Visalia, Calif., (March 30, 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 Corn is still being planted as weather and soil conditions allow. Winter wheat and oats are enjoying the latest rains, growth is excellent. Ground preparation is continuing for spring row crops. Overall last week’s rainfall was beneficial to field crops.
Vineyards continue to be pruned and tied. Stone fruit orchards are continuing to bloom and leaf out. Almond and stone fruit trees are blooming and leafing-out. Soil leveling continues in some fields in preparation for new plantings. Bee apiaries remain in almond and stone fruit orchards. Pomegranate and walnut orchards continue to be pruned. Pomegranates are starting to leaf-out. Pistachios are being exported to Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Lithuania, Spain, and Turkey. Almonds are being shipped to Barbados, Colombia, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Taiwan, Trinidad & Tobago, and the United Kingdom.
Navel oranges, Mandarins, and lemons continue to be harvested, but at a slower rate. The harvest of late variety navel oranges continues, and fruit are showing some grading issues. The extent of freeze damage to citrus fruit is still being determined. Some hedge-rowing and skirting of orange groves continues to be preformed. Navel oranges are being exported to Australia, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, and Taiwan. Mandarins are being picked and shipped to Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and New Zealand. Seedless tangerine groves continue to be netted in preparation for the coming bloom. Lemons are being exported to Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea. Minneola tangelos continue to be shipped to Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands. Some citrus trees are being planted. Some olive groves continue to be pruned.
Squash and cucumber seedlings continue to grow under hot-caps and hot-tunnels. Greenhouse vegetables continue to be harvested. Strawberry and plantings are progressing well and maturing. This week’s warm, dry weather will be a benefit. Greenhouse blueberries were exported to Taiwan.
Last week’s rain was boost for rangeland quality. The fed cattle market held steady at $127.00 per hundred weight this week.
Retail nurseries are stocked up on both perennial and annual plants for the spring season. Bare-root roses are being received and processed for reshipment to various U.S. states, Canada, France, Japan, and Korea. Some mature olive trees are being dug for landscape purposes.
Citrus Bloom has been declared to start in District 1 beginning at 1:00 a.m. Saturday morning, March 31,2018.
