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) issued a Notice of Opportunity to Respond to Petitions for Reconsideration of Water Quality Certification for McCloud-Pit Hydroelectric Project (Notice).

    The Notice includes information to access copies of the petition for reconsideration and associated documents.  Any party or person wishing to file a response to the petition with the State Water Board must do so by 4:00 PM on April 3, 2026, as directed in the Notice.

    The Notice and water quality certification are available on the State Water Board’s McCloud-Pit Hydroelectric Project webpage at:

    https://waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/water_quality_cert/mccloudpit_ferc2106.html

    If you have questions regarding the Notice, please contact Savannah Downey by email at Savannah.Downey@waterboards.ca.gov.

    To receive emails related to the Notice and other projects pursuing certifications managed by the State Water Board’s Division of Water Rights, interested persons should enroll in the “Water Rights Water Quality Certification” email notification service.  Instructions on how to sign up for the State Water Board’s email notification service are outlined below:

    1. Visit: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/resources/email_subscriptions/swrcb_subscribe.shtml#rights
    2. Provide your email in the required field, then click the “Submit” button.
    3. In the next page, below Subscription Topics, select “Water Rights”, then “Water Rights Water Quality Certification.”
    4. Click the “Submit” button.
    5. An email will be sent to you. You must respond to the email message to confirm your membership on the selected Subscription Topic(s).

    By enrolling in this email notification service, you will receive notices for other current projects overseen by the Division of Water Rights’ Water Quality Certification Program.  You can enroll or un-enroll from the email subscription service at any time. — By the CWB State Water Resources Control Board

  • USDA NIFA Launches Grants Opportunity to Combat Emerging Ag Threats

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announces the launch of a new competitive grants program aimed at rapidly addressing emerging and re-emerging pest and disease threats across the nation’s food and agricultural systems.

    The grants program, Rapid Response to Emerging and Re-emerging Pest and Disease Events Across Food and Agricultural Systems, is designed to deploy timely, science-based solutions to protect agricultural productivity, ecosystem health, and food security.

    “Invasive and emerging pests and diseases can devastate crops, livestock, and ecosystems, disrupt supply chains and threaten food security,” said NIFA Director Dr. Jaye Hamby. “This program empowers researchers and Extension professionals to act quickly, delivering practical solutions that safeguard our agricultural communities and the nation’s food supply.”

    This program is part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), designed to improve plant and animal production and sustainability, and human and environmental health. AFRI is the nation’s leading and largest competitive grants program for agricultural sciences. These grants are available to eligible colleges, universities, and other research organizations.   

    With a maximum award of $500,000 and a grant duration of 12 to 24 months, the program supports grants for research, Extension, or integrated projects. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis, within 180 days of a qualifying pest or disease event, ensuring swift mobilization of resources when threats arise.

    Applications must directly address the effects associated with the emergence or re-emergence within the last 180 days of pests and/or disease in animal and/or plant production systems or within the food supply, and one or more of the following emphasis areas: One Health, plant and animal health, and ecosystem health.

    Funded projects will focus on applied research and Extension and outreach activities that generate actionable knowledge and tools. These may include:

    • Rapid understanding of pest/pathogen ecology, epidemiology, and immunology.
    • Development and validation of diagnostics, vaccines, and control methods.
    • Communication strategies, training programs, and best practices for mitigation.
    • Technologies and protocols for detection, management, and prevention.

    To ensure impact, projects must implement or develop at least one deliverable within six months of award receipt, with all activities completed within the grant period. Proposals are encouraged to integrate biological and social sciences, engage public-private partnerships, and support small- and medium-sized farms and ranches.

    “This program reflects USDA’s commitment to proactive, science-driven responses to agricultural threats,” Hamby said. “By supporting rapid innovation and collaboration, we’re helping communities stay resilient in the face of evolving challenges.”

    The program also welcomes proposals that address ecosystem health, including strategies to mitigate the environmental impacts of pests and diseases affecting plants, animals, and pollinators. Projects that incorporate community development, youth development, and 4-H are also eligible, provided they align with the program’s emphasis areas.

    Applicants are encouraged to coordinate efforts across institutions and regions, and to contact program staff at afri-rapidresponse@usda.gov with questions regarding project fit. While this program is designed for short-term, rapid response efforts, longer-term projects may be better suited for other AFRI program area priorities such as Agricultural Biosecurity, Diseases of Agricultural Animals, or Food Safety and Defense.

    For more information, visit nifa.usda.gov or email afri-rapidresponse@usda.gov. — By the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

  • Groundwater Markets Tested in Mojave Basin

    As growers navigate SGMA, different avenues are being explored for access to the needed water for crops, including groundwater markets. This has been experimented with in the Mojave Basin, resulting in stabilized implementation  and aggregate gains, but also a consolidation of water rights. At the World Ag Expo, UC Cooperative Extension Associate Professor Ellen Bruno discussed the findings on groundwater markets with Matthew Malcolm at California Ag Network. Watch this quick video and read more in California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Simplot for their industry support.

