Navel Orangeworm, or NOW, is a big problem for almond growers. AgNet West caught up with UCCE Area Integrated Pest Management Advisor for the Sacramento Valley, Emily Simms, at the recent Almond Conference. Simms explains a predictive model for NOW that she is working on.
Listen to the report here:
The navel orangeworm (NOW) is the primary insect pest of almonds in California. It poses a high risk to an almond crop because the worms bore into the nut and feed on the nutmeat. Not only is the nut damaged, but the feeding opens the door to Aspergillus molds, which can produce aflatoxin contamination. Aflatoxins are considered a serious food safety issue and are regulated throughout the world.
Growers must take four critical steps in their IPM program to minimize navel orangeworm damage and risk of aflatoxin:
Winter sanitation to remove and destroy mummy nuts
Monitoring of NOW populations and timing of adult NOW moth flights
In-season control of NOW with insecticides or biological control agents
Prompt harvest before a third generation of NOW develops
In addition to navel orangeworm, almonds are subject to an array of insect and mite pests, including peach twig borer, San Jose scale and web-spinning mites. Information on these pests is included in the above resources.