Pest Control Advisor
An independent Pest Control Advisor works with us daily and regularly inspects our trees during the growing season to make recommendations for timely nutrient and pest control treatments.

 

Crop Rotation
Crop rotation is not only an essential part of growing high quality trees, it is required by specific guidelines set forth by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Because of our commitment to producing top quality nursery stock and being good stewards of the land, Sierra Gold controls plenty of ideal land which allows us to maintain very generous crop rotation cycles. After we harvest a crop of trees, we fallow that field from nursery crops for at least 2 years by growing grains. In addition to helping control soil-borne pests and diseases, this crop also allows us to regenerate our soil by recycling the organic matter from the stubble back into the ground.

Fumigation
Prior to planting a nursery crop, all of our growing grounds are professionally fumigated following strict CDFA protocols. In addition to our disciplined crop rotation, this investment helps give our tree roots a healthy and nematode-free soil environment in which to thrive.

Record Keeping
Propagating fruit and nut trees requires extensive, detailed record keeping in order to track seed and budwood sources of each tree in the nursery. All of Sierra Gold’s budwood source books, budding records and field inventory books are meticulously managed and regularly audited.

 

Tree Training
Our trees really are “hand-made” in Sutter County. Growing our trees requires dozens of critical time-sensitive steps and intensive hand labor. From planting, budding and grafting to suckering, limbing and staking, the skills and hard work of our dedicated employees are at the origin of your future successful orchard. 

Budding
Field budding and grafting is performed by experienced crews with great care.

 

 

Spraying
Sierra Gold has one of the most advanced sprayers on the West Coast. GPS guidance, a series of direct inject tanks and a 75’ boom allow us to spray efficiently, while computer controlled nozzles, pulses and droplet sizes help us be good stewards of our local environment by minimizing drift and chemical usage.

Propagation Mateial
Sierra Gold maintains its own registered blocks of seed and cutting material where we harvest the virus tested material that becomes our rootstock.

Harvesting Budwood
From the time the budwood stick is cut from the source tree, proper care and handling is maintained to keep the material cool and fresh.

 

 

 

 

Grading
Unfortunately, not every tree we harvest is perfect. Our experienced tree graders must sort out trees not up to our high specifications. All trees are graded by caliper and sorted into bundles by variety and rootstock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shipping
Drivers, Major Dhanda and John Baumback, take pride in delivering trees directly to your orchard or commercial cold storage.

 

 

 

 

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