Picnic time..

Turtle or Rabbit mode? Notes on driving a tractor

• Clutching: Always press the clutch pedal down to the floor.
• De-clutching: Release the clutch very slowly.
• Yes, our Kubota tractors have turtle/rabbit lever. Set it before you start your drive. When applying sprays on the orchard, it's always the turtle mode.
• Be very mindful of ditches on the road, however small they are. Tractor ride is kinda jerky as it is. A rule of thumb: If there is a 1 foot ditch, you have to maintain your tractor at least 1 foot away from it. If it's a 2 ft embankment, then stay back 2 ft away from its edge. If you go too close, the weight of the tractor might collapse the ditch.

Peach Bloom

Rafael will be spraying bloom next week

I guess peaches need a lot of constant maintenance..

Rovral  (Brown Rot, Jacket Rot and Shot hole)    $29.14/ac

440 Oil (Spreader)                                            $  7.13/ac

Cal-more (Foliar nutrient)                                   $13.24/ac

Jacket rot looks like the following. Jacket rot occurs during the jacket stage when remnants of the flower parts are still attached to the fruit. The disease causes a brown discoloration on the fruit under the jacket. The young fruit withers and falls off the tree within a few weeks. One fungicide application at full bloom is generally effective.

Shot hole: Buds of peach are killed in the winter. Fruit may become rough and corky. Spotting occurs on the upper surface, like the one on leaves below:

Why is California's central valley ideal for fruit and nut agriculture?

We needed to find out an answer for this question before we acquired some agricultural land. I mean, you see farms and orchards all over california, from coastal areas to very interior regions. I guess you could always farm something wherever there is (good) water. But, what exactly makes CA the largest supplier of stone fruit and nuts? Well, this is what we discovered.

California has two most productive growing areas for fruits and nuts: Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Valley. Together they make up Central Valley. 

Q. Why is Central Valley the most productive agricultural region?

A. The right soil and the right prevailing climate (much like mediterranean):

• Loam soils -- nutrient rich, retain moisture, still allow excess water to drain away
• Mild, wet winters -- provide trees with stress-free rest, help them gain strength
• Warm, dry springs -- promote blooms and bee activity, resulting in higher fruit set
• Hot, dry summers -- offer crop disease protection

And, of course, abundant water supply! Central Valley is supported by two major river systems, viz., the Sacramento river and the San Joaquin river along with many of their tributaries. In addition, San Joaquin valley is fed by Don Pedro Reservoir which collects snow-melt water from The Sierras.

Weed spray time for peaches.. Really? Again?

Weed spray will be applied in strips along each side of row of trees here is a breakdown of cost.

ASC Plus (buffer) -- $5.00/ac
Zinc 9% Chelete (nutrient) -- $12.48/ac

Alecto (grass killer) -- $19.32/ac
Dri Clean (broad leaf killer) -- $11.02/ac
Goal (cheese weeded control) -- $4.32/ac
Surflan (residual grass killer) -- $35.70/ac

I have been told that we will continue to use spray peach orchard in bloom, post-bloom, pre-harvest and post-harvest, etc..

Some prevalent weeds in our Whitmore ranch: (Click for bigger views)

Foxtails:





White Clover:

To fence or not to fence..

That is the question. I know it is not a common practice for california farms to put a fence around them. I get it. It is a big expense and does not translate into tangible productivity or profitability.

My personal gut feeling tells me I should go ahead and put a strong fence. The kind of fence that will not even allow small animals like dogs and rabbits to enter the farm. Here is my rationale:

1. Helps eliminate produce contamination: Think about it. When there is no fence, animals freely trespass, leave those browny "gifts"  wherever they please. Most of the time, it won't pose a problem. But, there is a possibility that harmful bacteria may make the journey into produce on the ground, causing e.coli and such stuff. Having a strong fence minimizes this risk.
2. Politely keeps those horseback riders away: Farms and orchards are inviting places for gentlemen looking for a nice ground to stroll on their horses. I am sorry but I do not like it even a bit. Given ours is an almond orchard, there is a great hazard of them bumping into tree branches and injuring themselves and their horses. And, yes, I don't like strangers walking into my house without knocking first either.
3. Stops illegal trash dumping on farm grounds: Sure, they can still dump it along the fence. Still, it is likely that they will go someplace else to dump their century old sofas and old rags.

I hope I made my case..