Orchard Crops

My name is Clarissa Reyes, and I am the new Orchard Systems Advisor for Sutter, Yuba, Butte & Placer Counties. My primary crops are walnut, peach, and kiwifruit, and I’m based out of the UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) office in Yuba City. I have been working as a research assistant in almond, walnut, and prune in the North Sacramento Valley for the past two years, so while some of you may have seen me around, I am looking forward to meeting and serving folks in this new role!

While working in the Sacramento Valley with UCCE Orchard Advisors Janine Hasey, Franz Niederholzer, and Luke Milliron, I have supported several projects, including rootstock and variety trials, whole orchard recycling, and irrigation management experiments. Prior to that, I earned my MS in Horticulture and Agronomy from UC Davis. There I researched soil-plant-water relations in grapevine, where I focused on learning how plants transport water and respond to drought in order to improve rootstock development. I’ve also done work combining on-the-ground measurements like stem water potential and soil moisture with remote sensing to develop grower support tools.

I am delighted to work in this beautiful region, close to where I was born and raised in Sacramento, and to join a growing team of UCCE orchard advisors. I understand that growers have been experiencing some especially tough times lately, and I hope to work with you all to develop practical ways to adapt to these challenges.

I can be reached by email at clareyes@ucanr.edu, by phone at (530) 822-7515, or by visiting the office at 142A Garden Highway, Yuba City, CA 95991.

Advisors

Franz Niederholzer is the UCCE Orchard Systems Advisor in Colusa and Sutter/Yuba Counties.  He is also the Research Coordinator at the Nickels Soil Lab in Arbuckle.  His primary crop responsibilities are almond and prune, with additional support for olive, cherry, plum, pomegranate, apple, citrus and pistachio (Colusa) production.  Current research topics in almonds and prunes include variety and rootstock trials, fertility management, and safe and effective spray application. Use this link to sign up for Franz’s newsletters. Follow Franz on Twitter: @Hwy20Orchardoc

 

Janine Hasey is the Tree Crops Farm Advisor Emeritus in Sutter, Yuba, and Colusa counties retiring after 38 years on July 1, 2019. Her focus is on walnuts, cling peaches, and kiwifruit. She served as the Extension County Director in Sutter and Yuba counties from 2014 until her retirement. In 1984, she started the UC Master Gardener program for Sutter and Yuba counties. In retirement, Janine will continue walnut research projects including no pruning/no heading training systems and managing several statewide rootstock trials. Janine is looking forward to more travelling and enjoys hiking, swimming and snorkeling.