Another annoying thing is when my leaf mulcher/bagger picks up a piece of shell and jambs it.

Interesting info about things that you'd probably never know if you weren't in the biz. Thank you for sharing.

My trac-vac will pick up the whole nut if a blade of the mower makes contact. It makes a lot of noise going through the fan...but it never has jambed it.

Here's a pic of the tree that I took today...it's already lost most of it's leafs.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1665773080.jpg

Trimming trees can reduce next seasons crop depending upon when Trimming is done and how much of the new buds are on what's cut. Walnut nut trees produce catkins which get pollinated and become the nuts. We have several pollinator trees in orchard for that.

Our place is really small compared to the major groves in Northern California. We produce enough to pay the growing costs, most of the time, and keep us in agricultural preserve. Ag preserve reduces property taxes on the part of the property that's actually farmed. Property has been in wife's family since mid 70's.

Three family households help run everything but we all have full time jobs off property. That's what pays our family bills and my Boxster running.

^^^ hmm...that makes me wonder. About 100 ft away from this black walnut tree is a smaller english walnut tree in my yard.
Could getting rid of the smaller tree stop the one pictured from growing walnuts?

My neighbor across the road from the tree has several walnut trees also...so it might be a lost cause.