California Ag Network

Category: Nut Industry

  • California Crop/Weather Report Week Ending October 21, 2018

    WEATHER
    Low pressure aloft across the state led to cool conditions through midweek. Temperatures rested at below to near normal levels during the first half of the week. By midweek, the low pressure aloft moved toward the east allowing for high pressure to build over the region. This allowed for a warming trend to develop in which temperatures were expected to rise to above normal levels. The warm conditions continued until Sunday, when the high pressure began to weaken and allowed for temperatures to begin to cool.

    Temperature highs ranged from the upper lower 60s to mid 70s in the Sierras, upper 50s to low 80s in the mountains, the lower 60s to upper 80s along the coast, low 70s to upper 90s in the desert, and mid 70s to mid 80s in Central Valley. Temperature lows ranged from the upper 20s to lower 50s in the Sierras, upper 30s to upper 60s in the desert, upper 30s to low 50s in the mountains, mid 40s to upper 50s in the Central Valley, and mid 50s to lower 60s along the coast.

    FIELD CROPS
    In the Sacramento Valley, rice, safflower, and corn harvest continued. Sunflowers, beans, and rice continued to be harvested in Sutter. In Tulare cottonharvest continued, alfalfa was cut and baled, and corn and sorghum was harvested for silage.

    FRUIT CROPS
    Table and wine grape harvest continued. Late variety grapes were covered to protect from rain. Raisin grapes were harvested and laid out for sun drying, while dried raisins were picked up. Asian pears, apples, plums, pomegranates, and quince were harvested. Stone fruit harvest was wrapping up for the season. Some old stone fruit orchards were torn out for replacement with new trees. Persimmons were maturing well and developing external color. Oliveharvest continued. Lemons were harvested in Tulare County. Finger lime and Valencia orange harvest continued. Citrus groves were skirted, hedge-rowed and irrigated. Pushed out citrus groves were prepared for planting.

    NUT CROPS
    Almond harvest was wrapping up for the year. Pistachio harvest continued. Walnut harvest was underway in some locations. Harvested orchards were cleaned and young trees were irrigated.

    VEGETABLE CROPS
    Cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes were still being harvested in Tulare County. In the Sacramento Valley, processing tomatoes continued to be harvested. Brassica and lettuce continued to be harvested in Monterey County.

    LIVESTOCK
    Rangeland and non-irrigated pasture remained in poor condition. More precipitation is needed for fall grass germination. Cattle continued to be provided supplemental feed.

    Please be advised, the Weekly Crop Progress and Condition Report’s Weather Data Tables may be discontinued for budget reasons. This includes the possibility of discontinuing the weather data narratives and graphics. Please contact the Pacific Regional Field Office (916-738-6600) with comments regarding this issue. The Weekly Crop Progress and Condition Report’s Crop Progress and Condition data will remain and be available.

  • US Trade Mitigation Package Direct Payments for Almonds

    The Almond Alliance of California appreciates the efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish the procedures required to provide direct payments to almond growers to help offset some of the damage being incurred due to the retaliatory tariffs imposed by China and Turkey. As announced today by Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, growers of California almonds are now eligible to apply for direct payments of $.03 per pound as part of the $12 billion mitigation package announced earlier this month. The damage assessment figure assigned to almonds is $63.3 million.
    The announcement is a result of the industry coming together and advocating through the Almond Alliance of California (AAC). Elaine Trevino, President/CEO of AAC said “Industry members should be proud that through a unified effort they were able to have their voices heard and be acknowledged for their contribution to the national economy, along with the significant role they play in the international market place.”
    The almond industry has been significantly impacted by retaliatory tariffs and the inclusion of the commodity in the USDA trade mitigation package is a result of a vocal industry and the support and hard work of California’s congressional delegation. Trevino noted, “The direct payment program reflects the hard work of Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Chairman Jeff Denham who led the congressional effort including Congressmen Costa, Valadao, Nunes, LaMalfa, Pannetta and Senators Harris and Feinstein. Their combined efforts and leadership helped ensure that the California almond industry received direct payments within the specific program guidelines. We are thankful that our congressional delegation worked hard for our industry and acknowledged the importance of almonds to the California and U.S. economy.”
    Producers of almonds can sign up for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), which is a direct payment program for eligible almond growers who have been directly impacted by retaliatory tariffs, resulting in significant export losses. The MFP is established under the statutory authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act and is under the administration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA). There are specific eligibility requirements that must be met by an applicant and the maximum payment per applicant is $125,000. Eligible almond growers may apply for MFP September 24, 2018 through January 15, 2019.
    Almonds are one of California’s top three valued commodities and the leading agricultural export.  The California almond industry exports 67% of what it produces.  With exports of nearly $4.5 billion in 2017, the California almond industry contributes significantly to the longstanding trade surplus generated by American agriculture. While the mitigation initiatives are helpful, they will not begin to approach the anticipated economic losses and long-term impact these retaliatory tariffs will have on the industry’s trade relationships and the considerable investments made over the years to create market demand in China and Turkey. Trevino pointed out, “We remain hopeful for a quick resolution to the broader trade disputes with these trading partners to ensure open and fair trade so consumers around the globe can continue to enjoy California almonds.”
    For more Information:
    For more information about the MFP program, visit www.farmers.gov/MFP or contact your local FSA office. To find your local FSA office, visit www.farmers.gov.
    ​​​​​​​
    About the Almond Alliance of California
    The Almond Alliance of California (AAC) is a trusted non-profit organization with a mission of advocating on behalf of the Almond industry in California. AAC actively advocates for the positions of almond growers, hullers, shellers, handers and processors, while educating the industry about upcoming and existing regulatory changes.  Through workshops, newsletters, conferences and meetings, AAC serves as a clearing house of information that informs the almond industry and continues to position the industry as an agricultural leader in the state. 

