A National Nut Grower magazine grower profile (May/June 2022 issue) documenting Christine and Erich Gemperle’s decade-long evolution toward integrated pest management (IPM) at their 135-acre almond operation in Ceres, CA. Details how an accidental observation of beneficial insects during cover crop mowing led Christine to forgo a routine preventative abamectin mite spray — resulting in no mite problem and the discontinuation of mite sprays on older trees. Covers the role of cover crops in suppressing dust (a key mite attractant), slowing weed growth including herbicide-resistant species (mare’s tail, fleabane, nutsedge), and harboring beneficials (lacewings, ladybugs, six-spotted thrips). Also covers navel orangeworm management (winter sanitation, mummy incorporation via tilling and cover cropping, single hull-split spray), fungicide use reduction, whole orchard recycling (two orchards recycled, wood chips reducing dust throughout the property), and the overall philosophy of a two-person operation finding a balance between conventional tools and regenerative practices over time.
