Survey: California Walnut

The Experiences and Perspectives of California Walnut Growers

Jessica Goldberger

Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA

 

Biological control is a complex, knowledge-intensive practice that requires growers and pest management consultants to learn natural enemy and pest life cycles, toxicity and effectiveness of insecticides at different life cycle stages, strategies for managing insecticide resistance, and maintenance of long-term ecological balance while controlling pests and maximizing production. As part of a large USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) project, researchers at Washington State University, University of California-Berkeley, and Oregon State University are seeking to better understand apple, pear, and walnut growers’ experiences and perspectives related to pest management, in general, and biological control, in particular. This report presents results from a 2010 survey of California walnut growers. Survey results will inform future educational and outreach efforts.

CM larva on walnut

Codling moth can be a serious pest on walnuts. (image by: Kathy Keatley Garvey, UCANR. from "Bug Squad")

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Survey Methods
A survey of California walnut growers was conducted from March through June 2010. The survey population (N=2,688) included all growers in California’s top-ten walnut-producing counties (in terms of walnut acres): Butte, Glenn, Kings, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Yolo, and Yuba. Growers’ contact information was obtained from each County Agricultural Commissioner’s office. A fifty percent sample of growers received an initial letter with paper questionnaire and three follow-up mailings. The remaining growers received an initial letter (without paper questionnaire) and two reminder postcards. A link to an online version of the survey was provided in each mailing. The response rates for the two groups were 31% and 11%, respectively. The response rate for all growers was 21%.
Grower Demographics
Ninety-three percent of the survey respondents were male, and 7% were female. Most respondents (88%) were Caucasian; 4% were Latino; 3% were Asian; and 5% categorized themselves as “other.” Respondents ranged in age from 21 to 90 with a mean age of 58 years. Respondents had spent 22 years, on average, involved in walnut production as an orchard owner, manager, or primary decision maker. Over one half (52%) of respondents had a four-year college degree and 20% had attended graduate school. Over one third (38%) worked at a regular off-farm job.
Orchard Characteristics

The majority of survey respondents (87%) were orchard owners, partners, or lessees, while 9% were hired managers. Approximately 70% of respondents described their farm operations as family or individual operations (see Figure 1).

Respondents operated, on average, 385 acres of farm/ranch land in 2009. Over one half (54%) of respondents produced other agricultural products (e.g., almonds, cherries, grapes, peaches, prunes) in addition to walnuts.

figure 1

Respondents grew, on average, 110 acres of bearing walnuts and 21 acres of non-bearing walnuts in 2009. The most popular walnut varieties (in terms of mean bearing acres) were Chandler (45 acres), Hartley (15 acres), Howard (14 acres), Tulare (8 acres), and Serr (8 acres).

Seventeen percent of respondents had less than $10,000 in gross income from walnut production, while 14% reported $500,000 or more in gross walnut income (see Figure 2).

figure 2
Pest Management Decision-Making

When making pest management decisions for their walnut orchards, survey respondents consider economic cost, environmental impacts, and human health impacts, among other factors. Approximately 75% of respondents believe economic cost and health impacts are “very important” in pest management decision-making, while 60% believe environmental impacts are “very important” (see Table 1).

Table 1. Importance of Selected Factors in Pest Management Decision Making for Walnuts.
Not Important (%) Somewhat Important (%) Very Important (%)
Economic Cost 2.2 22.2 75.6
Human Health Impacts 3.5 21.7 74.8
Environmental Impacts 2.9 36.9 60.3

The most important sources of information for making pest management decisions for walnut orchards were Pest Control Advisors (PCAs) affiliated with chemical companies, insecticide label information, formal education and continuing education classes, University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) publications, and UCCE advisors. The least important sources of information for making pest management decisions were crop consultants, marketing organizations, field workers, pesticide applicators, commodity associations, family members, and immediate neighbors.

Survey respondents reported varying levels of contact with UCCE with regard to their walnut orchards. The most frequent forms of contact were reading UCCE bulletins and visiting UCCE websites. On-farm visits by UCCE advisors, research collaborations with UCCE advisors, and visits to UCCE offices were less common (see Table 2).

