November/December 2024 - 10

WALNUTS
FINDING
success
Regenerative practices have yielded Unruh Walnut Farms
big dividends in chemical savings
BY KEITH LORIA
nder the leadership of Daniel Unruh, the secondgeneration-run
farm transitioned to regenerative
farming practices in 2011. The shift resulted in
enhanced biodiversity and improved soil health in the 193acre
walnut orchard.
U
Unruh grew up on a South Dakota farm, which he and
his father quit in 2002 before the younger Unruh moved to
California in 2006, where he worked for a custom farmer
and landscaper until he married his wife, Rachelle. A year
before marriage, his father-in-law bought land in Colusa
County to turn over to the couple once it was ready.
That generosity led Unruh to become a walnut farmer.
" All 193 acres of walnuts were planted at the same time, "
Unruh said. " My father-in-law planted them the month we
got married in 2010 and I took over the operation. "
10 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024
The farm regularly produces 772,000 pounds of in-shell
walnuts a year, a figure that has remained consistent
through the last few years.
The road to regenerative
Unruh embarked on his regenerative journey after
discovering a nematode problem in his orchard that
synthetic treatments could not remedy.
" I kind of stumbled onto this accidentally, " Unruh said.
" In 2011, we realized my trees weren't growing very well,
and the next year, my father-in-law realized there was
something going on beyond fertility. "
That's when they discovered the nematode issue.
Throwing the chemistry book at the issue didn't help.
" I was sitting on the tractor mowing my orchard and I

November/December 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November/December 2024

Editor's Letter
2024 Labor Survey
Finding success
Processing redefined
A trusted partner
Fruit & Nut Buyers' Guide
Climate
Regulations
Ad index
November/December 2024 - 1
November/December 2024 - 2
November/December 2024 - 3
November/December 2024 - Editor's Letter
November/December 2024 - 5
November/December 2024 - 2024 Labor Survey
November/December 2024 - 7
November/December 2024 - 8
November/December 2024 - 9
November/December 2024 - Finding success
November/December 2024 - 11
November/December 2024 - 12
November/December 2024 - 13
November/December 2024 - Processing redefined
November/December 2024 - 15
November/December 2024 - 16
November/December 2024 - 17
November/December 2024 - A trusted partner
November/December 2024 - 19
November/December 2024 - 20
November/December 2024 - 21
November/December 2024 - 22
November/December 2024 - Fruit & Nut Buyers' Guide
November/December 2024 - 24
November/December 2024 - 25
November/December 2024 - 26
November/December 2024 - 27
November/December 2024 - 28
November/December 2024 - 29
November/December 2024 - 30
November/December 2024 - 31
November/December 2024 - 32
November/December 2024 - 33
November/December 2024 - 34
November/December 2024 - 35
November/December 2024 - 36
November/December 2024 - 37
November/December 2024 - 38
November/December 2024 - 39
November/December 2024 - 40
November/December 2024 - 41
November/December 2024 - 42
November/December 2024 - Climate
November/December 2024 - Regulations
November/December 2024 - 45
November/December 2024 - 46
November/December 2024 - 47
November/December 2024 - 48
November/December 2024 - 49
November/December 2024 - Ad index
November/December 2024 - 51
November/December 2024 - 52
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