  • Almond Board on International Trade War Impact

    The California almond industry relies heavily on exports, and with a crop that continues to grow in volume every year, expanding those markets in the future will be critical. On the contrary, with the lack of resolution to the current international trade disputations, and now almond harvest well underway, the industry is naturally very concerned about how these issues will impact the marketing of this crop. Watch this brief interview with the Richard Waycott, President & CEO of the Almond Board for his insights on the topic. Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • TULARE COUNTY CROP REPORT – For week ending September 8, 2018

    SMALL GRAINS, OTHER FIELD CROPS:
    Corn and sorghum continue to be harvested for silage. Alfalfa cutting and baling for hay continues. Cotton is in bloom with bolls being set.

    DECIDUOUS TREE FRUITS, NUTS, AND GRAPES:

    The stone fruit season continues on. Peaches, nectarines, and plums continue to be exported to Mexico, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Peru, Taiwan, Panama, Colombia, Guatemala, the Philippines, and China. Apricots continue to be exported to Mexico and Australia. Early hand- pruning is taking place in some stone-fruit orchards after harvest. Some stone fruit orchard blocks are being removed after harvest to make way for new plantings. Almond harvest continues, with exports going to Korea, India, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Japan, Germany, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Spain, and Trinidad & Tobago. It is currently the middle of harvest season for pistachios, with nuts being exported to Israel, Italy, Vietnam, and Hong Kong. To the north, pistachios continue to develop. Table grapes are being shipped domestically, as well as exported to Australia, Taiwan, Guatemala, El Salvador, Malaysia, the Philippines, Honduras, Mexico, Costa Rica, Japan, Colombia, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Korea, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Thailand. Raisin grapes are being picked for sun-drying, with raisin beds being prepared. Pears are being exported to El Salvador and Mexico. Persimmons continue to mature and develop external color. Pomegranate harvest is underway. Walnuts continue to develop.

    CITRUS, AVOCADOS, AND OLIVES:

    Valencia oranges are still being packed for domestic markets and some exports to China, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, and Mexico. Limes are being exported to New Zealand. Development and maturation of olives continues. Citrus groves are being hedged and thinning of fruit continues. Pushed-out citrus groves continue to be prepared for planting, and some are now being replaced with young trees.

    VEGETABLES, MELONS, HERBS, BERRIES:

    Various summer vegetables continue to be grown and sold at roadside stands and farmer’smarkets, including assorted peppers, squash, Zucchini, eggplant, cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelons, and cantaloupes.

    LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY:

    Pasture conditions are poor. Supplemental feeding with hay and/or grain continues. The fed cattle price is at $109 per cwt.

    ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Fall shipments of nursery stock from local wholesale nurseries continue. Roses are being exported to Lebanon. Most citrus groves, tree fruit, nut tree orchards and row crops are being irrigated.

    Prepared by:
    Marilyn Wright
    Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer

  • Irrigation Tips to Mitigate Almond Hull Rot & Bark Damage

    The posting of this video is a little belated as almond harvest has already begun, but if you’ve had hull rot issues this season, be sure to watch this brief video interview with Nut Crops Advisor Mae Culumber as she provides some tips to prevent hull rot and trunk damage through better irrigation practices, as explained at a mid-July Nut & Vine Irrigation seminar at the UC Cooperative Extension office in Fresno.  Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.  Culumber will also be addressing almond growers at the Annual Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo coming up on November 13th at the Big Fresno Fairgrounds, so be sure to attend!

  • Introducing New American Pecan Council Executive Director Alex Ott

    Attention pecan growers: Executive Director of the California Apple Commission, California Blueberry Commission & California Olive Committee, has taken up roots and moved to Texas to assume the new position of Executive Director of the American Pecan Council, effective July 1, 2018. Ott brings 14 years of experience working with federal and state marketing orders and various export programs to support California’s apple, olive, kiwifruit and blueberry industries.  Watch his video introduction and read more about him and the work of the council in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • Dealing with Wild Pig Pests on the Farm

    Farmers are used to dealing with insect pest and small furry rodents, but how about wild pigs? Now, this is a more common issue in some areas more than others; nonetheless, pigs can wreak a lot of havoc in vineyards, orchards and field crops, so exploring your management options is key.  Watch this brief interview with Julie Finzel from the UC Cooperative Extension as she provides some recommendations for growers.

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  • Almond Objective Forecast Shared at Hilltop Ranch Luncheon

    The California Almond Objective Forecast for the 2018 crop year was released just after the Fourth of July at 2.45 billion pounds.  Growers listened in on the broadcasted announcement as they enjoyed a nice lunch at Hilltop Ranch in Ballico, CA.  Watch this brief interview with the Long family at Hilltop Ranch and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • USDA-FSA Approves Pistachio Bushy Top Syndrome for Natural Disaster Assistance

    Pistachio Bushy Top Syndrome has caused a lot of economic injury and heartache to the western pistachio industry over the last several years.  Thankfully, the USDA Farm Service Agency recently announced approval of Bushy Top as a natural disaster qualifying for coverage under the federal Tree Assistance Program for replacement of affected trees.  Watch this brief interview with Richard Matoian from American Pistachio Growers as he explains and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • California Pistachio Crop Update: Summer 2018

    What started off as a potentially disastrous year for the pistachio industry is now shaping up to potentially be one of the largest crops ever for California growers.  Watch this brief interview with Richard Matoian from American Pistachio Growers as he provides an update on the crop and invites growers to APG’s Summer Luncheon this week.  Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.