California Ag Network

Tag: Tulare

  • Tulare County Reports on Current Crop Status

    Visalia, Calif., (January 19, 2018) – Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner released the current status today of Major crops in the most valued county in the California Ag portfolio. They report that Winter forage crops, such as wheat, barley, other cereal grains and forage mixes, continue to be planted where the ground allows. Persistent fog and rain late in the week will reduce the need for irrigation. As always more rain is needed in the weeks to follow. Shipments of corn seed are being received in preparation for spring planting.

    The last of the stored table grapes continue to be exported to China and Mexico. Persimmon harvest was slow, with export demand primarily to Mexico. Kiwifruit are being sent to domestic markets and exported to Mexico. Pistachio nuts continue to be exported to Austria, Hong Kong, India, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Turkey, and Vietnam. Almonds continue to be shipped to Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Sweden, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Walnuts are being exported to China. Pruning continues in vineyards, and the brush is being shredded. Dormant sprays are being applied as the weather allows. Some field activities in fruit and nut orchards have been put on hold as fog and rain makes accessibility difficult.

    Citrus harvest continues as the weather permits. Navel and Mandarin oranges continue to be exported to Australia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, and Peru. Navel oranges are trending towards larger sizes, with some packers having difficulty fulfilling orders for the smaller sizes. Pomelos are being harvested and sold domestically, as well as exported to China and Japan. Melogold hybrid grapefruit continue being exported to Japan. Lemon exports are in high demand for China, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, and New Zealand. Finger limes are still in high demand, with exports going to France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Olive growers continue to prune groves.

    Fields are being prepared and planted with winter vegetable crops, but activities have been on the slow side due to wet soils. Lettuce continues to benefit from the recent damp weather, and growth looks ideal. Strawberries are growing well at roadside stands. Blueberries are still being brought into the county for planting.

    This week’s rainfall will be beneficial for rangeland forage, but conditions are fair until more growth is seen. More rain is needed to help with germination and growth of rangeland forage. Supplemental feeding has been required. The fed cattle market price is holding at $120.00 per hundred weight this week.

    Bare-root roses are being received and processed for reshipment out-of-state, with exports to Canada. Bare-root berries are being received at wholesale nurseries Nursery shipments have slowed due to the winter weather conditions.

  • Tulare County Reports on Current Crop Status

    Visalia, Calif., (August 18, 2017) – Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner released the current status today of Major crops in the most valued county in the California Ag portfolio. They report that Alfalfa fields continue being irrigated, cut, and baled. Sorghum for silage is still being cultivated and irrigated. Corn silage is being harvested. Cotton continues to be irrigated, cultivated, and growing well. Cotton is blooming and forming bolls. Black-eyed beans are maturing and nearing harvest.

    Peaches, nectarines, and plums continue to be picked and shipped to both domestic and export markets. Stone fruit is being exported to Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, New Zealand, and Taiwan. Almond harvest is underway throughout the county. Last season’s almonds and pistachios are being exported to Colombia, Chile, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, and Vietnam. Both mechanical and chemical weed control continues in orchards. Asian pears are being exported to Colombia and El Salvador. Table grape harvest continues, with grapes are being exported to Australia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. All permanent plantings are being irrigated.

    Valencia orange harvest continues, primarily for the domestic market. Regreening continues to be a problem, due to the summer temperatures. Valencia oranges are being exported to China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan. Valencia oranges and Meyer lemons are being bagged for export to Mexico. Variegated lemons are being exported to China. Finger limes are being harvested and exported to France, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands. Olives continue to develop.

    Certified producers are picking tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers for sale at the local Farmer’s Markets. Yellow squash, Zucchini, eggplant, Bell peppers, green Chili peppers, and cucumbers are being harvested and shipped domestically. Sweet corn harvest is continuing and available at roadside stands and the local Farmer’s Markets.

    Low elevation rangeland continues to dry and conditions are fair to good, but quality is continuing to decrease. Cattle are still being moved to higher elevations. The higher elevations are providing more grass than previous years. Feed costs for cattle remains high. The fed cattle market price is up to $118.00 per hundred weight.

    Nursery shipments are slowing overall. Wholesale nursery shipments to Canada and domestic markets have decreased due to the hot summer temperatures. Small amounts of citrus nursery stock continue to be sold. Kiwi pollen is being exported to Chile and South Africa. New wells continue to be drilled, with many existing wells showing higher levels due to increases in the water table.

  • County Releases Draft Groundwater Ordinance that Impacts Extractions

    Tulare, Calif., (August 4, 2017) – The County of Tulare has released a DRAFT proposal of a groundwater ordinance that will impact groundwater extractions and property rights.  If approved, it would be a prohibition on groundwater usage in unincorporated areas of that county that takes effect as an interim measure before the enforcement of the new Sustainable Groundwater Management Act laws set to take effect in 2020.

    Linked here is the draft ordinance, which addresses extractions of groundwater in Tulare County. To date, this attached draft has not been presented to the Board of Supervisors. It will next be discussed at the County Water Commission meeting on August 14 at 3:00 pm, the public may attend.

    Staff to the Board anticipate the draft will be presented to the Board of Supervisors for their first look at a regular scheduled Board meeting in September. At yesterday’s County Ag Policy Advisory meeting, the committee decided to submit a comment letter to the Board in opposition.

    Members of the public, concerned landowners, and all stakeholders are encouraged to submit comments anytime through the day of the public hearing, which will likely be held at a Board of Supervisors meeting in September. When the topic is placed on the Board’s agenda, there will be a public hearing held.

    Water Rights in California are unique in many respects, and this type of prohibition on extractions may impact agricultural users in adverse ways, we encourage you to study this closely.  The Tulare County Farm Bureau board of directors and staff will also be reviewing this in the weeks ahead.