Sabrina Hill has the weekly crop progress for California, with information provided by the USDA NASS on field crops, fruit, nuts, vegetables, and rangeland conditions.
Some cotton fields are struggling to develop good leaf area due to extended thrips damage in the southern region of the state. Beet armyworms turned up in alfalfa, but there is no overwhelming pressure. Treatments have been limited. Second cuttings of alfalfa are occurring with pressure from aphids. Corn fields are emerging and have received varying treatment levels for armyworms and spider mites. Oat hay harvest continued throughout the state. Rice fields are flooded and rice is emerging. Barley and wheat harvest is underway.
FRUIT CROPS
Grape bunches continued to develop; growers were thinning and tipping bunches. Grape growers trained vines and thinned leaves to allow sunlight and airflow. Olive and pomegranate fruit was increasing in size. Apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches, and plums were harvested. Growers thinned fruit on later varieties. Reflective foil remained in stone fruit orchards to enhance fruit color. Prune fruit continued to develop. Strawberry and blueberry harvests remained active. Valencia orange harvest was ongoing.
NUT CROPS
Walnut and pistachio growers were irrigating orchards and spraying for weeds. Nuts continued to develop on walnut trees; growers monitored for coddling moth. Hull split was expected to start early this year in almonds. Almond growers sprayed orchards for mites.
VEGETABLE CROPS
In Sutter County, growers harvested radishes, broccoli, onions, garlic and other vegetables for farmer’s markets and planted processing tomatoes. In Stanislaus County, growers harvested radishes, onions, garlic, peppers, and other vegetables for farmer’s markets. The early plantings of cantaloupe and honeydew were up, blooming, and growing well. In Merced County, tomatoes were in full bloom. In Monterey County, full harvest continued for lettuce and Brassica. Growers were also planting for second harvest. In Fresno County, onions and garlic were nearing harvest. In Tulare County, summer vegetable planting reached full swing with some fruit already set. Melons, tomatoes, and eggplant were growing well. Italian squash harvest continued. In Imperial County, growers harvested sweet corn, onions, melons and watermelon.
LIVESTOCK
Range and non-irrigated pasture continued in fair to very poor condition with limited forage as extreme to exceptional drought persisted for most of the state. Fire danger on rangeland remained high.