Rephonic
Artwork for Growing the Valley
Naval Orangeworm
California
Pecans
Monterey Almond
Almond Industry
Orchard Management
Pistachio Bloom
Agriculture
Integrated Pest Management
Pistachio
Carpophilus Truncatus
Walnut Irrigation
Soil Health
Sanitation Practices
Mating Disruption
Aggregate Stability
Climate Change
Irrigation
Tree Stress Management
Soil Microbiome

This is a podcast that goes over new research and basic information about growing orchard crops in the Central Valley of California

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes101Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesGovernmentScience

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Growing the Valley

Latest Episodes

Facing tightening SGMA regulations and the specter of future droughts, how should we be designing the almond orchard of the future? On the podcast, Franz Niederholzer discusses his idea of a test almond orchard at the Nickels Soil Lab with different ... more

Researchers have been conducting almond irrigation and other studies at the Nickels Soil Lab in Arbuckle, CA for over 50 years! On the podcast, Franz Niederholzer revisited research on early microirrigation, the consequences of late season drought in... more

Environmental bud failure showed up in almonds in a big way in 2025. From a subtle delay of leafing in parts of Nonpareil canopies throughout the Central Valley to some orchards in the northern Sacramento Valley with only half leaf out. This disorder... more

If you work in the almond industry, you likely know non-infectious bud failure (NBF) is bad news. However, do you understand why NBF happens, and that we’re likely to see it on future almond varieties, not just on Carmel? Tom Gradziel discusses the s... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Almond Journey
Almond JourneyAlmond Journey
Maintenance Phase
Maintenance PhaseAubrey Gordon & Michael Hobbes
The Daily
The DailyThe New York Times

Recent Guests

Franz Niederholzer
UC Cooperative Extension orchard farm advisor
University of California
Episode: Pulling Past Almond Irrigation Lessons Forward at the Nickels Soil Lab
Dr. Tom Gradziel
Geneticist and plant breeder, professor of plant sciences
University of California, Davis
Episode: Almond Environmental Bud Failure / Monterey Leafing Failure (2025)
Amelie Gaudin
Associate Professor of Agroecology at UC Davis
University of California, Davis
Episode: What is regenerative agriculture? With Amelie Gaudin
Elizabeth Fichtner
Orchard Advisor for Tulare County
University of California
Episode: Walnut scale with Elizabeth Fichtner
Jaime Ott
Orchard Systems Advisor based in Tehama, also covering Butte, Glenn, and Shasta.
University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Episode: Prunes: From Buds through Fruit Thinning
Becky Wheeler-Dykes
Orchard Systems Advisor based in Glenn County, also covering Tehama and Colusa.
University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Episode: Prunes: From Buds through Fruit Thinning
Roger Duncan
Former UC Cooperative Extension Pomology Farm Advisor
University of California
Episode: Oak Root Fungus with Roger Duncan (2025)
Jim Adaskaveg
Researcher focusing on phytophthora and other diseases
University of California, Riverside
Episode: Warm Season Phytophthora in Almond with Jim Adaskaveg (2025)
Georgia Drakakaki
Professor of Plant Sciences in the Plant Science Department at UC Davis
University of California, Davis
Episode: How do pistachio shells split? With Shuxiao Zhang and Georgia Drakakaki

Hosts

Luke Miller
Host and Orchard Systems Advisor for Butte, Tehama, and Glen Counties.
Phoebe Gordon
Host and Orchard Systems Advisor for Madera and Merced Counties.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 45 ratings
  • Merry Christmas

    Thank you guys for hosting!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Grimes,ca
    United States3 years ago
  • Request from a big fan

    I love this podcast! The hosts bring a deep expertise on the topic at hand but in a very user friendly way. I have a request. I have a family-run farm where we harvest ginkgo nuts. There is very little available info out there on ginkgo trees. I would LOVE to hear a special episode on this up-and-coming component of the California agricultural scene!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GingkosRock
    United States7 years ago
  • Very interesting and well produced.

    Even though I only took bio a long time ago this podcast is easy to understand and very educational. I appreciate learning about California crops. Also Luke has such a nice and relaxing voice; definitely rivals the voices of those on NPR.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    htwin2
    United States7 years ago
  • Almonds Rock!

    Can’t wait for the next installment!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    USCSNL
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the deep expertise of the hosts on orchard management topics.
Many find the discussions to be educational, accessible, and relevant to current agricultural challenges.
The hosts have been praised for their engaging conversational style and clarity in communicating complex ideas.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Pulling Past Almond Irrigation Lessons Forward at the Nickels Soil Lab
Q: What do you want to make sure that growers and PCAs think about when it comes to water?
Maintaining adequate moisture is critical, as the practices and stresses that occur this year will impact the next year as well.
What is regenerative agriculture? With Amelie Gaudin
Q: What are some of the benefits of incorporating animals into regenerative agricultural systems?
Incorporating animals can help improve soil health and carbon sequestration as they provide resources for the soil ecosystem when grazed properly.
What is regenerative agriculture? With Amelie Gaudin
Q: How does regenerative agriculture differ from other agricultural practices?
Regenerative agriculture encompasses a systems approach that includes ecological principles, while other practices like organic farming are based on certified methods with a set of approved practices.
What is regenerative agriculture? With Amelie Gaudin
Q: What is regenerative agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture is defined as a practice that shifts focus from just yield to managing an ecosystem that restores soil health, conserves biodiversity, and is economically viable.
How do pistachio shells split? With Shuxiao Zhang and Georgia Drakakaki
Q: So does the kernel itself push open the shell like was previously thought?
Yes, the expansion of the kernel indeed plays a crucial role in pushing the shell.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Growing the Valley

What is Growing the Valley about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast focuses on the latest research and developments in growing orchard crops, particularly in California's Central Valley. Topics frequently discussed include irrigation techniques, pest management strategies, crop health, and the impact of environmental conditions on various tree crops, especially almonds and prunes. The hosts aim to educate listeners about sustainable agricultural practices and the science behind orchard management, making complex subjects accessible to a broader audience.

Listeners can expect expert insights from a range of guests, including agricultural advisors, geneticists, and researchers. Notably, the conversations often emphasize adaptation strategies in the face of climate change and how evolving technol... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Growing the Valley?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Growing the Valley. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Growing the Valley and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Growing the Valley get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Growing the Valley, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Growing the Valley?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Growing the Valley, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Growing the Valley have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Growing the Valley has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Growing the Valley?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Growing the Valley:

1. Almond Journey
2. The MyAgLife Podcast
3. MyAgLife Daily News Report
4. Maintenance Phase
5. The Daily

How many episodes of Growing the Valley are there?

Growing the Valley launched 7 years ago and published 101 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Growing the Valley?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Growing the Valley?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Growing the Valley from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Growing the Valley?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Growing the Valley. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Growing the Valley?

Recent guests on Growing the Valley include:

1. Franz Niederholzer
2. Dr. Tom Gradziel
3. Amelie Gaudin
4. Elizabeth Fichtner
5. Jaime Ott
6. Becky Wheeler-Dykes
7. Roger Duncan
8. Jim Adaskaveg

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days