Becky Wheeler-Dykes

Orchard Systems & Weed Ecology Advisor

UC Cooperative Extension Glenn County
821 E. South Street
Orland, CA 95963
530-865-1152
bawheeler@ucanr.edu

http://ceglenn.ucanr.edu

Also in:
Tehama County
Colusa County

Biography

My name is Becky Wheeler-Dykes and I am thrilled to join UC Cooperative Extension as the new Orchard Systems Advisor serving Glenn, Tehama and Colusa Counties. I am based in Orland at the Glenn UCCE Office. As an Orchard Crops and Weed Ecology Advisor, I cover olives, prunes, walnuts and almonds and emphasize weed management research and extension in these cropping systems. I grew up on a small prune and walnut farm in Gridley and am happy to be settling down near family. After completing my undergraduate degree in Crop Science and Business Management at UC Davis, I continued on for my Masters in Entomology, where I focused on IPM in orchards. I have since worked in ag research in several crops and disciplines, and I’m excited to bring those experiences to the Sac Valley as the newest Farm Advisor.

I look forward to learning from and with my clientele and I can’t wait to build a research program to support our unique needs in Glenn, Tehama and Colusa Counties. Please give me a call to come out and troubleshoot problems in the field, learn about the challenges you face in agriculture, or just get to know you and your orchards! I can be reached by email at bawheeler@ucanr.edu or telephone at 530-884-9313.

Education

M.S. Entomology, University of California, Davis. 2012

B.S. Crop Science & Business Management, University of California, Davis. 2010

Areas of Expertise (click to see all ANR academics with this expertise)

• Fruit and Nut Crop
• Fruit Crops - General
• Tree Fruits - General
• Nut Crops
• Almonds
• Walnuts
• Olives
• Prunes
• Soil
• Plant Production
• Plant Genome, Genetics, and Genetic Mechanisms
• Plant Genetic Resources
• Plant Management Systems
• Basic Plant Biology
• Plant Protection
• Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants
• Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants
• Weeds Affecting Plants
• Integrated Pest Management Systems
• Soil
• Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships
• Economics of Agricultural Production and Farm Management
• Weeds

