Small grains and other field crops: Alfalfa and Sudangrass are being cut, dried, and baled. Some corn is still being irrigated while other fields have been green-chopped for silage. Silage fields are being heavily irrigated although the temperatures have fallen a bit in recent days. Bean fields are being cut into windrows for drying. Dried beans are being exported to Guadeloupe, St. Lucia, Martinique, French Polynesia, and France. Cotton plants have bloomed, formed bolls, and are almost ready for harvest.
Deciduous tree fruits, nuts, and grapes: Packing houses of almond and pistachio nuts were busy covering bins before the rain arrived. Table grapes are being packed for export to Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, China, Thailand, Mexico, Chile, Cambodia, Guatemala, Korea, Ecuador, the Philippines, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, and Australia. Later variety table grapes remain on the vines collecting sugars, while some wine grape vineyards are being harvested in bulk loads. Peaches, plums, and nectarines are currently being exported to the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand, and British Columbia, along with high domestic sales. Prunes are being exported to China. Pistachios are still being processed and exported in large quantities to China, Israel, India, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Almonds are being shipped to Japan, Germany, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Israel, Korea, China, Belgium, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Jordan, Mexico, India, Thailand, Panama, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Pecans are being exported to the Middle East, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Singapore. Walnut harvest has started in various locations around Tulare County and being exported to Turkey and Israel.
Citrus, avocados, and olives: Star ruby grapefruit are being packed for domestic markets, as well as exported to Mexico. Avocado fruit continue to develop. Citrus growers continue irrigating as many days as possible to prevent fruit drop because of heat stress. Valencia oranges got softer due to hot temperature days. Growers have started harvesting olives. They seem to be smaller in size in comparison to previous years.
Vegetables, melons, herbs, and berries: Certified producers are offering summer varieties of onions, squash, eggplant, cantaloupe, and watermelons. Squash, zucchini, honeydew melons, and watermelons have been harvested and found at farm stands and in stores. Strawberry fields are being reconditioned for fall planting. Onion seed is being exported to the Netherlands and Mexico. Tomatoes are being harvested near Tipton. Fields are being prepped for the upcoming season of winter vegetables. The high temperatures will delay planting until cooler weather arrives.
Livestock and poultry: Middle, heavy weights, and butcher cows are being sold at good prices. The fed-cattle market was at $145/cwt this week. High temperatures and dry weather have led to an overall reduction in the amount of forage available to grazing cattle. Some ranchers are continuing to supplement their livestock with alfalfa and oat hay.
Tom’s additional comments: Local landscaper supply companies are receiving rye and fescue grass seed from Washington, Oregon, and Canada. Wholesale citrus nurseries are shipping trees, graft wood, and seed to local, out-of-state, and international nurseries, as well as growers in Canada, Bahamas, Spain, French Polynesia, and South Africa. Olive trees are being dug out of old groves for ornamental use. Cut flowers are being imported from Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Colombia to flower shops in the county.
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