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Honeybees are in high demand this time of year and are worth a lot. There have already been reports this year of stolen bee hives, so Bee sure to protect your investment and keep a watchful eye out during orchard pollination. Watch this brief interview with Billy Synk from Project Apis, and learn more in your monthly issue of Pacific Nut Producer & California Fresh Fruit Magazines.
Tulare, Calif., (February 14, 2017) – In order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements, all producers are encouraged to visit the Tulare County FSA office to file an accurate crop certification report by the applicable deadline.
The following acreage reporting dates are applicable for Tulare County:
March 15, 2017 – Alfalfa Seed, Almonds, Barley, Cherries, Oats, Olives, Pears, Pistachios, Plums, Walnuts, Wheat
May 15, 2017 – Grapes and Table Grapes
June 15, 2017 – Forage Seeding
July 15, 2017 – Spring Alfalfa Seed, Spring Seeded Barley, Corn, Cotton, Grain Sorghum, Onions, Safflower and all other crops
July 31, 2017 – Raisins
December 15, 2017 – Alfalfa for Forage, Native Grass for Grazing
The following exceptions apply to the above acreage reporting dates:
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) policy holders should note that the acreage reporting date for NAP covered crops is the earlier of the dates listed above or 15 calendar days before grazing or harvesting of the crop begins.
For questions regarding crop certification and a complete list of crops and crop loss reports, please contact the Tulare County FSA office at 559-734-8732.
Sacramento, Calif., (February 9, 2017) – California’s merchandise export trade concluded 2016 with an exceptionally strong showing in December, posting a nominal 9.3 percent gain over the same month in 2015.
According to a Beacon Economics analysis of U.S. trade statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau, foreign shipments by California businesses totaled $14.04 billion for the month, a robust increase over the $12.85 billion recorded in December 2015. For the year, the state’s exports totaled $163.62 billion compared to $165.37 billion recorded one year earlier.
“After a sluggish start to the year, export numbers picked up in the spring and, despite a strong dollar, finished the year briskly,” said Jock O’Connell, Beacon Economics’ International Trade Advisor.
The state’s exports of manufactured goods in December increased by 8.6 percent to $9.05 billion from $8.33 billion one year earlier. Exports of non-manufactured goods (chiefly agricultural products and raw materials) jumped 14.1 percent, to $1.70 billion from $1.49 billion. Re-exports, meanwhile, rose 9.3 percent to $3.29 billion from $3.01 billion.
For the year as a whole, the state’s manufactured export trade amounted to $103.41 billion, 2.9 percent shy of the previous year’s $106.50 billion. Non-manufactured shipments totaled $19.79 billion, off one percent from $19.99 billion one year prior. Re-exports hit $40.42 billion exceeding last year’s total of $38.88 billion by a four percent margin.
“If you consider that the value of the dollar was at its highest in over a dozen years in 2016, it shouldn’t be surprising that California’s exports last year fell short of 2015,” said Robert Kleinhenz, Economist and Executive Director at Beacon Economics.
Note – The latest comprehensive Ag export data for California (for 2015) are available here.
Link to full California Trade Report
Fresno, Calif., (February 8, 2017) – Heavy rains continued in January promoting vigorous growth in barley, triticale, wheat and winter forage. Fields have been fertilized, and herbicides applied. Dry-land barley have been planted and showing good growth.
The rains have put much of the fieldwork on hold, waiting for drier conditions. Between storms, growers reshaped beds, and added soil amendments for the next round of field crops. Sheep continue to graze in some alfalfa fields when other fields received areal herbicide treatments to control weeds in wet fields. First cuttings of alfalfa are rapidly approaching in Sanger district.
Working around storms, growers continued to prune, disc, and apply herbicides to orchards. Around the County dormant sprays were being applied between storm systems. In the Sanger and Selma Districts, early varieties of nectarines and peaches started to bloom. Almond buds are swelling in Sanger and Huron, loads of beehives were moved in. Work continues in the vineyards with pruning, tying, and herbicide applications. Around the County orchards and vineyards continue to be taken out, replaced with almonds and pistachios. Almonds, Asian pears, dry apricots, dry cranberry, dry figs, dry prunes, pecans, raisins, and walnuts were exported to; Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and Viet Nam. Kiwi were exported to Guatemala, Japan, and Taiwan. Peruvian and Chilean grapes were re-exported to Canada
Preparation for spring planting has started in a few fields with weeding, discing, irrigation repair, and formation of rows taking place. Field fumigations for eggplant, strawberries, and tomatoes had started in some districts but most were on hold due to ground saturation from recent rains. Garlic and onion planting have all emerged and show good growth. Broccoli is growing steadily in Firebaugh, while asparagus fields were topped and shredded for spring harvest. Harvesting of carrots and daikon continued. Broccoli, cilantro, kale, mustard, and leaf lettuce was planted for seed production. Onion and lettuce seed were exported to Germany, Japan, and republic of Korea. Blueberries started showing signs of swelling buds in Selma district, when other areas remain dormant.
January had a few nights with below freezing temperatures but so far, no significant freeze damage has been reported in the districts. Rain also delayed citrus harvest in many districts but exports are steady. Around the storms, fungicide applications took place in many citrus orchards. Grapefruit, lemons, mandarins, Navel oranges, pummelos, tangelos, and tangerines were exported to; Chile, China, Ecuador, Fiji, Guatemala, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Tonga. Olive groves underwent discing, and herbicide applications to control weeds.
The rain has had a huge impact on the rangeland, creating favorable conditions for grazing livestock. Sheep continue to graze on dormant alfalfa and fallow fields. In Huron district, cattle are being shipped out for processing. With the almonds and stone fruit starting to bud, beehives were brought in from out of state to be placed in orchards for pollination.