  • Lower Global Harvest Benefits American Pistachios

    Pistachio growers are having a hard time keeping up with skyrocketing global demands despite a record crop, but down years in Iran and Turkey may keep buyers from going elsewhere. Meanwhile, American Pistachio Growers has seen unprecedented opportunities for marketing and exports. At the annual APG Conference, Vice President of Global Marketing Scott Fryer discussed these latest developments with Matthew Malcolm from Pacific Nut Producer. Watch this quick interview and read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Kingman Ag for their industry support.

  • Honey Bees Get Hangry Too

    If you have ever been hangry (a portmanteau for hungry and angry), then you know what it is like to be irritable, bad-tempered, or easily annoyed. While being hangry may seem like an excuse for unpleasant behavior, research shows that hunger can cause shifts in our hormones, brain processes, and nervous system that result in negative emotions like anger.

    According to a recent study, honey bees, like humans, may also experience hanger when they do not get enough nutrients. Pollen scarcity and nutritional stress are major issues that beekeepers are tackling to protect their hives.

    “If honey bees are not getting enough pollen, which is one of their main sources of protein and an essential part of their diets, then it can lead to colony stress and defensive behaviors in bees,” said Elizabeth Walsh, ARS Research Scientist at the Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Research Unit in Baton Rouge, LA. “Changes in colony defensiveness are of particular concern to beekeepers as increased defensiveness also increases safety risk of personnel.”

    To better understand honey bee behaviors and to help beekeepers manage their hives, Walsh and the research team, including ARS scientists from both the Baton Rouge research unit and the Pollinator Health in Southern Crop Ecosystem Research Unit in Stoneville, MS, conducted a 5-week field study to simulate a pollen dearth, or shortage, in an apiary.

    “We found that honey bees who did not get enough pollen (the experimental group) became more aggressive than the honey bees who received enough pollen (the control group) throughout the study,” said Walsh.

    Walsh added that the study was more than just observing honey bee behaviors. The researchers found that honey bees in pollen-poor conditions also showed physiological changes throughout the study. In particular, the pollen-deprived honey bees had smaller glands and different fat and sugar levels, which are signs of stress. The expression of some genes linked to aggression also was changed in these honey bees.

    As beekeepers are concerned about pollen scarcity and nutritional stress, Walsh and the researchers believe that these research findings will help develop best management practices.

    “Ultimately, this study shows that both researchers and beekeepers must find ways to evaluate how bees perform in changing environments in order to form best management practices while ensuring beekeeper safety,” said Walsh. – by Jessica Ryan, USDA Ag Research Service  Office of Communications

  • SGMA Reporting Open in the Tulare Lake and Tule Subbasins

    The Groundwater Extraction Annual Reporting System (GEARS) is now open for reporting under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA.) Pumpers in the Tulare Lake and Tule subbasins will need to file their first groundwater extraction reports to the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board or Board) by May 1, 2026, except for pumpers who were granted an exclusion from reporting and fees.

    The State Water Board designated both the Tulare Lake and Tule subbasins as probationary in 2024. Consequently, most groundwater pumpers in the Tulare Lake and Tule subbasins are required to track groundwater use, submit annual groundwater extraction reports, and pay extraction fees to the Board.

    Reporting Support

    Visit the GEARS Resources webpage to access a user guide, videos, and information about events to help with reporting.

    The State Water Board mailed letters to known groundwater pumpers with unique Correspondence IDs. If you are subject to reporting requirements and do not receive a letter by March 18, please contact Board staff at sgma@waterboards.ca.gov.

    Reporting Exclusions

    The following pumpers are not required to submit extraction reports to the State Water Board:

    • Pumpers who extract two acre-feet or less per year for domestic purposes only (de minimis pumpers), or
    • Pumpers who extract groundwater only within the boundaries of Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) or Kern-Tulare Water District GSA in the Tule Subbasin, provided they comply with the corresponding GSA’s groundwater management requirements.

    Before May 1, 2026, pumpers who fall within one of these two categories and receive letters about reporting should use the GEARS system to notify the Board that they are exempt from reporting to avoid receiving further communications regarding reporting requirements.

    Potential Exclusions

    • On April 7, the State Water Board will consider adopting resolutions to exclude groundwater pumpers in the Tulare Lake and Tule subbasins who extract no more than 20 acre-feet of groundwater per year from the reporting and fee requirements on the basis that these groundwater pumpers have a minimal impact on overall subbasin groundwater extractions. View the Tulare Lake Subbasin Notice and Tule Subbasin Notice for more information.
    • The Board may adopt, modify, or reject these proposed exclusions. If the Board rejects the potential exclusions, pumpers who are not otherwise exempt from the reporting requirement will be required to report. Board staff will send an update regarding any decisions on potential exclusions to the SGMA Groundwater Management email list.

    Fee Waivers

    Low-income residents, water systems serving disadvantaged communities, and public schools may be eligible to have their fees waived. To be eligible for a fee waiver, pumpers must report their extractions by the May 1, 2026, deadline. For more information on eligibility and how to request a fee waiver, visit the SGMA Reporting and Fees webpage.   

