Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1286027
A L M O N D O R C H A R D 2 0 2 5 G O A L S PEST MANAGEMENT Almond Board of California 8 controlling this pest – experiencing around 1-2% total damage due to NOW industrywide – this pest problem will continue to grow when thorough winter sanitation is overlooked. To further support the industry in achieving its goal, in 2019 the Almond Board's Strategic Ag Innovation Committee decided to fund the largest NOW research project in ABC history: exploring and developing NOW Sterile Insect Technology (SIT). SIT involves using radiation to sterilize male NOW moths. They are then released into the orchard when the first generation – and first mating opportunity – occurs. While the physical aspect of mating still takes place, the female is not fertilized, resulting in an unproductive mating process and, over time, a reduction in the NOW population. "We continue to explore the opportunity for Sterile Insect Technology to be part of the solution to reduce NOW long term," said ABC Chief Scientific Officer Josette Lewis, Ph.D. "At this time, we are looking at all our options including research to model the pest population dynamics to help us identify how to implement SIT across the Central Valley. We are looking for answers to questions such as, 'Do we need to put SIT on all nut crop acres throughout the growing region?' or 'Can we go a with a more geographically and staged landscaped model in which SIT would be deployed?" ABC is currently exploring answers to those questions in a search for the best way to deploy this NOW-reduction tactic throughout the industry. The Almond Board is also working directly with the Pistachio Research Board to more effectively collaborate on finding a solution to the NOW problem and explore alternative methods to generate and deploy sterile NOW in both almond and pistachio orchards. Growers and other industry members who are interested in learning more about SIT and participating in ongoing discussions around effective NOW combat are invited to join an upcoming ABC Pest Management Workgroup or Strategic Ag Innovation Committee meeting. More information on these meetings may be found at Almonds.com/Events. Mummy Shaking Becomes a Family Activity! To liven up the daunting task of mummy shaking, the Almond Board created "The Mummy Shake," a fun and interactive song that your family can dance and sing along to as a reminder of the importance of mummy shaking! Mummy Shake Video Contest This fall, we invite you to participate in our third-annual Mummy Shake Video Contest. Create a video featuring your family dancing to "The Mummy Shake" for the chance to win a $500 Amazon gift card! For more information, visit: Almonds.com/NOW VIDEO CONTEST