Table 2. Walnut Growers' Frequency of Contact with University of California Cooperative Extension in 2009.
Not At All (%) Once (%) Twice (%) Three Times or More (%)
Read bulletin or report 23.9 10.8 17.2 48.1
Visited website 55.5 12.2 11.6 20.8
Attended meeting, workshop or field day 37.2 25.8 22.2 14.8
Visited office 61.1 16.9 11.0 11.0
Research collaboration 81.6 8.9 3.2 6.3
On-farm visit 75.2 14.0 5.5 5.3

Most survey respondents (90%) used the services of a PCA. Of those respondents, 17% consulted with their PCA more than once a week, 33% once a week, 25% every 2–3 weeks, and 26% once a month or less. Most respondents (90%) followed either most or all of their PCA’s advice (see Figure 3).

figure 3
General Pest Management

Respondents were asked about changes in their use of selected pest management practices during 2007–2009 (see Table 3). Nearly 30% of respondents decreased their use of insecticides more harmful to non-target species. Over 25% of respondents increased their use of insecticides less harmful to non-target species; 20% increased their use of monitoring for insect pests; 14% increased their use of pheromone or sticky trips; 11% increased their use of monitoring for natural enemies; and 8% increased their use of biological control practices.

Table 3. Walnut Growers' Use of Selected Pest Management Practices, 2007-2009.
Decreased (%) Same (%) Increased (%) Did Not Use (%) Don't Know (%)
Insecticides less harmful to non-target species 4.6 38.0 35.2 13.8 18.4
Monitoring from insect pests 1.8 65.4 19.9 7.4 5.4
Pheromone or sticky traps 1.8 57.5 13.9 21.0 5.8
Monitoring for natural enemies 0.6 53.5 10.5 24.0 11.3
Biological control practices 0.8 28.5 7.7 48.7 14.3
Pheromone mating disruption 0.8 22.8 7.1 58.1 11.2
Degree day calculations 0.2 49.9 6.6 29.1 14.2
Insecticides more harmful to non-target species 29.7 32.7 1.0 19.4 17.2
Insect Monitoring

Most survey respondents (93%) reported that they, their employees, PCAs, and/or other individuals monitored their walnut orchards for insects in 2009. For those respondents, 77% relied on PCAs, 49% relied on themselves, 7% relied on employees, and 4% relied on other individuals for insect monitoring. On average, 9.5 hours per month were spent monitoring for insect pests and 6.1 hours per month were spent of monitoring for natural enemies and beneficial insects.

Biological Control Practices

Over half (54%) of survey respondents relied on one or more biological control practices to control for insect pests in their walnut orchards in 2009. Of those respondents, 87% minimized factors that harm natural enemies, 39% enhanced natural enemy habitats, and 6% released commercially produced natural enemies. Respondents, on average, had been using “conservation biological control” (i.e., minimizing factors that harm natural enemies and enhancing natural enemy habitats) for 10 years and “augmentative biological control” (i.e., releasing commercially produced natural enemies) for 7 years.

Survey respondents who relied on biological control practices to control for insect pests in their walnut orchards perceived many benefits of biological control. The primary perceived benefits were reduced input costs, environmental protection, reduced harm to beneficial insects, less reliance on harsh chemicals, and worker safety.

Survey respondents who did not rely on biological control practices to control for insect pests in their walnut orchards provided many different reasons for their non-adoption of biological control. The primary reasons for non-adoption were lack of knowledge, minimal pest pressure, not recommended by PCA, high cost, and small acreage.

Primary Walnut Pests

Survey respondents were asked about their experiences with three primary walnut pests: codling moth, walnut husk fly, and navel orangeworm. These pests exerted varying degrees of pressure in 2009 (see Table 4).

Table 4. Perceived Degree of Codling Moth, Walnut Husk Fly, and Navel Orangeworm Pressure in 2009.
  No Pressure (%) Low Pressure (%) Medium Pressure (%) High Pressure (%) Don't Know (%)
Codling moth 11.9 46.2 24.9 4.1 12.9
Walnut husk fly 22.1 29.1 28.1 9.4 11.2
Navel Orangeworm 42.0 30.2 5.6 1.0 21.2

Respondents were asked to indicate the degree to which they select insecticides and time insecticide applications (for control of primary walnut pests) so they are least disruptive to the natural enemies of secondary pests. They were also asked to indicate the degree to which they use spot sprays to minimize harm to the natural enemies of secondary pests. Results are reported in Table 5.

