May 2019 WCN Digital Edition

Continued from Page 31
process and, overtime, reducing the
NOW population.
However, using SIT to reduce the
NOW population in almonds alone
would only bring short-term success;
controlling NOW requires solutions
that work beyond almonds. Even if
NOW damage is reduced on an annual
basis in almonds, the pest will
still be flying to other crops, such
as pistachios and walnuts, and
replenishing its population there.
Therefore, the Almond Board’s
big-picture approach to NOW
control involves a collaborative
effort with other nut industries.
By working together, each industry
will be able to establish new
options for pest management
that can be applied across the
various crops.
“Together, the California almond
industry and other crops will test the
viability of the sterile insect technique
to determine how this control
method will work across the various
commodities,” said Josette Lewis,
director of Agricultural Affairs at the
Almond Board.
Keep Birds Out
GUARANTEED
“I’ve used Bird Gard
for years to protect my
growers’ crops and keep
birds from damaging
the irrigation.
Federal Funds
Federal funds may also be available
to support SIT research and the
facilities where the sterile insects
will be raised prior to being released
and tested in almond and pistachio
orchards. Almonds growers and
other industry members who want
to learn about the process to obtain
federal funding for this project can
contact Elaine Trevino (etrevino@
almondalliance.org) at the Almond
Alliance for more information.
“The Almond Board has spent
decades researching NOW to better
understand how growers can combat
this pest and better protect their crop,
and through that research we’ve had
great findings,” said Lewis. “Still,
Bird Gard works, what
more can I say?”
Tim Peltzer
Peltzer Farm Management
Terra Bella, CA
Bird Gard is the ONLY bird control with a
1-YEAR UNCONDITIONAL MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
888-332-2328 www.BirdGard.com
Guaranteed Bird Control for over 30 Years!
32
West Coast Nut May 2019