TriCal – TriCal, Inc.

What Can We Learn From New Zealand? Pic-Plus Trial Shows Positive Results in Stone Fruit

Posted on October 6, 2026October 5, 2026 by Cat Reyes

What can stone fruit growers learn from a soil fumigation trial in New Zealand? A recent Pic-Plus soil fumigation trial in a replanted peach orchard in Bay View, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, showed positive results, including greater early tree growth and measurable changes in the soil microbiome. The results provide an interesting look at the role of soil fumigation in orchard replanting. Stronger Early […]

Investing in the Future of Crop Protection: Meet the 2026 Storkan-Hanes-McCaslin Research Foundation Award Winners

Posted on September 2, 2026August 28, 2026 by Cat Reyes

TriCal, Inc. is proud to congratulate Nabin Poudel of the University of Georgia and Shiv Singla of the University of Delaware on being named the 2026 Storkan-Hanes-McCaslin Research Foundation Award winners. This year, two students were selected for the award in recognition of research focused on important challenges facing crop production and plant health. Their […]

WHAT OUR LATEST RESEARCH MEANS FOR YOUR SWEETPOTATO CROP

Posted on August 25, 2026August 20, 2026 by Kristi Sanchez

By: Dr Kristi Sanchez and Dr. Jeff Chieppa As growers, you make decisions every season that impact not only this year’s harvest but the long-term productivity of your fields. One of the questions I hear most often is, “Will soil fumigation sterilize my soil?” It is a fair question, and one that deserves a science-based […]

Why TriCal Supports the Healthy Plants Foundation

Posted on June 23, 2026June 11, 2026 by Jena Francis

At TriCal, our mission has always been rooted in helping growers produce healthy crops through science-based solutions that support productivity, stewardship, and long-term sustainability. That’s why we’re proud to support the Healthy Plants Foundation and its parent organization, Western Plant Health. The challenges facing agriculture today are complex. Growers are tasked with producing more food […]

Celebrating 65 Years of TriCal, Inc.

Posted on May 11, 2026June 2, 2026 by Cat Reyes

On May 11, 1961, TriCal, Inc. officially began operations in California. Sixty-five years later, we are proud to celebrate a legacy rooted in agriculture. From the beginning, our focus has been simple. Support growers with science-based solutions, strong partnerships, and a commitment to doing the job right. Over the decades, that commitment has grown into […]

Plasticulture Basics Part 2: Broadcast Film and Barrier Technology in Soil Fumigation

Posted on April 1, 2026March 31, 2026 by Cat Reyes

Understanding Whole Field Applications While row mulch is installed on individual planting beds, broadcast film is used differently. It covers an entire field during a fumigation application from edge to edge. Broadcast film plays a critical role in soil fumigation programs, particularly in large-scale cropping systems where uniform treatment is essential. At TriCal, Inc., we […]

Plasticulture Basics Part 1: Understanding Row Mulch in Agriculture

Posted on March 30, 2026March 28, 2026 by Cat Reyes

A TriCal, Inc. Perspective Growers across the country rely on plasticulture systems to improve consistency, efficiency, and overall crop performance. One of the most widely used tools in these systems is row mulch, a plastic film installed over planting beds to enhance soil conditions and protect developing crops. Those long rows of black, white, or […]

Behind the Work: A Look Inside TriCal, Inc.

Posted on February 2, 2026January 31, 2026 by Cat Reyes

After sharing a few previews over the past several weeks, we are excited to officially release the full TriCal, Inc. Overview Video. This video offers a closer look at who we are, what we do, and the people and purpose behind our work. TriCal, Inc. has long been committed to supporting agriculture through science-based solutions, […]

Pistachio Soil Fumigation Research: Expanding into a Key California Crop

Posted on October 25, 2025October 15, 2025 by Kristi Sanchez

Pistachios have become a major area of focus as we expand soil fumigation research into new crop markets. Nearly all U.S. pistachios, about 99%, are grown in California, with production centered in the San Joaquin Valley. The region’s hot, dry climate creates ideal growing conditions, supporting both high yields and consistent quality. This strong regional […]

Ag News: A blog by Dr. Mike Stanghellini, Dr. Kristi Sanchez & Guests

Our Authors

Dr. Mike Stanghellini
Director of Research & Regulatory Affairs Dr. Mike Stanghellini received a dual-major Ph.D. in Entomology and Horticultural Science with a minor in Plant Pathology from North Carolina State University. Since 2005, he has served as the TriCal liaison to federal, state, and international regulatory agencies, agrochemical companies, grower organizations, and third-party research entities. Mike directs and supervises our research on product defense, new product registration, and lab/field research on soil fumigants, novel products, and non-fumigant soil pest control tactics.

Dr. Kristi Sanchez
Senior Researcher and Nematologist Dr. Kristi Sanchez received her Ph. D. in Plant Pathology, specializing in Nematology, from the University of California, Davis. She has over a decade of combined research and field experience with UC Davis, the agrichemical industry, and the Plant Pest Diagnostics Center with the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Kristi’s expertise includes pest management of nematodes, morphological and molecular diagnostics of plant parasitic nematodes, and the development of experimental assays for nematode studies in the lab and field. Kristi is a regular invited speaker on topics related to soil health, nematode control, and integrated pest management in orchards.