Pacific Nut Producer Magazine

Category: Sponsored Content

  • Enhanced Almond Nutrition with DPG Foliar Sprays and Potassium Plus

    SPONSORED CONTENT

    DPG Foliar Sprays are expertly crafted to provide almond trees with essential nutrients during the critical hull split stage, a pivotal time for establishing robust bud development for the following season. These sprays deliver a precise blend of zinc, boron, and potassium, which work synergistically to enhance bud differentiation and strengthen tree vigor. The inclusion of carbon-based ingredients ensures superior nutrient absorption without the risk of tank precipitation, offering growers a sludge-free, highly efficient solution. By directly targeting the nutritional needs of almond trees, DPG Foliar Sprays maximize resource use, saving both time and money while promoting healthier trees and improved yield potential for the next season.

    DPG Potassium Plus™, a patented potassium fertilizer containing 28.3% K₂O derived from potassium formate, is designed to meet the intense demands of almond trees during the challenging summer months. Its advanced formulation provides unmatched solubility, allowing for rapid potassium uptake by roots, which is crucial for maintaining water regulation and bolstering stress tolerance. This is particularly vital during extreme heatwaves, like those experienced in 2024, as it helps maintain turgor pressure and reduces wilting, ensuring trees remain resilient under high temperatures. By supporting carbohydrate reserve accumulation, DPG Potassium Plus™ enhances energy storage, further contributing to sustained tree health and productivity.

    Beyond immediate nutritional benefits, DPG Foliar Sprays and Potassium Plus™ prioritize long-term soil health and sustainability. Their carbon-based, biodegradable formulations foster beneficial microbial activity in the soil without introducing harmful anions such as chloride or sulfate. This eco-conscious approach not only supports almond tree performance but also contributes to a healthier soil ecosystem, aligning with sustainable agricultural practices. For growers seeking reliable, efficient, and environmentally friendly solutions, DPG’s products deliver unmatched performance. Learn more at Deerpointgroup.com or contact The Deerpoint Group at 559-224-4000 for additional information on optimizing almond orchard nutrition.

  • New Technology is Helping Nut Growers Spray More Effectively – Especially at Hull Split

    SPONSORED CONTENT

    In California’s Central Valley, timing and precision are everything—especially during Hull Split, the most critical spray window of the season for nut growers. With the pressure on and no room for error, visibility into spray performance can make the difference between a successful season and significant crop losses.

    That’s where Fieldin comes in.

    A Fresno-based company with over a decade of experience serving nut growers, Fieldin has established itself as the gold standard in smart farm operations. With more than 300,000 acres of nut orchards under management, Fieldin’s platform helps growers streamline everything from spraying to mowing and harvesting, delivering actionable insights that improve efficiency and reduce costly mistakes.

    Now, Fieldin is expanding its value with cutting-edge spray monitoring technology, just in time for Hull Split.

    Introducing Remote Flow Monitoring

    Through a new partnership with ARAG and PAS, Fieldin now offers real-time flow monitoring that gives growers precise, in-the-moment visibility into their spray operations. This technology eliminates the guesswork around what was applied and how much, allowing farm managers to make data-driven adjustments on the fly.

    “The Hull Split spray is the most important of the season,” says Iftach Birger, Co-Founder and COO of Fieldin. “And when poor coverage means poor control, the risk of significant losses is real.”

    Research shows that three factors drive Hull Split spray performance: spray speed, GPA (gallons per acre), and canopy size. With Fieldin’s Remote Flow Monitoring, growers gain live visibility into both spray speed and GPA—the two most critical metrics for Hull Split accuracy—without needing to replace existing equipment or disrupt current workflows.

    Real-Time Visibility, Real-World Results

    Many growers rely on maps or assumptions to confirm their sprays. But these can be deceiving. In one case, Fieldin’s coverage maps indicated a block was fully treated—but flow data revealed the spray rate dropped near the end, leaving key sections under-treated. In another case, a 20% drop in application rate went undetected until Fieldin’s flow monitoring flagged it in real time.

    Without this technology, those issues would have gone unnoticed until it was too late, leading to reduced pest control, weakened nut quality, and potentially a second costly pass.

