Dellavalle Laboratory Inc.

Wow, spring is around the corner! Look at the almond buds preparing to bloom today near Selma, CA! Make sure you have your nitrogen delivered and on standby, to start your spring N program a few days prior to bloom! Call your Dellavalle consultant for specifics!

Growers using very pure snow-melt water from rivers and canals, beware! The very pure water will not penetrate very far into the soil unless there is ample calcium in that soil. The water will cause mucky conditions in the top few inches leaving dust below. It gets worse if you attempt to push the water deeper. Symptoms: mucky surface conditions and sudden tree death. I received 3 calls on this just today!... Check your calcium and pH in the top 3 inches! Keith Backman

Two Dellavalle Consultants, Lacey Mount and Keith Backman, are on the Western Fertilizer Handbook Committee. This week the committee finished the draft of the upcoming 10th edition. Read news release below... Western Fertilizer Handbook Committee Holds Monthly Editor's Meeting in Merced... On Tuesday, the Western Fertilizer Handbook (WFHB) Committee met at the Merced County Extension Offices to finish reviewing the text for the new 10th Edition of the WFHB. This week's meeting was to review and finalize the last segments of chapters where new text was being added. The WFHB committee reviewed a chapter on fertilizer application and additional language on the environmentally safe use of fertilizer for any grammatical changes. The committee also plans to update all the pictures in the WFHB to assure that they are relevant to Western agriculture, and so began planning for that review. Next month the committee will identify pictures that will be featured in the new edition of the WFHB. Our plan is for the committee to be able to begin directly working with the book's publisher by June, to finalize formatting questions and options. WPHA's goal is to have the new edition of the handbook available for members and universities who are anxious for the new edition before the end of this year. For more information, please contact Renee at [email protected].

Grapes are beginning to bloom in the San Joaquin Valley! Spring is about over. Have you taken tissue samples to confirm the nutrient status for your crops yet?! Go to dellavallelab.com for details on how leaf, soil, petiole and water evaluations can keep your crops growing at their best possible status! Ask us about the Irrigation Scheduling Program too.... Offices and Consultants in Fresno, Hanford, Davis, Modesto and Bakersfield. Representatives also on the Central Coast and the Napa Valley. There are 13 Certified Crop Advisers covering the state!

Our Hanford Office is Hiring. Sampler Position, Seasonal, Part time. Driving Required. Minimum wage + mileage.... In-house training. Pick up application at 1216 N. Douty or email [email protected] Subject [sampling position 2019] See more

Day one of the Tulare Ag Exposition! Come by Pavilion B and meet a few of our 12 Certified Crop Advisors!

Find us at the Tulare Farm Show this week. Our booth is in B pavillion. Same position on the East side that we have occupied for the past 30 years!

Come to Pistachio Day in Visalia tomorrow (Jan 16). Dellavalle Lab will have 7 of their CCAs attending. Stop by our booth!! https://ucanr.edu/sites/pistachioday/Agenda_957/

Cold weather is here. Cold temperatures can cause bud damage to pistachio trees with very dry soil conditions. This can happen in low, cold areas of the valley. We have seen it occur between the 1st and 15th of December at temps of 25 to 27 degrees. These trees will do better if they receive a few hours of irrigation water soon to add moisture to the root system.

Water samples from wells can be checked for various components, including nitrate and bacteria (FSMA). It is best to evaluate wells in the summer while they are running regularly! Home drinking wells too!

Late season samples are valuable in permanent crops to to monitor your nutrient program. "Did the zinc run out too soon?" "Was the potassium adequate under the high demand of sizing the crop?" Late August and early September leaf samples will indicate the appropriateness of your 2018 nutrient program AND lay the groundwork of your 2019 plan. Deficiencies need to be addressed NOW!!

Check your soil moisture! The forecast in much of the central valley is for temperatures of 100 degrees plus for at least 8 days, starting this Wednesday! Make sure you have a nice moist soil condition BEFORE the heat hits. Severe damage and scorch can hit the southwest exposure of your orchards and vineyards if you can't wet the fields in time. Also... do not turn the root zone to mush (too wet) during the heat. That will reduce the efficiency of your roots and throw the e...xposed plant parts into stress. Check your moisture readings to evaluate your status. Your Dellavalle Consultant can Help!

Visit the Dellavalle Consultant Booth at the Tulare Nut Conference in Tulare this Friday! Tell us how your harvest went! http://www.wcngg.com/events/south-valley-nut-conference