Mechanical Hedging of Walnuts

To: Interested Walnut Growers

From: Bob Beede, UCCE Farm Advisor, Kings County

During this winter's farm calls, I have received several inquiries about the pros and cons of mechanical side pruning of conventionally trained walnuts. The subject is a somewhat complex one, because of all the variables requiring consideration prior to implementation. Regardless of how one decides to manage their walnut canopies, of ultimate importance is to understand what to expect from any selected pruning program. This reduces the chances of being unpleasantly surprised at harvest.

To address this grower interest, I am offering to hold an informal seminar/discussion on what we know about the bearing habit of walnut, and how mechanical pruning has impacted it. I have also contacted Mike Pelham, a commercial mechanical walnut pruner of over 30 years, who would join us in our discussion. I performed replicated walnut hedging research with Mike back in the early 80's, and he has since spent the majority of his career hedging walnuts in the Linden/Stockton area, where he has over 100 clients using mechanical pruning as their primary canopy management method.

This note is intended to assess how many of you are actually sufficiently interested in this subject to commit to a meeting, the date of which will be determined if there is at least ten responses. If you are interested, please click on the attached link and indicate such. I will then respond to you shortly after the New Year to set a date convenient for the interested growers.

Thank you, and I wish you a most joyous and restful Holiday Season!

Bob Beede

PLEASE CLICK ON THE SURVEY LINK BELOW, SO I CAN GET A COUNT OF HOW MANY ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING SUCH A MEETING.

http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=7756