    Fieldin’s solution changes that. With Remote Flow Monitoring, managers can:

    • Verify coverage and GPA targets in real time

    • Streamline the calibration process

    • Identify underperforming machines or crews (e.g., RPM issues or clogged nozzles)

    • Avoid missed applications and unnecessary re-sprays

    • Protect yield, quality, and long-term resistance management

    Easy to Adopt, Built for the Field

    Best of all, the system integrates seamlessly with most sprayers and is quick to install. No major equipment changes are required, and Fieldin’s experienced team handles setup and onboarding to ensure success from day one.

    Though designed with Hull Split in mind, Remote Flow Monitoring delivers value across every spray event—from post-harvest cleanups to nutrient applications—making it a lasting investment in operational excellence.

    “We built this for real-world challenges,” Birger explains. “Growers need control and clarity, not complexity. That’s what we deliver.”

    Special Promotion for Hull Split Season

    To help new customers prepare for the Hull Split window, Fieldin is offering limited-time introductory pricing for its Remote Flow Monitoring solution.

    “This tool pays for itself quickly when you factor in the cost of a missed spray,” Birger says. “We’re here to make sure growers don’t have to take that risk.”

    To learn more or schedule a demo, visit fieldin.com.

    Follow Fieldin for more updates and in-season spray management tips:
    LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

  • Walnut Growers: Help Tell California Walnuts’ Sustainability Story

    SPONSORED CONTENT

    By: Robert Verloop, Chief Executive Officer, California Walnut Board & Commission

    California walnut farmers know the great care they put into their orchards. From maintaining healthy soils, to conserving water and minimizing waste, California walnut farmers have been acting as sound stewards of the environment for generations, but this story isn’t always shared or understood outside the industry.

    At the same time, customers, food and ingredient manufactures, and consumers are increasingly interested in the industry’s sustainability efforts. The California Walnut Board & Commission is committed to sharing this story — but we need your help. By participating in a voluntary online survey, you can help highlight the great work being done by walnut growers.

    The survey follows a 2024 effort by the California Walnut Board & Commission’s Sustainability Working Group (SWG), which gathered insights and provided recommendations on the topics, metrics and goals most meaningful to the walnut industry.

    We know that for some, “sustainability” means environmental stewardship. For others, it also includes considerations of impacts on people and communities. For many California walnut farmers, it means the ability to keep the family farm going for generations to come.

    After more than eight months of planning and industry input, the Sustainability Working Group identified four key areas that make up a Sustainability Index, which will demonstrate the industry’s good work. Importantly, the industry’s efforts in the areas outlined in the index will not only showcase the contributions walnut growers make to people and the planet, but also pave the way for a more economically viable industry over the long haul, as sustainability and industry resilience go hand-in-hand.

    In fact, I often hear from walnut growers who are seeing first-hand how the adoption of environmentally friendly growing practices have benefited the quality of their walnuts and health of their trees while improving soil and natural resources. Often, sustainable practices, such as cover cropping, no till, and sustainable pest management can lead to reduced inputs and costs — something critical for growers seeing rising production costs in many areas. And as growers in California continue to see challenges for conventional pesticides through a more stringent regulatory environment and market pressures, the adoption of new tools and techniques will be critical.

    While learning and implementing new practices can be seem daunting, it’s okay to start small. Talk to your neighbors or farm advisor about how growing practices are evolving. Attend grower meetings hosted by the California Walnut Board & Commission and get involved with other industry meetings and events. In the coming years, we’ll be doing more to empower the walnut industry in implementing sustainable practices and gather data to showcase its progress. In addition, grant opportunities through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), and others are periodically available to offset costs.

    By continuing environmentally sustainable practices or adopting new ones, our industry can build its sustainability story as a point of differentiation and ensure a more prosperous future for decades ahead.

    California walnut growers are asked to join us in this effort by taking the survey at WalnutSurvey.com. All responses will be aggregated for analysis; individual results will remain confidential and will not be shared publicly.