    More information:

    Contact the SGMA Program at sgma@waterboards.ca.gov or: 916-322-6508.

    — By the California Water Boards

  • Fertilizer Supply Could Impact CA Growers Soon

    With the ongoing conflict with Iran, supply issues have emerged due to shipping obstructions in the Strait of Hormuz. This includes fertilizer, with The Fertilizer Institute reporting U.S. import prices up 30% between February 27 and March 6.

    Matt Morelli, a crop advisor for Nutrien, says the situation right now is not critical, but they are starting to feel the impact — and things could become more serious if not resolved soon.

    “It’s not too severe as of right now, but we definitely could experience some supply issues coming up,” Morelli said. “And we could even see some pricing issues with things moving forward, but it’s hard to say this early.”

    Morelli believes there could be issues with getting important fertilizers like UAN-32. As planting begins in the Midwest, there is the possibility that demand could outpace supply if the Strait is not reopened in time. This will also mean higher prices and lower availability for growers in California.

    “If availability becomes an issue, pricing goes up,” Morelli said. “It will get difficult for growers and we’ll have to look at other options. Once UAN-32 becomes tight, it creates issues for everyone.”

    — By Donald Promnitz, Editor

  • Surging Pistachio Demand Outpaces Supply

    The pistachio industry is seeing unprecedented success, but there are still headwinds to look out for as high demand means that growers and processors alike are having a hard time keeping up with the consumers. At the American Pistachio Growers Conference, President and CEO Zachary Fraser urged everyone to stay “humble and hungry” as they meet any upcoming challenges head-on. Fraser spoke with Matthew Malcolm with California Ag Network to talk about what’s new in the pistachio industry, and what to expect moving forward. Watch this video and read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine. (Editors Note: Since the filming of this interview, Zachary Fraser has departed from American Pistachio Growers.)

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Kingman Ag for their industry support.

  • UC ANR Offers Microirrigation School

    In a time of increasing water scarcity and regulatory complexity, enhancing irrigation efficiency and improving on-farm water management practices are critical for California agriculture. Microirrigation – using highly efficient, low-flow and low-pressure systems that deliver water and nutrients close to plants’ roots – is one key solution.

    “Microirrigation is no longer optional in many agricultural production regions worldwide,” said Daniele Zaccaria, professor of agricultural water management for Cooperative Extension at University of California, Davis. “It is essential for producing more food per unit of water and for achieving higher fertilizer use efficiency, relying on greater application precision and pursuing improved environmental stewardship.”

    Zaccaria is organizing the 2026 Advanced School on Microirrigation for Crop Production, offered in California for the first time, from March 30 to April 3 (register by March 25).

    This comprehensive program combines three days of classroom instruction at UC Davis with two days of field visits, including fruit and nut production systems in the San Joaquin Valley and vegetable, berry and wine-grape systems along the Central Coast. There is also an online option for the first three days of the program.

    The school is designed for a broad audience, including farmers and ranch managers, crop consultants, water resource planners and irrigation practitioners, as well as scientists, educators, students, and personnel from a variety of agencies and sectors.

    “This offers a unique, hands-on opportunity to learn directly from global leaders in the field, combining cutting-edge science, real-world applications and field experience,” Zaccaria said. “It’s an excellent investment of time for anyone committed to the future of crop production in semi-arid and arid environments.”

    The educational event is co‑organized by the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Chilean Water Technology Consortium and the California Irrigation Institute.

    Lectures – presented by prominent experts from UC Davis, UC Cooperative Extension and other academic, agency and private partners – will draw on the latest research, technologies and practical applications.

    Topics include:

    • Technical aspects of water delivery systems to allow for successful adoption and management of microirrigation systems
    • Soil-water movement and soil-plant-water relations with microirrigation
    • Microirrigation systems design, operation, maintenance, automation and performance evaluation
    • Methods and tools for microirrigation scheduling
    • Managing microirrigation for different crops (field and agronomic crops, vegetable crops, berry crops, fruit crops, nut crops, vineyards)
    • Chemigation and fertigation
    • Salinity management with microirrigation

    All participants will receive:

    • A UC Certificate of Completion
    • A copy of the book Microirrigation for Crop Production, recently published by Elsevier
    • Continuing Education Units (18.5 CEUs for lectures and 9.5 CEUs for field visits) from the American Society of Agronomy, as well as CEU credits from the Irrigation Association

    Register soon to secure your spot, as class size is limited to 100 participants to ensure an optimal learning environment.

    For the full program schedule, speaker lineup and a link to register, visit https://caii.org/international-micro-irrigation-school/.

    Registration for the online option is at: https://caii.org/product/micro-irrigation-school-lectures-remote-streaming-registration/.

    Zaccaria’s work in organizing the Microirrigation School is made possible by his Alexander and Elizabeth Swantz Endowed Specialist Position and related funds from the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

    UC Agriculture and Natural Resources brings UC information and practices to all 58 California counties. Through research and Cooperative Extension in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, economic and youth development, our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. Learn more at ucanr.edu.