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2016 Oregon hazelnut harvest started off promising and successful, but back to back rainstorms turned harvest into a nightmare for many growers with crop still in the field. Watch this video interview with Matt Schuster and Austin Chapin for more details on the harvest and what growers can do looking ahead for a better 2017. Read more in your monthly issue of Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
Sacramento, Calif., (February 7, 2017) – The week began with high pressure over the Great Basin. By mid-week an onshore surge of moisture associated with a Pacific northwestern system arrived. A brief break occurred on Saturday between systems before a second Pacific northwestern storm brought additional precipitation to the State on Sunday.
Widespread rains and snow fell across the northern two thirds of the State last week, with Monday and Tuesday being dry statewide. On Saturday, rain was confined to an area centered between Sacramento and Redding with amounts reaching up to a quarter of an inch. On all other days, light to moderate rains fell across the State. Most places in the valley received one and half to two inches of rain, with around one inch in the southern valley. Coastal locations received one to two inches of rain, with the Los Angeles basin receiving between half and one inches. The deserts largely missed out on the rains. Additional snowfall in the mountains were just under two feet in most of the northern and central Sierras, with one foot being the norm in the southern Sierras. The northwestern coastal ranges received up to six inches of new snow. Temperatures were cool enough to result in overall growth of the snowpack except at low elevations and latitudes.
Temperature highs were in the 30s to 50s in the mountains, 50s to 60s in the valley and along the coast, and 50s to 70s in the desert. The temperature lows were in the 0s to 30s in the mountains, 30s to 40s in the valley and along the coast, and 30s to 50s in the desert.
Growers continued to wait for fields to dry out sufficiently to resume planting winter grains and other crops. The planted grains and field crops continued to mature at an excellent rate, reaping the benefit of the recent rain, and now sunshine. Black-eyed beans were exported.
Orchards in the San Joaquin Valley began to dry out, allowing for some orchard pruning and new planting of trees where the ground had been previously prepared for planting. Pre-bloom sprays were applied to some stone fruit. Pruning, tying, berm sanitation, and brush shredding were starting up again as vineyards and orchards dried. In drier locations the removal of older orchards and vineyards continued in preparation for replanting with new varieties. The Navel orange harvest picked up with the clear weather. Satsuma tangerines continued to be harvested.
As field conditions permitted, orchards continued to be pruned and brushed. Some late dormant sprays were applied. Almond buds were popping and swelling in the Southern San Joaquin Valley.
Winter vegetables continued to mature. Harvest resumed in some areas when weather permitted. In Madera County, weed control was ongoing for tomatoes. Application of herbicides to mature onions occurred. Carrot harvest was about 50 percent complete.
Non-irrigated pasture and rangeland continued to green up in response to the much needed precipitation and warming temperatures. Range were reported to be in excellent to good condition. Sheep grazed idle fields and dormant alfalfa fields. Supplemental feeding of livestock continued but not to the extent of recent months. Where field conditions permitted, bee hives were staged in preparation for the pending bloom season.
Tulare, Calif., (February 6, 2017) – The Tulare County Board of Supervisors held a public forum on January 30 for local walnut growers, processors, agents and buyers to meet and discuss the county Nut Theft ordinance, and the consideration of changes which may help improve the ordinance and deter theft.
County officials from law enforcement, the district attorney, agriculture commissioner’s office, and Board of Supervisors had representatives present to answer questions.
The Board of Supervisors will review the county nut ordinance and suggest revisions, a public hearing would be held for those interested.
It was suggested that a full countywide prohibition be enforced, and no cash buying allowed. It was suggested that buyers could still buy nuts using checks or credit cards, but only during the allowable window of time determined by the Ag Commissioner at the conclusion of the Chandler walnut harvest in late November.
Questions about the current ordinance may be directed to the Ag Commissioner’s office, at 684-3350 or suggested improvements may be voiced to Samantha Ferrero at 636-5000. If you wish to be noticed about the Public Hearing to be held once the ordinance is revised, you may ask Samantha Ferrero with the Board of Supervisors to notify you.
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Winter is one of the best times to control your pocket gopher populations in the field. Watch this video as Mike Konda from the Fresno County Ag Department shares a few tips on managing them in the vineyard or orchard, and subscribe to the California Ag Network You Tube Channel to learn more about pest management on the farm.
Sacramento, Calif., (February 2, 2017) – In 2015 California’s farms and ranches received approximately $47 billion for their output. This represents a decrease of nearly 17 percent compared to 2014. California remains the leading US state in cash farm receipts.
California’s agricultural abundance includes more than 400 commodities. Over a third of the country’s vegetables and two-thirds of the country’s fruits and nuts are grown in California. California’s top-10 valued commodities for 2015 are:
Agricultural Exports: In 2015, California exported approximately 26 percent of its agricultural production by volume, accounting for $20.69 billion in value. California’s leading agricultural export products by value are almonds ($5.14 billion), dairy products ($1.63 billion), walnuts ($1.49 billion), wine ($1.48 billion), and pistachios ($848 million).
Statistics: California agricultural statistics derive primarily from the United States Department of Agriculture/National Agricultural Statistics Services (USDA/NASS) reports. The California Department of Food and Agriculture also publishes statistics related to California dairy production and, in cooperation with the University of California at Davis, statistics for California agricultural exports. For most timely research into California dairy statistics, please see our dairy pages under Division of Marketing Services. Please see also links in the right hand column for USDA National Agricultural Statistics and Economic Research Service reporting. For county-level reporting please see the CDFA County Liaison site.
Annual crop year reports have been reproduced below for your convenience. Export reports are typically published within the corresponding crop year report. While data is made available throughout the year, crop year and export reports are published typically about one year following the given crop year.