  • Almond Orchards Prevail in Battle with Phytophthora

    SPONSORED CONTENT

    Losing crops is a reality of farming, especially when you’re battling weather, new pests and emerging diseases. Seeing a few acres of your life’s work perish is tough, but the threat of losing your entire operation is a different type of sting. One California almond grower shares how soil health improvements made his orchards vulnerable to disease and how he was able to bring them back from the brink of total devastation.

    Trees Lost to Unusually Wet Weather Worsened by Soil Prep

    Whole orchard recycling is a process to reincorporate an outgoing orchard in preparation for planting a new one. Mature trees are felled and ground into woodchips, which are then spread and incorporated into the soil. The University of California found that this process can help improve water retention. The issue for John Fassler, a California pest advisor who went through whole orchard recycling, was that the moist soil and greater-than-normal rainfall turned his orchards into the perfect breeding ground for oomycete pathogens like Phytophthora.

    Fassler has consulted at Braden Farms where they used whole orchard recycling as a way to prepare for planting a new orchard. “This is a fairly new process, which means we’re learning as we go,” he says. “Some issues we’ve seen have been a rise in fungal diseases, such as Phytophthora and other replant diseases.”

    Mother Nature hasn’t helped the fungal disease risk, especially at the beginning of the 2023 growing season. California experienced greater than average annual precipitation in 2023, breaking numerous records and ending three years of persistent drought, according to the California Nevada River Forecast Center.

    “We’ve had significant rainfall in California the last two years, so this has really intensified the battle with Phytophthora in some spots,” says Ashley Bandoni, Syngenta sales representative and California almond grower.

    Fassler experienced devastation due to those heavy rains. One of his orchards was completely submerged, worsening the orchard’s Phytophthora issues.

    “We lost about 500 trees on this block due to Phytophthora and replant disease,” says Fassler. “Phytophthora is becoming more and more of an issue in these wetter years.”

    Watch Video

    Phytophthora Overtakes Young Almond Trees

    Many California growers and crop consultants have been battling fungal disease challenges.

    Ethan Nicol, an independent pest control advisor and crop consultant for Balanced Agronomics, helped one of his customers manage extreme Phytophthora in a young almond orchard.

    Planted in the fall of 2021, Nicol began seeing early symptoms of Phytophthora infections the following spring. Young trees like the ones in the orchard Nicol manages tend to be more susceptible to disease because their root systems and crown areas are smaller compared to those of mature trees, according to the University of California Department of Agriculture.

    “In that first 2022 season, we observed maybe 30 percent of the orchard was infected,” says Nicol. “By mid-August, we had really grown to realize the significance of the issue.”

    Watch Video

    Coming Back from Orchard Devastation

    For both Nicol and Fassler, almond yield potential was on the line and devastation was just over the horizon. They both had a tough decision to make.

    “As far as doing our research going into it, usually we have the Syngenta reps come in to help us decide if the product will be a good fit for us,” says Fassler. “We also ask about how the product differentiates itself from what we’ve already been doing.”

    After discussions with their local Syngenta experts, Fassler and Nicol decided to apply Orondis® fungicide to help save their orchards. Fassler says his flooded orchard plot turned around.

    “My experience with Orondis changed up our program,” says Fassler. “We’ve been able to work it into our program really well and we didn’t lose one tree this year.”

    Nicol’s experience with Orondis was also nothing short of extraordinary. Before application, Nicol was working with the grower to continuously remove and replant dead trees. They lost roughly 600 almond trees — six ranches — to Phytophthora. Once Orondis was applied in 2023, Nicol observed a noticeable decline in newly infected trees.

    “We were confident in the success that we were seeing by the replants taking and growing strongly, and the existing trees continuing to grow and not develop signs of Phytophthora,” says Nicol. “Going into 2024, just as a precaution and to help protect this investment, we made an additional Orondis application. There’s been almost no sign of infected trees this season.”

    Growers Also Need Care

    If Fassler and Nicol didn’t have the guidance and support of their Syngenta representatives, their almond orchards might have been lost.

    “I’ve worked with Syngenta for probably about the last 20 years, and through the years we’ve had many different experiences,” says Fassler. “Syngenta has always been there to help us through and guide us through what needed to be done.”

    Learn more HERE.

