Winter 2021 - 12

GROWER PROFILE
industries don't generally like this chemical, it's a fairly
inexpensive option for mite control. It is, however, harsh on
the predatory insects that feed on the mites, as well other
beneficial insects.
Effective as it might be, this is one for which Bullseye uses
an alternative whenever possible. The alternative options tend
to cost more, but they don't negatively impact the beneficial
insects, which means less chance of a population explosion
later in the season of the mites the farm is trying to control.
For fields ditching the majority of harsh chemicals in
the name of sustainability, this can sometimes make pest
management a bigger hurdle to clear. Promoting a more
natural system and encouraging environmental health
means fewer and fewer chemicals are available, making
attention to alternatives a top priority. Since Bullseye sees
this concept continuing, the farm maintains practices with
this in mind, especially in the case of addressing navel
orangeworm pressure.
The first line of defense is a very strong sanitation program,
which helps reduce hull split spraying as much as possible.
After harvest, the shakers are run through the orchards again
to remove any mummies, and the trees are again surveyed to
determine whether or not they should be shaken again when
conditions are better, such as after a rain, when the mummies
fall more easily. As a last resort, a poling crew is sent into the
field to remove any remaining mummy nuts.
As for monitoring pest pressure, " We use a trap out
system, " said Edsall, " and it's just one example of how we're
moving further away from spraying. "
Bullseye Farms uses independent pest control advisors
12 WINTER 2021
(PCAs), with Edsall noting that his advisors look more
thoroughly at alternatives since there's no incentive
to recommend chemicals. PCAs do mummy counts -
calculating how many are left in the tree, and how many
worms are in the nuts - to make a population estimate of
how many will hatch in the spring. Mass traps are placed in
the field to trap mated females, so that when the eggs are
laid, they are caught in the traps and not in the nuts.
Aside from taking care of the orchards, Bullseye is also
trying to be a mindful neighbor. With so many of its orchards
surrounded by homes and roads, it's even more important to
move away from chemicals and reduce dust.
Eye on tech
Aside from alternatives to sprays and other areas of
improvement, Bullseye Farms is always on the lookout for
new technology to support its operation.
" It's funny because a lot of sustainability, it seems, are
methods that are older technology, like cover cropping
and composting, which have been around for thousands of
years, " said Edsall. " But there's also new tech. "
Edsall has been working with agtech companies with tools
that measure tree stress directly from the tree instead of the
soil water content. " Just because there's moisture in the soil,
it doesn't mean the tree is using it efficiently, " said Edsall.
While the farm still uses pressure chambers and many
employees are trained to test tree stress during the summer,
this is a very labor- and time-intensive practice. Bullseye's
adoption of dendrometers has been successful, with the
number of sensors in the field increasing as the team
Winter 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Winter 2021
