With more than 50 informative sessions and 3,500 attendees representing all facets of the industry, The Almond Conference offers something for everyone. This year’s Conference will be held Dec. 6–8 at the Sacramento Convention Center. The entire program will be available online later this month, but here is a sneak peek at some of the sessions on almond production that will be featured at the three-day event:
PRECISION IRRIGATION — LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
As the California Almond industry heads into an era marked by ever-increasing production, the efficient use of irrigation water becomes even more critical. These in-depth sessions will reveal the latest technology for refining irrigation management decisions, optimizing system efficiency and managing water quality.
Precision Irrigation Management:
What’s Now and What’s New (Session 1) Good irrigation water management and scheduling supports increased production efficiency, water stewardship and is vital for maintaining the success of your orchard across its life. This session will consider existing and up-and-coming technology to precisely monitor soil moisture and plant water status, both key pieces of a good irrigation strategy.
What’s Now and What’s New (Session 2) This session will consider existing and up-and-coming technology to understand your orchard’s precise water requirements, as well as how an irrigation system can be set up to match distinct orchard management zones.
Good Irrigation Water Management Practices Attend this session to learn about the key research-based irrigation practices necessary for good irrigation water management in almonds. Additionally, see a live demo of a free tool available to all California Almond growers that generates irrigation run time schedules based on local evapotranspiration and information about your individual orchard and irrigation system.
Managing Orchard Salinity Given continued drought conditions, the increased reliance on lower-quality irrigation water has impacted almond production by increasing the soil electrical conductivity and concentration of toxic salts. These salts need to be managed in order to maintain yields and extend orchard longevity. This session will discuss the management practices that will help determine and manage potential salinity problems as well as regulatory considerations that may impact this practice.
As always, the ever-popular research updates and poster sessions will take place as well. And stay tuned for the next sneak peek of Conference sessions, encompassing topics on almond quality, food safety, regulations, grower economics and marketing activities. You can register online for the 2016 Almond Conference.
