Contents
Over
80 years of service to Tulare County
Environmental
concerns top Extension's "to do" list
A
Look Back:
The "Ag Extension" Office Opened in Tulare County in 1918.
A
Look Ahead...
Tulare County Agriculture Building to Open March, 2001
UCCE
develops dairy industry environmental stewardship short course
Tree
Fruit:
Strategic pruning speeds production, lowers costs
Choices
abound for cotton, grains
Worker
Safety:
Extension teaches safe handling of pesticides
4-H
Youth:
On the grow in Tulare County
Trellis
technology shifts from "T" to "Y"
"Radio
Tulare" expands Extension's message to
the Spanish speaking
Citrus
project explores cover crop potential
Cool
Cows are productive cows
Field
crops support dairy industry, commodities market
UC
addreses rangeland water quality management
Yellow
starthistle invades state
Celebrating
30 years of EFNEP success
Eating
study results in new educational materials for
families
Master
Gardener volunteers perform services for county
UCCE
helps reduce childhood anemia
High
density walnut plantings produce positive results
Berries
may offer niche small farm opportunity
Teen
Survival targets youth
Broccoli:
good for you, good for Tulare County
Tulare:
namesake to a nut
High density walnut plantings produce positive results
 |
| A hedgerow style walnut planting at harvest displays a productive "tree wall." |
Long-term evaluation of several varieties of walnuts planted in a tight,
hedgerow configuration has been underway in Tulare County for many years.
Hedgerow walnut culture is becoming increasingly popular due to its early,
high production potential and the ability to mechanize previously expensive
hand pruning.
When configured into a "hedgerow," the walnut grower makes
a fundamental decision that the "row" not the "tree"
is the orchard's producing unit. Practices such as pruning are designed
to maximize row productivity; individual trees within the row are not
managed separately.
Studies were conducted in Tulare, Yolo and Stanislaus counties. The oldest
is in the Visalia area, planted in 1982 and finalized ten years later.
The trees had completed their tenth year of growth following field grafting
and 1992 marked the seventh year of field data collection.
The new Tulare variety proved to be the highest yielding, slightly ahead
of Chico's 1992 yield and leader in the cumulative yield data (1986-1992).
Chandler was significantly lower yielding, although it exceeded two tons
per acre.
More importantly, the cumulative yield over the seven years from the Chandler variety was only about three-quarters of that obtained from Tulare. These results from the Visalia trial caused some concern as to the suitability of Chandler for hedgerow planting.
Steve Sibbett, Farm Advisor