Participants listened to grower Matt Bowman during the Environmental Stewardship Tour took that took place Friday, May 9 in the San Joaquin Valley. Photo courtesy of the Almond Board of California.
Almond Board of California — More than 50 representatives from key regulatory agencies attended the Almond Board of California’s (ABC) annual Environmental Stewardship Tour on May 9, an initiative created over 20 years ago to provide policymakers with practical insights into almond farming and industry stewardship practices. This year’s tour took place at orchards owned by the Bowman family in Modesto, where attendees gained a direct view of daily farming decisions and innovative stewardship research.
Garret Bowman, a fourth-generation almond grower, along with his sons, welcomed attendees and explained his approach to orchard management through the growing season. He covered essential practices for irrigation and nutrient management, pest control, varieties and rootstocks. Bowman’s Pest Control Advisor demonstrated equipment used for monitoring navel orangeworm flights. This demonstration illustrated the complexity and deliberate nature of pest management practices, highlighting the thoughtful decision-making process growers undertake to optimize both crop yield and environmental health…