The MyAgLife Podcast

With almond harvest wrapped up, growers are turning their attention to winter orchard management and preparing for the 2027 growing season.In this episode of the MyAgLife Podcast, editor Kristin Platts talks with UC Cooperative Extension orchard systems advisor Franz Niederholzer about postharvest priorities, including mummy nut sanitation, dormant spray decisions, pruning and orchard floor management.Niederholzer also discusses preparing for potentially wet winter conditions, the importance of evaluating individual orchard needs and why growers should already be thinking ahead to spring bloom and pollination. The conversation also touches on the 2026 almond harvest, conditions at the Nickels Soil Lab and practical considerations for getting orchards ready for the next growing season.

California growers are facing mounting challenges, from rising production costs and water uncertainty to changing regulations and fewer crop protection options.In this episode of the MyAgLife Podcast, Jay Visser sits down with Thomas Putzel of ORCAL to discuss the pressures facing California agriculture and what it takes to keep farming operations economically viable.Putzel shares his perspective on the practicality of alternative pest management tools, the importance of winter sanitation, emerging technologies and the role of sustainable practices in crop production. The conversation also explores water infrastructure, consumer awareness and why finding ways to do more with less is becoming increasingly important for California growers.

Effective navel orangeworm management requires more than a single season's results. In this episode of the MyAgLife Podcast, independent crop consultant Emily Symmes joins MyAgLife's Kristin Platts to discuss evaluating pest management programs, prioritizing orchard sanitation and using field research to make informed decisions.Recorded at the 2026 Crop Consultant Conference, the conversation also explores emerging technologies, the importance of grower feedback and how new tools could shape pest management in California orchards.

After more than 45 years working with California growers, PCA and CCA Gary Osteen has seen plenty of changes in agriculture. In this episode of the MyAgLife Podcast, Osteen joins Kristin Platts to discuss how crop consulting has evolved, the importance of field scouting and building lasting relationships with growers. He also shares stories from his work in forensic agronomy and offers advice for the next generation of crop consultants.

In this episode of the MyAgLife Podcast, JCS Marketing CEO Jason Scott joins host and West Coast Nut magazine editor Kristin Platts to discuss two upcoming Northern California events: the North Valley Nut Conference and the California Walnut Conference.Scott shares what growers can expect from these free industry events, the importance of education and networking, and how partnerships with UC Cooperative Extension and the California Walnut Board help bring valuable resources to the agricultural community. He also reflects on JCS Marketing's roots in Northern California and the company's commitment to supporting growers through education, research and industry connections.The North Valley Nut Conference takes place Jan. 14 in Chico, followed by the California Walnut Conference on Feb. 25 in Yuba City.Both events are free to attend. Register at myaglife.com/events.

In this episode of the MyAgLife Podcast, Kristin Platts talks with Anne Visser of UC Davis about how California agriculture is changing and what that means for the people and businesses trying to reach growers.Recorded at the 2026 Crop Consultant Conference, Visser discusses the economic, policy, technology and environmental pressures reshaping rural regions and agricultural businesses, and why assumptions about today’s “typical grower” may no longer match reality.Visser also looks ahead at the forces likely to shape California agriculture over the next five years, including technology and AI, water, labor and rising operating costs.Find more of Visser’s research through UC Davis. 

Not every new technology delivers where it matters most: in the field and on a grower’s bottom line. In this MyAgLife Podcast, Kristin Platts talks with Rick Foell, general manager of Delta Growers, from the 2026 Crop Consultant Conference about how he evaluates new products and technologies, where drones and AI are showing promise and why return on investment remains critical for growers.Foell also discusses shifting crop economics, the future of automation and precision agriculture, challenges surrounding biological products and an unconventional tool Delta Growers is helping bring to California agriculture: rodent birth control. The conversation offers a practical look at how growers and retailers are navigating new technology while margins remain tight.In this episode: https://deltagrowersinc.com/

How do you know if your navel orangeworm management program is actually working, and where do new technologies fit?In this episode of the MyAgLife Podcast, Dr. Emily Symmes previews her upcoming Crop Consultant Conference presentation and discusses how growers and PCAs can take a closer look at NOW program performance, from identifying when damage occurred and evaluating ROI to determining whether emerging technologies add meaningful value. She also explains why asking the right questions, testing new tools and sharing successes and failures will be increasingly important as NOW management continues to evolve.Hear more from Emily at the 2026 Crop Consultant Conference, Sept. 23–24 at the Visalia Convention Center. Her presentation is scheduled for 8 a.m. Sept. 24.View the CCC agenda and register

How can growers get more value from the nitrogen already available to their crops?In this episode of the MyAgLife Podcast, TJ Bingham with Koch Agronomic Services previews his upcoming Crop Consultant Conference Take the Stage presentation on improving nitrogen utilization in high-value cropping systems. Bingham discusses why nitrogen availability doesn’t always translate to efficient plant use, the role micronutrients can play, how heat and other stresses affect nutrient efficiency, and why new approaches need to fit practically into growers’ existing fertility programs.Hear more from TJ at the 2026 Crop Consultant Conference, Sept. 23–24 at the Visalia Convention Center.View the CCC agenda and register

Nematodes are a costly challenge for California agriculture, and management options after planting can be limited. In this Crop Consultant Conference speaker preview, Fred Nichols of Huma joins MyAgLife to discuss the limitations of traditional fumigation, the need for in-season nematode management tools and what new approaches could mean for growers and crop consultants.Nichols will present “Knock Out Nematodes” at the 2026 Crop Consultant Conference, Sept. 23-24 in Visalia.