Sacramento, Calif., (August 29, 2017) – Another relatively uneventful week across the State, with mostly dry conditions and increasing temperatures at the end of the week. This was primarily due to a strengthening mid-level ridge over the western United States.
A mostly dry week with only very localized scattered showers across parts of the Sierras Monday and Tuesday. These showers were generally very light, with most areas receiving less than a quarter inch of rainfall. Shower coverage was approximately 30 percent in the Sierras, with all other reliable locations reporting no measurable precipitation this week. Patchy snow continued at elevated, sheltered areas in the Lassen Volcanic Park, with a maximum depth of two feet in places. In addition, there were still two to four feet of snow on the peak of Shasta.
Temperature highs were in the 50s to 60s along the coast, 70s to 90s in the mountains, 80s to 100s in the valley, and highs in the 90s to 110s in the desert. Temperature lows were in the 40s to 50s in the mountains, 50s to 60s along the coast, and 60s to 80s in the valley and the desert.
Alfalfa continued to be cut and baled. Safflower was drying in the field. Sorghum for silage was cultivated and irrigated. Cotton was blooming and forming bolls, and continued to be irrigated. Corn for silage was harvested. Black-eyed beans were maturing and nearing harvest. Rice was heading ahead of schedule.
Peach, nectarine, pear, fig, and plum harvest continued. Harvested stone fruit orchards were pruned and toped. Table grape harvest continued as wine grape harvest began. Valencia orange and finger lime harvest were ongoing. Irrigation and repair of irrigation systems continued. Olives were developing well.
Almond harvest was underway. Walnut and pistachio orchards continued to be irrigated. Both mechanical and chemical weed control continued in orchards.
In San Mateo County, acres of beans and peas were in full bloom ready to set pods. In Colusa, Sacramento, Solano, and Yolo Counties, processing tomatoes were being harvested. In Tulare County, certified producers were picking tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers for sale at local Farmer’s Markets. Yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, Bell peppers, green chili peppers, and cucumbers continued to be harvested, packed, and shipped domestically. Sweet corn harvest continued and was available for sale at roadside stands and local Farmer’s Markets.
Low elevation non-irrigated pasture and rangeland quality continued to deteriorate. Range conditions were reported to be fair to very poor. As the nutritional quality of range grasses diminished supplemental feeding increased. Some cattle were moved to higher elevations. Sheep grazed retired pasture and dormant alfalfa.
