TC Botany Class Gets an Insightful Field Trip
by Michael Clites
On Tuesday September 22, the Taft College botany class had taken a field trip to the Paramount Farms’ pistachio and almond farm. Over the hour that the class was there, the field regulator member Paul had discussed issues on the California drought and how it affects their harvest, as well as ways to slow down the damage if not stopping it.
Paramount’s pistachio crop has been growing since 1972 and there are sixty-three thousand acres of them. But these crops need one essential thing to live and that is water. Unfortunately, the state of California is in a crisis in which it lacks water. The California drought of 2015 is by far the worst drought to hit the state in all its time and the farmers are getting hit by it the hardest.
While taking a tour of the crop, Paul explained that the lack of water was slowing production and quality of their harvest. With the rate of the pistachio production decreasing, Paramount Farms is forced to find ways to get around the harsh times. One way is the new technique of getting water to the crop. Instead of using your average sprinkler head to water the pistachio crop, they installed rubber water lining along the whole crop that produce less water at a time in order to decrease precipitation in the crop that negatively effects the growth and development of the crop. As opposed to the sprinkler system that was generating too much water and precipitation to the crop.
Although California is in a terrible drought. Paramount Farms and farms across the state are finding new ways every day to get around these harsh times and produce enough product to keep consumers happy.
TC botany students watch and learn about the harvest process.
