Effective integrated pest management (IPM) programs for almond pests, especially for navel orangeworm, are not a one-size-fits-all situation and Thomas Martin says especially during these challenging economic times. Martin, a chemist by training and a regional technical representative for Trécé, was a participant in the Almond Leadership Program last year and his project involved analyzing the return on investment (ROI) of various integrated pest management strategies. This project received a lot of interest at The Almond Conference and Martin has since developed a free online tool to calculate the ROI of various IPM practices for navel orangeworm. The website is easy to use and can be personalized to fit individual orchard situations.

“We've got some great research done by UC and USDA that shows the benefit of these IPM techniques, but all that research is done in terms of reduction of damage, not in terms of dollars and cents.” - Thomas Martin

In Today’s episode:

• Meet Thomas Martin, regional technical representative at Trécé and recent Almond Leadership Program graduate
• Understand the economic impact of integrated pest management practices
• Explore the process in developing this tool

Access the IPM Return on Investment Calculator at NOWcalc.com

The Almond Journey Podcast is brought to you by the Almond Board of California. This show explores how growers, handlers, and other stakeholders are making things work in their operations to drive the almond industry forward. Host Tim Hammerich visits with leaders throughout the Central Valley of California and beyond who are finding innovative ways to improve their operations, connect with their communities, and advance the almond industry.

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