California Walnut Conference January 10, 2020 By: Ryan Fillmore - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

California Walnut Conference January 10, 2020 By: Ryan Fillmore Fillmore Farms, Inc., Gridley, CA ryan@fillmorefarms.com

Organic harvest nightmare if left untreated (micro-emitters)

Organic orchard (micro-emitter irrigation)

Conventional orchard with strong cover crop and strip sprayed berms

Organic orchard with berms mowed (flood irrigation)

1. Animal 2. Heat 3. Chemical 4. Mechanical

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES  Broad spectrum – can’t target  Eco-friendly a specific portion of the  Relatively low labor cost orchard (i.e. berms)  Potential nitrogen source  Usually requires fencing and alternate storage locations  Secondary income source when not in active use  Poop • Timing restricted – spring clearing only – must be > 90 days from harvest • FSMA language strongly against having livestock in orchard • Can NOT be used for harvest preparation

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES  Prevents weeds from  Efficacy highly dependent growing on weed variety and age  Targetable (berm, floor,  Field and surroundings etc.) must be at minimum  Moderately expensive moisture level to prevent fire  Less useful for harvest prep

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES  Targeted application  Efficacy (berm, floor, etc.) • Contact, not systemic  Broad timeframe for use • No pre-emergent  Similarity to conventional • Not as strong as contact weed control conventional options systems  Cost

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES  Broad useful timeframe  Timing is still important,  Can clean up after other but not as critical methods  Labor and energy input  Equipment readily higher for 5-6 passes per available if not currently year (for optimal biomass owned reduction)  Useful for flood and solid  Does not currently work set irrigation well with drip irrigation implementations  Can result in an adequately systems unless drip lines clean floor and berm for are in canopy harvest

Organic orchard – flood irrigation with berms

Organic orchard using disking for weed control (flood irrigation with berms)

Transitional orchard using tillage and flood/furrow irrigation (mid-summer)

Organic orchard (solid set sprinkler irrigation – flat berm)

Pak Flail mower with Sidecutter attachment and bump wheel modification

Pak Flail mower with Sidecutter attachment and bump wheel modification

Organic Orchard on September 20

Organic orchard after mowing with Sidecutter September 25 (5 days later!)

Nuts shaken and sweeping started – 2+ weeks after last mowing

Sweeping – 1 st pass – grass less of an issue for sweeping than blowing

Final windrow – Note organic matter in windrow makes it larger than conventional windrows. More frequent mowing and high earthworm population help with digestion of grass clippings over the summer prior to harvest

Pak Flail mower with Sidecutter attachment and bump wheel modification Example 2

Organic orchard during spring mow-down (flood irrigation)

 Organic weed control is possible, just more difficult and/or expensive  Mowing or tillage provide superior control, but timing can make a big difference with harvest difficulty or ease  Chemical, animal or heat treatments can be useful, but are more limited  Flood or sprinkler applications are preferred but drip is possible

 Ryan Fillmore  VP Operations, Fillmore Farms, Inc.  ryan@fillmorefarms.com  www.fillmorefarms.com