Table 5. Use of Selected Pest Management Practices.
Never (%) Sometimes (%) Always (%) Don't Know (%)
Codling Moth        
Select insecticides so they are least disruptive to NEs *
7.7 37.0 30.8 24.5
Time insecticide applications so they are least disruptive to NEs
16.2 34.9 19.7 29.2
Use spot sprays to minimize harm to NEs
61.1 21.4 3.3 14.1
Walnut Husk Fly        
Select insecticides so they are least disruptive to NEs *
16.0 34.0 22.3 27.7
Time insecticide applications so they are least disruptive to NEs
23.0 28.9 17.1 31.0
Use spot sprays to minimize harm to NEs
43.5 28.2 10.5 17.9
Navel Orangeworm        
Select insecticides so they are least disruptive to NEs *
25.3 26.0 15.9 32.7
Time insecticide applications so they are least disruptive to NEs
28.8 22.6 13.5 35.1
Use spot sprays to minimize harm to NEs
58.8 14.6 4.3 22.3
* NEs = natural enemies of secondary pests

Respondents were asked about their use of degree-day calculations to predict codling moth generations, monitor infestation levels, and properly time sprays for different generations. Nearly half (48%) of respondents reported always using degree-day calculations, while 17% reported occasional use and 15% reported no use of degree-day calculations. Nearly 20% of respondents did not know if degree-day calculations were used in their walnut orchards.

Thirteen percent of respondents used pheromone mating disruption to control for codling moth in their walnut orchards in 2009. Of those respondents, 40% used sprayable formulations (e.g., Checkmate CM-F), 35% used aerosol puffers (e.g., Puffer CM-O), and 24% used hand-applied dispensers (e.g., Isomate C Plus).

Secondary Walnut Pests

Survey respondents were asked if certain secondary walnut pests required treatment in their walnut orchards in 2009. The following pests required treatment by the reported percentages of respondents: twospotted and Pacific mite (43%), European red mite (16%), walnut aphid (9%), scales (7%), redhumped caterpillar (4%), leafroller (3%), green fruitworm (1%), and dusky-veined aphid (1%). Forty-four percent of respondents reported that no secondary pests required treatment; 11% did not know if secondary pests required treatment.

Respondents were also asked about changes in secondary pest problems in their walnut orchards during 2007–2009. Most respondents did not face increased secondary pest problems (see Table 6).

Table 6. Walnut Growers' Experience with Secondary Pest Problems, 2007-2009.
  Decreased (%) Same (%) Increased (%) Not a Problem (%) Don't Know (%)
Walnut aphid 11.3 23.3 1.7 39.4 24.2
Dusky-veined aphid 9.1 16.6 0.9 45.0 28.4
Scales 8.8 19.4 7.0 38.3 26.4
Twospotted or Pacific mite 7.0 39.2 5.5 26.4 21.7
European red mite 6.2 30.2 3.1 34.6 26.0
Redhumped caterpillar 13.3 18.5 1.3 41.7 25.2
Green fruitworm 5.4 12.1 0.7 47.3 34.6
Leafroller 5.3 12.6 1.8 46.4 34.0
Tussock moth 4.5 10.2 0.0 47.0 38.3

Acknowledgement

This research is supported by grant #2008-04854 from USDA-NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) program. Matching funds were also provided by Washington State University, Oregon State University, University of California-Berkeley and the Washington State Tree Fruit Research Commission.

Extras

Investigator Links Useful Links
Vince Jones Jessica Goldberger WSU DAS UCIPM
Elizabeth Beers Dave Horton WSU-TFREC BC Information Ctr.
Jay Brunner Nick Mills USDA-ARS Wapato WSU PMTP
Steve Castagnoli Peter Shearer OSU-MCAREC Orchard Pest Management
Karina Gallardo Tom Unruh ESPM WA Crop Protection Guide