A new governor, a new year, and lots of rain and snow! It’s going to be an interesting year for California farmers and what kind of support they may or may not receive on the water front. Check out this brief interview with Mike Wade from the California Farm Water Coalition for his insights and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
As growers have experienced a wet winter and early spring, it may be a little more difficult to determine exactly when to start irrigating their young pistachio trees. In some cases, they might also notice what appears to be a boron deficiency as the young trees start leafing out, which might actually just be a symptom of too much water in the soil. Watch this interview with UCCE Farm Advisor Emeritus Bob Beede as he explains, and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
Over 100 organizations representing water and agricultural interests in the Western U.S. urged Congress today to use any infrastructure package under consideration to help address severe hydrological conditions in the West.
“As a nation we must continually invest in the Western water infrastructure necessary to meet current and future demands,” the groups stated in a letter sent to key congressional committees and Western senators. “Our existing water infrastructure in the West is aging and in need of rehabilitation and improvement.”
President Trump has said infrastructure might be one area that both political parties in the 116th Congress can agree upon. The Democratic Party’s to-do list also includes an ambitious infrastructure program. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OREGON) – one of the recipients of the letter – now chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he intends to lead efforts to produce a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure bill to fund transportation and water projects.
“As water flows down from the Colorado Rockies – not unlike the water wheels of days gone by – it still drives the economies of thousands of communities on its way to the ocean,” said Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association President Robert Sakata. “As we ask more of this precious resource, we can’t ignore the creaks and groans from outdated infrastructure, as well as the offerings of new technologies to improve water use efficiency.”
“The recent wet weather notwithstanding, we know that persistent drought conditions in the western United States are the new normal,” said Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif. “For this reason, our nation must invest, in earnest, in the long-term security of our water supplies in the West.”
The letter underscores that water conservation, water recycling, watershed management, conveyance, desalination, water transfers, groundwater storage, and surface storage are all needed in a diversified management portfolio.
“We need you to ensure that Western water users have every tool available to survive and recover from years of drought and to prepare for the hard, dry years the future may hold,” the letter states. “We call upon each of you to push forward on infrastructure and in so doing you must use any infrastructure package to not only address our nation’s chronic needs surrounding roads and bridges, but to also include water infrastructure needs for storage and conveyance.”
California Farm Service Agency Stands Ready to Assist Agricultural Producers Slammed by Recent Heavy Rains
California Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farmers and ranchers across the state of federal farm program benefits that may be available to help eligible producers recover from recent heavy rains and flooding.
FSA offers disaster assistance and low-interest loan programs to assist agricultural producers in their recovery efforts following floods or similar qualifying natural disasters. Available programs and loans include:
ELAP also covers up to 150 lost grazing days in instances when a producer has been forced to remove livestock from a grazing pasture due to floodwaters. For beekeepers, ELAP covers beehive losses (the physical structure) in instances where the hive has been destroyed by a natural disaster including flooding, high winds and tornadoes.
To establish or retain FSA program eligibility, farmers and ranchers must report prevented planting and failed acres (crops and grasses). Prevented planting acreage must be reported on form FSA-576, Notice of Loss, no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting date as established by FSA and Risk Management Agency (RMA).
For more information on disaster assistance programs and loans visit www.fsa.usda.gov/ or contact your local FSA Office. To find your local FSA county office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.
Pecan harvest in California is well underway, but let’s take a look at what’s going on currently on the national scale, as it will have an impact on the California pecan market. Check out this brief interview report with Alex Ott, Executive Director of the American Pecan Council, who also provided an update on the Hurricane impact on the Georgia pecan industry. Stay current on what’s going on in the pecan industry by reading Pacific Nut Producer Magazine. Don’t currently receive the magazine? Subscribe for free at: https://malcolmmedia.com/pacific-nut-producer-magazine-subscriptions/.
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.