Bibliography

Non-Peer Reviewed

• Niederholzer, F.; Ott, J., et al.; Jarvis-Shean, K.; Wheeler-Dykes, B.; Pierce, C.; Gyawaly, S.; Milliron, L.; Agyeman, D.; Murdock, J.; Long, P.; Davison, S.; Goodrich, B. (2024). 2024 Sample Costs to Establish an Orchard and Produce Almonds: Sacramento Valley. UC Davis Cost Studies. https://coststudyfiles.ucdavis.edu/2024/07/09/2024SacValleyAlmonds7.5.24.%20Final%20draft.pdf
• Wheeler-Dykes, Becky (2024). Almond Orchard Tasks. Pacific Nut Producer Magazine. Malcolm Media Ag Publishing. April.
• Wheeler-Dykes, Becky (2024). Can whole orchard recycling suppress weed establishment in new orchards? UC Weed Science Blog. UC ANR. Dec. 9. https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=61234
• Wheeler-Dykes, B.; Ferguson, L., et al.; Wang, M.; Drakakaki, G. (2024). Evaluating the effects of ACC on fruit removal force and harvest efficiency in California table olives. International Olive Sustainability Conference Proceedings. UC Davis Olive Center. September.
• Gordon, Phoebe; Duncan, Roger, et al.; Milliron, Luke; Alvarez Arredondo, Jocelyn; Caldera, Karla; Wheeler-Dykes, Becky; Ott, Jaime; Lampinen, Bruce; Kaur Brar, Ramandeep (2024). Field Evaluation of Almond Varieties: 2023-2024 Regional Variety Trials. Almond Board of California Research Report. https://fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu/almond-board-california-breeding-projects/regional-variety-trials/2023-2024-regional-variety-trials#top
• Reyes, C.; Ott, J., et al.; Wheeler-Dykes, B. (2024). Panel Discussion: Perspectives on Walnut Economics, a recap. Sacramento Valley Walnut Newsletter. July. https://www.sacvalleyorchards.com/walnuts/cost-and-expense-considerations/panel-discussion-perspectives-on-walnut-economics-a-recap/
• Reyes, Clarissa; Ott, Jaime, et al.; Wheeler-Dykes, Becky (2024). Perspectives on Walnut Economics Panel Discussions: A Recap. Sacramento Valley Walnut Newsletter.
• Wheeler-Dykes, Becky; Niederholzer, Franz (2024). Potassium Management Options in Prunes. Sacramento Valley Prune News. https://www.sacvalleyorchards.com/prunes/year-round-management-prunes/potassium-management-options/
• Wheeler-Dykes, Becky (2024). Pre-Bloom through March Almond Orchard Management Considerations. Sacramento Valley Almond News. Reprinted by Pacific Nut Producer magazine.
• Wheeler-Dykes, Becky (2024). Roller Crimping – A Cover Crop Termination Option. Sacramento Valley Walnut Newsletter. Reprinted by Pacific Nut Producer magazine. Sept 23. https://www.sacvalleyorchards.com/blog/almonds-blog/roller-crimping-a-cover-crop-termination-option/
• Wheeler-Dykes, Becky; Niederholzer, Franz (2024). Spring and Early Summer Orchard Considerations. Sacramento Valley Prune News.
• Wheeler-Dykes, Becky (2024). Walnut Orchard Tasks. Pacific Nut Producer Magazine. Malcolm Media Ag Publishing. November.
• Wheeler-Dykes, B.; Reyes, C., et al.; Rosecrance, R.; Milliron, L.; Brown, P.J. (2023). California State University Chico walnut variety & selection trial. California Walnut Research Reports. https://fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu/collaborators/california-walnut-board/reports/2023/california-state-university-chico-walnut-variety
• Wheeler-Dykes, Becky (2023). Introducing a Butte County Walnut Variety Trial. Sacramento Valley Orchard Source Website. Reprinted in Pacific Nut Producer Website, October 2023. September 25. https://www.sacvalleyorchards.com/walnuts/horticulture-walnuts/introducing-a-new-variety-trial/
• Wheeler-Dykes, B.; Rosecrance, R., et al.; Milliron, L.; Niederholzer, F. (2023). Mechanical Pruning Trial in ‘French’ Prune – Through Year Four. February 10. http://cebutte.ucanr.edu/newsletters/Prune_Notes99250.pdf
• Rosecrance, R.; Wheeler-Dykes, B., et al.; Milliron, L.; Niederholzer, F.; Caldera, K.; Reyes, C. (2023). Mechanical Pruning Trial in 'French' Prune. California Prune Research Reports. https://fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu/collaborators/california-prune-board/reports/2023/mechanical-pruning-trial-french-prune
• Wheeler-Dykes, Becky (2023). Post-Harvest Almond Orchard Considerations. Sacramento Valley Almond News. UCCE Glenn. Reprinted in Pacific Nut Producer Website, October 2023; reprinted on California Ag Network Website, October 2023. Fall.
• Wheeler-Dykes, Becky; Milliron, Luke (2023). Replanting Prunes Back into Prunes. Sacramento Valley Prune News. UCCE Glenn. Fall.
• Brown, P.J.; Leslie, C., et al.; McCreery, K.; Menendez Diz, L.; Uebelhor, Z.; Tracy, I.; Lee, S.; Lewis, F.; Hackett, W.; Bermudez, I.; McAdam, M.; Smathers, M.; Davis, M.; Yen, J.; Toska, D.; Hernandez Santana, M.; Thom, M.; Vaia, G.; Hasey, J.; Jarvis-Shean, K.; Milliron, L.; Reyes, C.; Wheeler-Dykes, B.; Rosecrance, R.; Browne, G.; Dandekar, A.; Assis, R.; Feinberg, N.J.; Debernardi, J.; Tricoli, D.; Kluepfel, D.; Langley, C.; Monroe, G.; Sudarshana, S.; Wang, S.; Westphal, A.; Zaini, P. (2023). Walnut improvement program 2023. California Walnut Research Reports. https://fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu/collaborators/california-walnut-board/reports/2023/walnut-improvement-program-2023
• Wheeler-Dykes, B.; Reyes, C., et al.; Rosecrance, R.; Milliron, L.; Brown, P.J. (2022). California State Univeristy Chico Walnut Variety and Selection Trial. California Walnut Research Reports. https://fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu/collaborators/california-walnut-board/reports/2022/california-state-university-chico-walnut-variety
• Rosecrance, R.; Wheeler-Dykes, R., et al.; Milliron, L.; Reyes, C. (2022). Mechanical Hedging of Prunes with Rich Rosecrance and Becky Wheeler-Dykes. Growing the Valley Podcast. August 31. https://www.growingthevalleypodcast.com/podcastfeed/prunehedge
• Wheeler-Dykes, R.; Rosecrance, R., et al.; Milliron, L.; Niederholzer, F. (2022). Mechanical Pruning Trial in ‘French’ Prune – Through Year Three. Sacramento Valley Orchard Source Website. https://www.sacvalleyorchards.com/prunes/year-round-management-prunes/mechanical-pruning-in-french/
• Rosecrance, R.; Wheeler-Dykes, B., et al.; Milliron, L.; Niederholzer, F.; Reyes, C. (2022). Mechanical Pruning Trial in 'French' Prune. California Prune Research Reports. https://fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu/collaborators/california-prune-board/reports/2022/mechanical-pruning-trial-french-prune
• Wheeler-Dykes, Becky (2022). Pre-harvest Management of Brown Rot. Sacramento Valley Prune News. August. https://www.sacvalleyorchards.com/prunes/diseases-prunes/pre-harvest-management-of-brown-rot/

ANR Workgroup Associations

• Pest Management in ANR - Member
• Walnut - Member
• Weed - Member

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