  • The Next Nut? Chestnuts Poised for Rapid Expansion

    SPONSORED CONTENT

    120 years ago, a blight decimated American Chestnut trees. By the mid-20th century, an estimated 4 billion trees had died from the blight. Not only was this one of the worst forest ecological disasters in history, but it also had major economic impacts as many rural communities relied on the chestnut trees for both large quantities of nutrient-rich nuts and timber.

    Fast forward a couple generations and most Americans have never eaten a chestnut. Nor could they find a store that sells them. When the trees died, so did chestnuts as a part of the American diet.

    Decades of breeding by both individuals and universities have resulted in blight-resistant trees, but those trees have yet to be propagated at a scale large enough for commercial production. Consumer demand for chestnuts has also grown, slowly and organically. The combination of immigrants to the U.S. seeking a taste of home (chestnuts remain popular in Europe and several parts of Asia) and consumers wanting to know where their food is grown has led to chestnut U-pick and mail order farms selling out within a couple weeks of harvest.

    Today, the chestnut is poised for rapid expansion thanks to three main reasons:

    Non-profit & for-profit organizations making major investments in chestnut farming.

    Two such organizations are the Savanna Institute and Agroforestry Partners, both of whom are planting 1,000’s of acres of chestnuts in the Midwest and Appalachia. Groups like these, plus the hundreds of smaller family-owned farms planting chestnuts, will dramatically increase the volume of American-grown chestnuts in the coming years.

    Improved plant propagation and nursery stock availability.

    Unlike most other tree crops, chestnuts have historically not been propagated via tissue culture. Tissue culture propagation is the main way that most other tree crops’ root stocks, or self-rooted plants have been produced for decades. However, since there wasn’t large demand from farmers for tissue cultured chestnuts, none of the major tree nurseries had incentive to make the years of investment required to begin a tissue culture program for the trees.

    Then, a couple of years ago, West Coast Chestnut successfully propagated the ‘Colossal’ cultivar and began selling them to nurseries and growers across the U.S. The family-owned nursery now has a couple cultivars in production. They are also working on a dozen additional cultivars, including several that have proven to be blight resistant. As more cultivars become available, more growers will be able to plant chestnuts in more parts of the U.S., further increasing supply.

    Unmet domestic demand is being met by low-quality imports.

    Even though chestnuts are not a part of a typical American diet, U.S. consumers purchase more nuts each year than U.S. growers produce. The U.S. imports millions of pounds of chestnuts each year, mostly from China and Italy, to fill the gap in what consumers want but we don’t produce. The imported nuts are highly packaged and frequently frozen or otherwise preserved resulting in an underwhelming culinary experience. It would take 5-10 years and thousands of acres of new plantings for American growers to produce enough chestnuts just to remove the need for these imports.

    The stage is set for American growers to scale up chestnut production to meet the demand currently met through imports. And to do so with fresh, known-cultivar chestnuts that delight consumers’ as we re-introduce them to the historic American nut.

     

  • Benito Varela Appointed CEO of GroNatural, Inc. dba GroPro

    SPONSORED CONTENT

    GroPro is thrilled to announce a big change in it’s leadership team: Benito Varela, previously our COO, has now been promoted to CEO of GroNatural, Inc. dba GroPro.

    GroPro Corp. is a commercial manufacturer of biopesticides, biostimulants, and biofertilizers and a research and development (R&D) organization. GroPro offers various products across the crop cycle for vital crops like tree nuts, soybeans, corn, wheat, bananas, coffee, and fruits and vegetables. Its natural bio products demonstrate field efficacy, extended shelf life, versatility at tank mix, no field re-entry restrictions, and zero residues.

    This promotion marks a significant milestone in our journey. Benito Varela’s illustrious 35-year career is a testament to his exceptional abilities and unwavering dedication. He is a global industry leader with experience across various geographies and functions; he embodies strategic vision, sales, and management expertise, and he has a proven track record that our company values.

    “I am excited to step into the role of CEO, GroNatural, Inc. dba GroPro. Over my 35-year career, I have worked across multiple geographies and functions, gaining invaluable experience and expertise. My journey has equipped me with a strategic vision, sales, and management prowess, and a proven track record of success that I am eager to bring to GroNatural, Inc. dba GroPro.” – commented Benito Varela.

