California Dried Plum Board's 2005 Strategy

Strategic Approach

The Integrated Prune Farming Practices (IPFP)/Water Steward Research and Demonstration Programs are a multidisciplinary approach to "on-farm" demonstration/research to encourage economically viable reduced risk farming practices that strive to protect environmental quality and reduce risk to farm workers and consumers of prunes/dried plums.

Progress on 2004 Activity 1

Alternative farming system to be demonstrated: An economic, low environmental risk prune farming program will be demonstrated to attain a goal of widespread implementation by California prune growers. A substantial base of low risk pest control, nutrition and water-use information has been developed within the project since its beginning in 1998 to reduce costly and/or environmentally sensitive inputs in prunes, particularly reliance on inorganic fertilizers and pesticides and excessive water use. For example, monitoring techniques have been developed for most prune pests (insects, diseases, weeds etc.) and threshold models are now in place or being developed and validated to allow for more efficient and reduced pesticide use by treating only when warranted. Then, when treatments are needed, reduced environmental risk materials of known efficacy will be used. Similar monitoring for nutritional status and tree-water status will dictate fertilizer and irrigation strategies.

Alternative farming system to be demonstrated: An economic, low environmental risk prune farming program will be demonstrated to attain a goal of widespread implementation by California prune growers. A substantial base of low risk pest control, nutrition and water-use information has been developed within the project since its beginning in 1998 to reduce costly and/or environmentally sensitive inputs in prunes, particularly reliance on inorganic fertilizers and pesticides and excessive water use. For example, monitoring techniques have been developed for most prune pests (insects, diseases, weeds etc.) and threshold models are now in place or being developed and validated to allow for more efficient and reduced pesticide use by treating only when warranted. Then, when treatments are needed, reduced environmental risk materials of known efficacy will be used. Similar monitoring for nutritional status and tree-water status will dictate fertilizer and irrigation strategies.

Progress on 2004 Activity 2

Demonstrations: A key component of IPFP/WSRD focuses on establishing demonstration orchards with the "County Coordinators" in each prune growing area. Approximately 34 participating growers will donate their orchards to economically compare a "conventional" or "traditional" program to a known reduced risk program previously developed or being validated within the project. Additional orchards in the program will be monitored by PCA's or others and will wholly demonstrate/implement the reduced risk program. Both of these types of orchards will be used as sites for in-season field days/meetings to revue relevant reduced risk practices.

Demonstrations: A key component of IPFP focuses on establishing demonstration orchards with the "County Coordinators" in each prune growing area. Approximately 31 participating growers will donate their orchards to economically compare a "conventional" or "traditional" program to a known reduced risk program previously developed or being validated within the project. Additional orchards in the program will be monitored by PCA's or others and will wholly demonstrate/implement the reduced risk program. Both of these types of orchards will be used as sites for in-season field days/meetings to revue relevant reduced risk practices.

Progress on 2004 Activity 3

Newsletters/mass media: Frequent newsletters, describing timely and relevant reduced risk practices will be sent to all prune growers in the state. Mass media, e.g. popular articles in practical magazines, will also be a part of outreach.

Newsletters/mass media: Frequent newsletters, describing timely and relevant reduced risk practices will be sent to all prune growers in the state. Mass media, e.g. popular articles in practical magazines, will also be a part of outreach.

Progress on 2004 Activity 4

U.C. Pest Management Guidelines: Validated pest monitoring protocols emanating from this project will be incorporated into the University of California Pest Management Guidelines. These will become the official, sanctioned practices recommended by the University. The Pest Management Guidelines are widely used by growers and PCA's for pest management purposes.

One on one: Farm advisors and PCA's will work with interested growers one on one as needed to ensure program efficacy.

U.C. Pest Management Guidelines: Validated pest monitoring protocols emanating from this project will be incorporated into the University of California Pest Management Guidelines. These will become the official, sanctioned practices recommended by the University. The Pest Management Guidelines are widely used by growers and PCA's for pest management purposes.

One on one: Farm advisors and PCA's will work with interested growers one on one as needed to ensure program efficacy.

Progress on 2004 Activity 5

It shows, growers and PCAs how to use the IPFP/WSRD guidelines and will result with monitoring for pesticide use in many cases.

A notebook containing all the pest, nutrition and irrigation guidelines was published in 2004. UC with our help printed Field Pest ID Cards to aid field scouting. The notebook, Field Pest ID Cards, and hand-lens were given the the participants of six workshops held throughout the Prune Industry. The all day workshop consisted of half the day in a classroom setting and in the field actually using the monitoring guidelines.

Activities for the Coming Year

Activity 1

How does this activity reduce pesticide risk?

Pest monitoring will in many cases replace the need to apply preventive pesticide applications. When it is determined a pesticide must be applied, soft materials will be used if possible. Additionally, nutrients applications will be base on the trees levels and thus need. Irrigation water will be analyzed and calculated into the fertilizer application. Irrigation scheduling will be matched with the specific orchards needs to reduce over or under irrigation.