Economics of Navel Orangeworm Management in Almond and Pistachio Orchards
Published in ARE Update, 2023
Recommended citation: Somerville, Scott and Brittney K. Goodrich. 2023. "Economics of Navel Orangeworm Management in Almond and Pistachio Orchards." ARE Update 27(2): 5–8. University of California Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics. https://s.giannini.ucop.edu/uploads/pub/2023/12/21/v27n2_2.pdf
Navel Orangeworm (NOW) is the top pest of California almonds and pistachios and affects other crops like walnuts, pomegranates, and figs. Female NOW moths lay their eggs on the fruiting bodies of tree nuts, and the resulting larvae burrow through the shell and eat the kernel. NOW damage is linked to aflatoxin contamination (a carcinogen) threatening food safety and exports to highly regulated key markets, such as the European Union.
This article provides an analysis of NOW management practices and associated costs and benefits in almond and pistachio orchards. Our study focuses on years 2018 through 2021, including the most recent available pesticide use and cost data, and where appropriate, averages over four years to avoid bias caused by alternate bearing crop yields.