CENTRAL VALLEY – The state of California has awarded grant funding to two different projects that aim to address critical pest issues that plague fruit and nut growers across the state, including in the Central Valley.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture announced on Nov. 24 that its Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis (OPCA) awarded $2 million to two projects through the Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS) grant program. These projects will span four years and will implement various pest management strategies intended to provide region-wide benefits.
“Together, these projects offer a promising path forward giving growers new tools, collaborative support and science-based strategies to reduce pesticide reliance, protect crops and strengthen a more resilient agricultural future for California,” the CDFA press release said.
The BIFS grant program was revitalized in 2019 and provides funding to projects that support the adoption of effective, economically viable alternatives to conventional pest management. This is done by fostering the exchange of information and leveraging a diverse network of stakeholders, including scientists, growers, pest control advisors and commodity groups.
According to the CDFA, projects refine, demonstrate and promote sustainable pest management (SPM) programs that address critical pest issues in California agriculture.
Projects awarded in the most recent grant cycle focus on pests that impact stone fruit orchards and tree nut growers — two of the Central Valley’s biggest agricultural commodities. Each project received nearly $1 million.
For stone fruit orchards, a project led by Sara Tiffany and Hanna Kahl with the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) will incentivize Biologically Integrated Orchards Systems (BIOS) trials and demonstrations. According to the CDFA, the project is intended to advance SPM practices in stone fruit orchards.
The project will use a participatory extension approach, aiming to increase grower adoption of alternative practices to reduce pesticide use.
“This innovative structure aims to maximize change by minimizing financial risk and providing technical support using collaborative monitoring and extension to ensure sustained grower adoption and share practical SPM experience among growers and pest control advisers,” according to the project description.
For tree nut growers, a project coordinated by the American Pistachio Growers (APG) will work on a California-specific Decision Aid System (DAS) that supports region-wide integrated pest management for the navel orangeworm, which attacks pistachios, almonds and walnuts.
The platform was first developed by Washington State University and provides real-time pest monitoring, phenology modeling and management recommendations, according to the project description.
While the project will be coordinated by APG, it will be led by Houston Wilson with the University of California, Riverside, Jhalendra Rijal with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Charles Burks with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service and David Crowder with Washington State University.
