Almond Trees Starting to Bloom as Drought Looms in the Valley

Almond trees are blooming on the Valley's westside.

It’s a familiar and often spectacular scene for motorists traveling on a normally drab Interstate 5 along the western end of the San Joaquin Valley.

 This time of year, we start seeing acres and acres of almond trees bursting in color with the start of bloom. Almond field scout Jenna Horine reports bees hovering around white bee boxes and buzzing from tree to tree on the westside. “Bees are everywhere,” Jenna says. Pollination is in full swing. 

Bee boxes are placed around the orchard for pollination.

More inland in areas such as Firebaugh, the almond trees are still waiting to bloom. Normally, almond growers right now would are excited about the prospects of another banner year for the state’s No. 1 export crop.

 

Of course, this isn’t your typical year. As we all now, we’re in for a third straight dry year and drought is now big news for the media.

On Friday, for example, the media played up the news from the Bureau of Reclamation that the initial 2014 water allocation would be zero for Central Valley Project customers, including the Westlands Water District, which serves farmers on the westside. The announcement came as no surprise to farmers, who have been telling us for weeks they were anticipating the bureau to shut off spigot this season.

“This low allocation is yet another indicator of the impacts the severe drought is having on California communities, agriculture, businesses, power, and the environment,” reclamation commissioner Michael L. Connor stated in his announcement. 

 

Tom Birmingham, general manager of Westlands Water District, said the zero allocation will affect decisions about planting crops for this year and fallowing land in the future. These decisions will have consequences that reach beyond the farmers and workers in

the Central Valley Region, he added.

While the politicians debate the water issue, farmers are pressing ahead. They are in survival mode. One almond grower tells us he could be out of water by June and will be doing the best he can to preserve his trees for the future. Jenna says UC farm advisors are suggesting growers clear weeds and even cover crops from the orchards as a water saving measure.

Clearing weeds and cover crops to can save on water.

David Doll, UC Cooperative Extension pomology farm advisor in Merced County, offered some valuable tips for growers during our recent field day in Firebaugh. The Sustainable Cotton Project website has posted a video of his talk about the drought’s impact on almond production. We give the video “Two thumbs up.”

Throughout the season, we’ll provide useful tips and information to help growers deal with the water issue and pest and disease management during the drought. Meanwhile, let’s hope the storms predicted to arrive mid-week leave a good amount of rain in the valley and snow in the mountains. Anything will help.

Field Day, Presidential Visit: A Big Week for Little ’Ol Firebaugh

 There was a lot of buzz around Firebaugh this past week.

First, more than 30 farmers from across the valley traveled last Tuesday to the small town’s community center to hear University of California farm advisors and IPM experts talk about drought management in alfalfa, almonds and cotton.

The common chatter among growers at the field day was 2014 could shape up as a year of economic survival. Field scout Carlos Silva says farmers are telling him “there’s not much they can do (without water). They’re have to leave fields fallow.”

President Obama tours Joe del Bosque's farm. (Reuters photo)

 

Almond and other tree crop growers are talking about the need to protect their investment and focus on keeping their trees alive while sacrificing yield and even a season’s crop.

 Of course, the local buzz grew louder just before the start of the President’s Day weekend when a real president visited the Central Valley.

On a clear almost balmy winter Friday afternoon, President Obama took a field trip – to of all places – Firebaugh. The president met with growers at the San Luis Water District and later joined Gov. Jerry Brown to tour a fallow field owned by Joe del Bosque, an active grower in the San Joaquin Sustainable Farming Project.

 

“What happens here matters to every working American right down to the food that you put on your table,” Obama said, with Joe and his wife, Maria Gloria, Gov. Jerry Brown and U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, standing next to the president. The president then announced $160 million in federal aid and ordered federal government facilities to cut back in water use.

Gov Brown, Vilsack, Maria Gloria and Joe del Bosque. (Getty Images photo)

The visit raised awareness about the critical water issue in California farm country. That was last week. This week, it’s back to grappling with knotty drought-related issues.

For example, alfalfa growers, including Joe del Bosque, are facing a serious problem with early season aphids. SJSFP’s Carlos Silva continues to scout alfalfa fields and reporting his findings to growers.

Aphids are becoming an early season problem in alfalfa.

UC IPM’s Dr. Pete Goodell thinks possible causes are the unseasonably warm winter and lack of rain for the aphid outbreak. While Carlos has found beneficial insects such as ladybugs in the alfalfa fields, it doesn’t appear to be enough of them to take care of the aphid problem alone. That translates into early season treatment.

If these pests persist, we could see stunted plant growth and reduced yields this year. The result could cause an enormous economic ripple effect for the state’s dairy and other livestock producers and, in the end, consumers. Alfalfa, described as the “engine of human food production,” provides high energy and protein feed for dairy cows. California is the nation’s largest dairy producer. Higher hay prices eventually translates into higher milk, cheese and yogurt prices at the supermarket check-out. Ouch.

