April, 2020 CAS/CAC/UC
Avocado Grower Meetings
The original field meeting for avocado growers was canceled this year. This was to be an opportunity for growers to get out and see, touch and interact with other growers and people experienced in the various topics that were to be covered. The meetings were to be in real groves at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Pine Tree Ranch in Santa Paula and Rancho Aqua Tibia in Pauma Valley. The discussion and viewing topics ranged from 1) Planting Density, 2) Pruning, 3) Root Rot Management, 4) Pest Monitoring, 5) New Scions/Rootstock and 6) the Healthy Soils Program. We had a range of speakers arranged for the different sites to show, demonstrate and spark discussion. The actual sessions were designed so that every topic got covered and everyone got to hear the highlights of the topic in a 15 minute period, before moving on to the next topic. For the Scion/Rootstock session, this would have been just a brief introduction before the more elaborate workshop of that topic which will be held in June. The enclosed outlines and references cover the topics that would have been covered at these field meetings. They are not a substitute for actually being out in the field, but hopefully they will keep you thinking about how to improve your avocado production.
Planting Density: Tim Spann of CAC
Pruning: Gary Bender, Sonia Rios of UCCE and Gabe Felipe of Mission Produce
Root Rot Management: Ben Faber of UCCE
Pest Monitoring: Enrico Ferro, Tom Roberts, Jane Delahoyde, Jim Davis
New Scions/Rootstocks: Mary Lu Arpaia, Patricia Manosalva of UC Riverside
Healthy Soils Program, Alli Fish, Esther Mosase of UCCE; Lance Andersen of Mission RCD; Jamie Whiteford of Ventura RCD; Claire Balint of Cal Poly; Mary Matava of El Corazon Compost
