In Episode 34 of The Ag Executive, host Jay Visser sits down with Tom Burchell, president and CEO of Burchell Nursery, to discuss the decisions growers should make before investing in a new almond orchard.
Burchell breaks down what growers need to consider when evaluating varieties and rootstocks, from long-term water availability and soil conditions to handler requirements, orchard preparation and budget. He also discusses the growing interest in self-fertile almond varieties, how growers should interpret yield data and why promising new varieties need years of evaluation under commercial conditions.
The conversation also explores Nonpareil Plus, a self-fertile Nonpareil currently under evaluation, and the potential management advantages of single-variety orchards. For growers considering a 2027 replant, Burchell closes with five key questions to answer before ordering trees: water, market, soil, timing and budget.