Tulare County Reports on Current Crop Status
Harvest of Flame Seedless has Begun

Visalia, Calif., (July 3, 2009) – Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner released the current status today of major crops in the second most valued county in the California ag portfolio. He reports that warmer weather this week contributed to the need to irrigate growing crops. Corn for silage is still one or two weeks from being harvested. Alfalfa hay continues to be cut and baled, as well as the cutting of small-grain forage and other grains for hay and silage. Grain sorghum is planted and progressing nicely. Bean and cotton fields are growing well in response to the summer temperatures. Cotton is also just starting to bloom. Sheep are still being used to graze-off poor producing dryland grain fields.

The harvest of Flame seedless grapes has begun, with other early varieties soon to follow. Table grape leaves and bunch are still being thinned to allow light to penetrate for color and maturity for later varieties. The heat of this week should have minimal effect on most stone fruit. However, plums will have to be watched, as they have a tendency to “sunburn”. Plums, peaches, and nectarines continue to be harvested and exported to Mexico, Indonesia, Brazil, China, and Japan. Walnut trees are being sprayed for codling moth, mites and worms, with reports of good sizing. Pistachios are still being exported to Mexico, Netherlands, and China.

Navel orange harvest is complete. Valencia harvest is ongoing, with citrus regreening taking place. Exports of Valencia oranges are going primarily to Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, and China. Early estimates for the 2009-2010 Navel orange crop are predicting only 75% of normal. Olive crop estimates for this year are also low at 40% of normal. Star Ruby grapefruit continue to be exported to the Bahamas.

Harvest of various summer vegetables is still ongoing, with melon and sweet corn harvest underway. Vegetables being harvested include assorted peppers, squash, eggplant, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Commercial tomato harvest is well underway. Harvesting of blackberries continues.

Dairy herd reductions continue to level off. Supplemental feeding of hay and other nutrients continue for cattle on rangeland and dryland pastures due to poor forage conditions. Price and demand are steady on all classes of beef at area sales yards. The Federal Cattle market is holding steady at $82/cwt.

Citrus trees continue to be shipped for planting. Budding of citrus trees has increased with the warmer weather. Nursery stock shipping remains steady but slow for the season.