Courtesy: UC ANR
Letting up on your navel orangeworm management program in pistachios based on your last season experience isn’t a good idea. NOW damage and management was, of course, a large part of the UC Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ 2019 Statewide Pistachio day. California Pistachio Research Board Manager Bob Klein pointed out to attendees that although the 2018 crop had very little NOW damage, the industry has never had two great years in a row. “We’ve had two years that we know and can recognize in 2010 and 2018,” Klein said. “The 2010 good year was followed by two years that were pretty good but not great, and then followed by five years of (high damage) years.”
Klein added that changing anything in your management for the pest because of the little issues seen last year is ill-advised. “Relaxing your navel orangeworm control program in light of what you experienced in 2018 is premature and foolish at best, Klein warned.
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