Fumigation in progress at Whitmore

Fumigation is one way of disinfecting the soil and help control certain harmful nematode population. 

The fumigation rig started its work on Whitmore ranch. Hooray! Since there is a school on the other side of the road on West side, we have to be careful. Yes, it's far enough that county laws allow us to fumigate it while school is in progress, but we decided not to do it, instead to save it for when school is out.

We pulled a "float" with a roller behind the rig to seal in the fumigant.

This stimulation of crop growth resulting from soil fumigation is important to assure maximum crop yields. I actually read somewhere about an alternative called, "soil solarization". In solarization, soil will be heated to 99 degree F for 2 to 4 weeks. I am not sure if it is effective enough.

What's all that smoke about fumigation?

OK. Here's how fumigation works..

Fumigation disinfects soil with a chemical called fumigant. Fumigants are volatile gases like methyl bromide or Telone. Soil fumigants typically are applied below the soil surface through either tractor-mounted shanks. Within a few hours of application, the gaseous fumigant disperses through soil pores from the area of high concentration near the injection point to areas of lower concentration. In most cases, the soil surface is mechanically compacted or covered with plastic film to slow fumigant emission to the atmosphere. 

Soil fumigation is used to control a wide range of soil borne pests including many root and foliar disease pathogens, plant parasitic nematodes, and weed seeds or vegetative propagules. Soil fumigants are usually applied several weeks or months before the crop is planted to reduce the chance of crop injury.

Happy ending at the end of a windy storm..

We came through the Tuesday wet and windy storm without any tree losses. Thank God!

Carpenter Ranch Almonds. The Monterey were hulled over this weekend and the last of them will be delivered to Monte Vista today. By the end of the week we should have our crack out results and know how many pounds we have to sell. Anxiously waiting!!