The aphid problem could result in lower alfalfa yields.

Could this dry weather be connected to a changing climate?  President Obama indicated so during his farm tour: “One thing is undeniable. Rising temperatures influence drought.”

Let’s hope cooler temperatures and lots of rain are on the horizon.

Learn About Drought Impacts and Pest Management Tuesday

 Here’s one final call for growers to get a chance to explore drought impacts, pest management and water issue during a field day in Firebaugh on Tuesday. 

The free event ill be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Firebaugh Community Center, 1655 13^th St. Firebaugh. The line-up of speakers: 

·         UC Cooperative Extension Merced County pomology farm advisor David Doll on drought impacts on almond production.

·         UC IPM advisor Dr. Pete Goodell covering alfalfa and cotton pest control issues for 2014.

·         UCCE Fresno County farm advisor Gurret Brar on bloom time and spring disease control in almonds.

·         Chris Linneman, program manager and engineer with the Westside SJR Watershed Coalition, covering pesticide use and the impact on local water and air quality.

More information is available at the Sustainable Cotton Project website or by contacting  project Project Director Marcia Gibbs at (530) 370-5325. 

This will be a great opportunity to learn more about the drought before President Obama appears in Fresno on Friday to discuss the issue. 

Meanwhile, the weekend storms were welcomed by everyone. But we will still need lots more rain and snow to make up for the dry years.

To put everything in perspective, the National Weather Service issued this storm bucket illustration last Friday. Moreover it said: “Rain between now and Monday will be substantial, and in any other 'normal' year would add significantly to our water supply.  Based on recent conditions this storm will help, but not do much to decrease our existing deficit. As dry as things have been, a large portion of this weekend's expected rainfall will go to saturating the parched soils.  The ground must be saturated before significant runoff will begin.”

 Well, we need to start somewhere.

San Joaquin Valley Abuzz with Buds, Bugs and Farm Chores

 Just one month into 2014, it certainly looks like farmers are in for a wild and weird year.

 There is the drought emergency declaration. There’s the unprecedented warm, dry weather. And there are signs of pests already populating the fields. That was just January. Who knows what’s in store for the next 11 months.

Despite all the uncertainly, there is one constant for farmers: Work. Our field scouts Carlos Silva and Jeanna Horine report lots of activity in the fields and orchards.

Workers replace old drip lines in an almond orchard.

Almond growers are busy repairing drip lines and emitters. By this time, they should be finished with orchard sanitation – knocking off those mummy nuts to prevent navel orangeworm (NOW) problems. As we have aid before, NOW, is one of the most serious pests in almonds. The bugs can cause serious economic damage and risk to human health.

Jenna reminds growers orchard sanitation also includes checking the crotch of almond trees. They should remove debris that can serve as a winter home for mice, mites and other pests.

Around the orchards, bee boxes are being set up along the perimeters. Jenna reports buds are starting to emerge on some trees because of the warm, dry weather. The lack of rain could cause trees to become water stressed and ultimately lead to serious mite issues later this season. Right now, almond growers are exploring their options to deal with the water issue. Jenna has seen one grower uproot some older almond trees, pulling those out of production to preserve water supplies for younger, more productive trees.

Cow pea aphids     (Iowa State photo)

 

The spring-like weather also is raising concern with some alfalfa growers. Carlos has scouted some fields and discovering an early emergence of blue alfalfa and cow pea aphids on the plant stems. He’s alerting growers about the issue. One grower is seriously thinking about treating his field to head off problems in the future. 

State Water Resources surveyor checks water content of snow pack.

On the water front, the state on Friday ordered a temporary halt to water exports to farms in the San Joaquin Valley. The news came a day after water surveyors reported the Sierra snowpack was less than 15 percent of average for this time of year.

West Fresno County farmers served by the Westlands Water District are anticipating a zero water allocation from the federal government. That news should come in a couple weeks. 

Meanwhile, we can do our part to conserve water. Check out a special state website for water-saving ideas.  Let’s hope last week’s rain in the Valley and snow in the Sierra is a start to help ease the strain on water supplies.  Anything helps.

Field Day Alert: Farmers will get a chance to learn at an event that explores drought impacts, pest management and water issue. The free field day will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11 at the Firebaugh Community Center, 1655 13^th St. Firebaugh. The line-up of speakers:

·         UC Cooperative Extension Merced County pomology farm advisor David Doll on drought impacts on almond production.

·         UC IPM advisor Dr. Pete Goodell covering alfalfa and cotton pest control issues for 2014.

·         UCCE Fresno County farm advisor Gurret Brar on bloom time and spring disease control in almonds.

·         Chris Linneman, program manager and engineer with the Westside SJR Watershed Coalition,  covering pesticide use and the impact on local water and air quality.

Continuing education credits have been applied for. More information is available at the Sustainable Cotton Project website or by contacting  project Project Director Marcia Gibbs at (530) 370-5325.