Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1310869
A L M O N D O R C H A R D 2 0 2 5 G O A L S WATER USE Almond Board of California 10 Irrigation Continuum Offers Tools to Improve Efficiency The Irrigation Continuum was developed in partnership with many trusted, respected technical experts such as the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Recognizing that growers may be at different stages of irrigation efficiency for a variety of reasons, such as orchard age and access to new technology, the Continuum is organized into three management levels – 1.0 (fundamental), 2.0 (intermediate) and 3.0 (advanced). Each level covers concepts on topics including evaluating soil moisture and plant water status, as well as tools for integrating key learnings into existing orchards. By meeting growers where they are in their irrigation practices, the Irrigation Continuum offers pragmatic and science-based guidance for any grower seeking to improve water use efficiency in their orchard. Visit Almonds.com/Irrigation to access your free copy today. 4 Read the Water and the Future of the San Joaquin Valley report produced by the Public Policy Institute of California: https://bit.ly/2SCEL9o 5 View the Irrigation Continuum in its entirety at https://bit.ly/3d62Crn 6 Watch "The Irrigation Station" on YouTube: https://bit.ly/2SBkZes sourcing additional water at a reasonable rate, plus significant, prolonged reductions in kernel yield, Kroeker and his family members pushed over 1,000 acres of almond trees still within their productive lifespan. While far from the most desirable option, it made the most economic sense given the conditions they were operating under and freed up their limited water supply, shifting it to other acreage on the ranch. Navigating changing waters The ever-changing regulatory landscape in California has the potential to greatly impact the state's vast Central Valley, particularly parts of the southern San Joaquin Valley. With its signing by then-Governor Jerry Brown in 2014, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) mandates that the amount of water pumped from a groundwater basin match the amount that is replenished in that basin over time – in other words, the state must achieve sustainable balance by ending the overdrafting of groundwater. According to a report 4 from the Public Policy Institute of California, "If farmers have no flexibility to trade water or adapt crop choices, ending overdraft without new supplies requires fallowing 780,000 acres and causes crop losses of about $3.5 billion per year." "We do have access to more water some years by buying it on the open market or accessing our local water bank, of which we are members," Kroeker said. "However, there's less water on the open market today due to environmental regulations and pressures, so any 'extra' water on the open market gets more expensive. In a wet year it may be more reasonable, but we're not sure what will be reasonable in the future." Because California's limited water supply continues to be the most pressing reality for almond growers, the Almond Board of California (ABC) continues to heavily invest in resources to help growers conserve water while optimizing production and tree health. One such resource is ABC's Almond Irrigation Improvement Continuum 5 , a comprehensive manual of irrigation management and scheduling practices designed to help growers achieve more crop per drop. ABC has also packaged many of the key topics from within the Irrigation Continuum into short video segments featured in "The Irrigation Station," 6 a YouTube video series covering everything from ground truthing and pressure chamber use to strategic deficit irrigation and applied water calculations. Growers can also contact ABC's Tom Devol, senior manager of Field Outreach and Education, at tdevol@almondboard.com to schedule a free in-orchard irrigation evaluation that will help them develop system- and site-specific recommendations to improve water conservation. "Our boots-on-the-ground approach allows us to be at-the-ready to help growers with their irrigation and nutrient management systems needs," Devol said. "We're also expanding our Field Outreach and Education team so that we can provide better coverage to each of the major almond-growing regions throughout the Central Valley. This outreach builds on the $8.1 million investment growers have made since 1982 in more than 221 different water research projects through the Almond Board – we're bringing those learnings and insights directly to the grower." "When I consider all the irrigation resources ABC provides, I think they offer a lot of great tools that can be put to good use by many growers, especially those who are new to the industry," Kroeker said. "With the water challenges facing growers now that will continue in the future, we're going to need all the support we can get, in every way possible. I appreciate ABC's efforts to provide support to growers across the state through its research and education programs." Fred Starrh Sr. (seated fourth from left), who passed away in 2019, planted his first almond orchard in 1979. Son-in-law Jay Kroeker (seated center front) is a partner in Starrh Family Farms with brother-in-laws Fred Jr. and Larry Starrh. Photo courtesy of Jay Kroeker