- NEW Growers Invited to Share Comments on Pesticide VOCs at September 28 Public Meeting
- Food Safety: The Challenge of Salmonella Prevention and Control
- Leaders in Food Safety
- Managing Post-Harvest Pests in Facilities
- Government Affairs: Update on U.S. Food Safety Legislation
- UPDATED Water Ways: USGS Study: Ground Water Tables Declining
- Driving Value through Innovation: 2009 Almond Industry Conference
- Power Bloggers Are Powerful Influencers in Asia
- Military Food Professionals Visit Almond Country
September
18 PR & Advertising Committee Webinar/Conference Call 10:00AM
October
15 Food Quality & Safety Committee Meeting 9:30AM 22 Production Research Committee Meeting 9:30AM 28 Environmental Committee Meeting 9:30AM
November
4 Organic Task Force Meeting 10:00AM 12 PR & Advertising Committee Meeting 10:00AM 13 International Committee 9:30AM
December
1 Leadership Development Committee Meeting 8:30AM 1 Administrative & Finance Committee (Annual Audit Report & Finance Statement) 9:30AM 1 Board of Directors Meeting 1:00PM -
9-10 37th Annual Almond Industry Conference
Water Ways
USGS Study: Ground Water Tables Declining
A new federal study shows that ground water levels are at historic lows. Three consecutive years of below-average rainfall and reduced surface water deliveries are placing more stress on ground water tables to provide irrigation water for the Central Valley, according to data gathered since 2003.
The study by the U.S. Geological Survey titled "Groundwater Availability in the Central Valley Aquifer," shows that the Central Valley has lost 60 million acre-feet of ground water since 1961. This loss affects not only the supply but also potentially the quality of the region’s ground water, and can lead to subsidence of the Valley floor.
The study states that ground water levels are particularly declining in the southern Tulare Basin portion of the San Joaquin Valley as more water is pumped out than recharges naturally. Ground water levels in the Sacramento Valley and northern San Joaquin Valley are generally stable.
The USGS study was developed in conjunction with a new three-dimensional model for assessing how ground water flows below ground and how it relates to surface water in canals and aqueducts in the Central Valley.
For more information on groundwater challenges for almonds in California, click here to read a Western Farm Press article by Gabriele Ludwig, Associate Director, Environmental Affairs, Almond Board of California.
The Almond Board of California does not support the use of manure as fertilizer in almond production. However, if manure is an integral part of your operation, consider the following:
- Apply manure as soon as possible after harvest and incorporate into the soil immediately.
- Use only treated, composted manure and maintain detailed records.
- Clean and sanitize equipment between orchards and after use.
- Store manure away from areas where almonds are grown or handled.