    Benito’s key professional achievements include:

    -Staggering Revenue Growth: Under Benito’s leadership, he transformed Dow Chemicals’ Seed business in Brazil, tripling its revenue and EBIT within four years.
    -Global Leadership: Benito spearheaded major projects, including a seamless divestiture, culminating in a $1.1B transaction over 18 months. His leadership fostered top-performing teams through cultural transformations, achieving double-digit gains.
    -Dynamic Visionary: As a leader of the Six Sigma cohort at Dow AgroSciences, Benito consistently delivered transformative results in challenging missions.
    -Strategic Innovator: He successfully launched biotechnology products and enhanced commercial operations across Latin and South America using Six Sigma principles.
    -Expansive Network: Benito’s extensive international network of industry professionals, accumulated during 26 years of global exposure, will be invaluable in driving GroPro’s market expansion.

    Benito’s appointment is a significant milestone for our company and a tremendous support for our investors and board members. His strategic vision, exceptional leadership, and proven track record will ensure sustainable growth and maximize shareholder value, reinforcing the confidence and trust placed in GroPro’s future. His dynamic leadership and strategic insight assure us that GroNatural, Inc. dba GroPro will continue to flourish and exceed expectations.
    More Info: GroProAg.com

  • Nutrition is Key to Growing the Pecan Industry

    – SPONSORED CONTENT –

    APPB & APC Introduce Unified Strategy

    In a move that marks a significant shift in the pecan industry’s approach to marketing, the American Pecan Council (APC) and the American Pecan Promotion Board (APPB) are working together to create a global marketing strategy that’s set to reimagine the pecan’s place in the market and in consumers’ hearts. The Unified Pecan Promotion Plan (UPPP), as this strategy has been aptly named, pivots on four strategic initiatives:

    • Higher Value through Nutrition
    • Expanded Demand Through New Occasions
    • Industry Readiness Through Services Strategy
    • Incremental Volume Through Exports

    According to Anne Warden, CEO, APC and APPB, The UPPP is a blueprint designed to bring pecan industry partners together. “We want to align the entire supply chain – from grower to seller to customer – under a single vision and mission.”

    Spotlight on “Higher Value Through Nutrition”

    While all four strategic initiatives are key to industry-wide growth, the story of pecans as a nutritional powerhouse creates a tremendous untapped marketing opportunity. “Higher Value Through Nutrition” seeks to uplift the pecan’s profile from a tasty snack to a nutritional powerhouse.

    Despite their delicious taste, most consumers are not aware that pecans are also highly nutritious. The UPPP aims to tackle this by shifting the consumer perception to view pecans as an essential, nutritious food, thereby increasing demand and value. This comes on the heels of a survey indicating a strong consumer inclination towards foods that reduce heart disease risk and support cognitive health—areas where pecans naturally excel.

    How exactly does the Unified Pecan Promotion Plan intend to change these perceptions? By focusing on digital content, third-party validators, and nutrition research.

    Educating Consumers with Digital Media

    Instead of the traditional scattergun approach to marketing, the pecan industry is sharpening its aim. Leveraging consumer perception and buying behavior data, the UPPP is gearing up to make pecans a staple in digital shopping carts. Expect to see more targeted, persuasive content online, where most buying decisions are now made.

    Activating Third-Party Validators

    The UPPP recognizes the enormous influence of fitness and lifestyle influencers and plans to collaborate with these key figures to propagate the nutritional messaging of pecans. By partnering with popular health platforms and cultural content creators, the industry intends to integrate pecans into the narrative of a healthy lifestyle.

    Nutrition Research & Industry-wide Messaging Clarity

    Harnessing a wealth of existing research and generating new data will be pivotal to strengthening pecans’ health claims. By syncing the messaging across the entire supply chain, the UPPP is looking to create a clear, consistent and powerful chorus singing the nutritional praises of pecans.

    Just the beginning

    These initiatives, though ambitious, are only the starting line. The APC and APPB are preparing to launch promotions that position pecans uniquely in the nut market. This will not only distinguish them for their natural nutrition and superior taste but also establish a strong foundation for long-term strategic partnerships.

