Pollinators are vital to the agriculture world, but almond researchers have developed a self-fertilizing variety they are calling “Early Bird.”
“The early bird variety is actually double early. It blooms at the same time as sonora, so it’s an early bloomer, but the real value to the grower is that it harvests a week to 10 days before non-perel. In that harvest window, there are no other commercial varieties at this time. In our test plot, we’ve seen that for the last and 3rd and 4th leaf harvests, and in the mother tree that those are were propagated from, we’ve seen that for eight different harvests,” said Chuck Fleck with Fowler Nurseries.
Fleck says another big selling point is the kernel size, which is around 20 percent larger than other varieties.
John Mays with Central Life Sciences joins us to discuss the importance of pest management ahead of wheat storage and how protecting grain quality can support stronger marketing opportunities.
April 29, 2026 03:18 PM
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University of Arkansas researchers are working to help farmers reduce grain waste and get more value out of their crops.
April 29, 2026 03:03 PM
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Louisiana soybean farmers are moving quickly to get this year’s crop planted during a key window for yield potential.
April 29, 2026 02:08 PM
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EPA’s approval gives citrus growers a new disease-fighting tool against greening at a time when production losses remain severe.
April 29, 2026 01:55 PM
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Higher input costs are making flexible marketing plans and updated break-even targets more important.
April 29, 2026 12:33 PM
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Growers say flavor remains strong despite smaller size of onions.
April 29, 2026 12:11 PM
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