    As the UPPP unfolds, the goal is to create a future where pecans are not just another nut in the bowl, but a prized ingredient in the health-conscious consumer’s diet. For pecan growers, this could mean a significant uplift in the value of their crops, aligning with evolving consumer trends that prioritize health and wellness.

    The APC and APPB are setting the stage for a pecan renaissance, one that promises to elevate America’s only native nut to new heights of consumer awareness and appreciation. Through the work of the UPPP and its focus on nutrition, the pecan industry is ready to crack the market wide open, so to speak.

  • Defending Your Orchard From the Risk of Fungicide Resistance

    – SPONSORED CONTENT –

    Every orchard grower understands the challenge of controlling fungal diseases. Although fungicide applications are the most effective strategy for disease management, the rise of fungicide resistance poses a significant risk to efficacy. Growers are often unaware they have a fungicide resistance issue until devastating diseases like blossom blight/brown rot, jacket rot and hull rot have caused substantial and irreversible damage to their crops. To protect tree nut health and maximize yield, growers should consider implementing proactive strategies to address fungicide resistance.

    Understanding Fungicide Resistance: Fungicide resistance, as defined by the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC), is an acquired reduction in sensitivity of fungi to specific fungicides. The key challenge is the genetic variability of fungal populations, which leads to fungicide resistance in certain fungi. Without a proactive approach, those resistant fungi can rapidly reproduce, causing widespread fungicide resistance across the orchard.

    Spotting the Signs: Fungicide resistance is generally not found until there is an issue in the crop, but staying alert during the growing season can help growers spot signs of resistance. Avoid repeated use of fungicides from the same FRAC group, talk with neighbors about their treatment outcomes for different diseases and stay informed on resistant strains to avoid ineffective treatments.

    Effects on Tree Nut Growers: Fungicide resistance poses a serious threat to growers’ bottom lines. With studies indicating potential preharvest losses ranging from 10% to 23% and postharvest losses of 10% to 20%, the stakes are high for growers across the industry.1 Implementing a proactive plan at the beginning of the growing season can give tree nut growers peace of mind when diseases, such as blossom blight/brown rot, jacket rot and hull rot, occur in their orchards.

    Best Management Practices: To avoid the development of fungicide resistance, consider these best management practices:

    • Rotate fungicides with different FRAC groups to reduce the selection pressure on the fungi population.
    • Scout orchards daily for signs of disease development.
    • Implement integrated disease management strategies.
    • Apply the recommended label rates with adequate coverage.
    • Apply fungicides preventively — prior to disease development.
    • Select varieties with resistance to common tree nut diseases.

    Defending tree nut orchards from fungicide resistance starts with informed decisions and proactive strategies. Visit Corteva.us to learn more.

    1Steinberg, G., and S. J. Gurr. 2020. Fungi, fungicide discovery and global food security. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fgb.2020.103476.

    ™ Trademark of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. © 2024 Corteva.  018401 CP (1/24)

  • Your Orchards Last 20+ Years, So Should Your Equipment

    – SPONSORED CONTENT –

    29 Harvests, 100% Attendance – Jackrunner #001

    Reliability is clear: Jackrunner #001 is working its 30th harvest this year with only one “sick day” since 1994. During the 2015 harvest, the operator noticed it was running a little off but finished the day before checking and seeing the runner blew a rod straight through the engine block! A new engine was quickly installed and Jackrunner #001 went back out to finish the harvest.

    Preseason 2023, the Original JackRunner came back to the Jackrabbit Service department to have the original plexiglass windows replaced with the new orchard glass for better visibility.

    Since Jackrunner #001, almost 2,000 Jackrunners have been sold to customers in California, Oregon, Texas, as well as Australia, Chile, Portugal, and Spain.

    Growers around the globe rely on Jackrabbit for the most durable and reliable nut harvesting equipment available. Call to order or schedule a demonstration +1 209-599-6118  www.jackrabbitequipment.com

  • Complete a 5-Minute Industry Survey for a Chance to Win $250

    – SPONSORED CONTENT –
    Only 15 questions and 5-minute survey to be entered for a chance to win a Visa card worth $250.
    Click here to complete the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z9LMWNS