Harvest Thunders Ahead After Storm Roars Through Valley

Summer ends in four days.

You would have thought autumn had already arrived last week after fall-like weather roared through the northern San Joaquin Valley, knocking down power lines, trees and fences – as well cotton bolls in the fields and almonds in the trees. Toss in a bit of rain and you have yourself some weird weather.

 

Despite the thunderstorm and gusty winds, almonds and cotton emerged pretty much unscathed, according to field scouts Jenna Mayfield and Damien Jelen.

“There was a lot of rain in Firebaugh. Some bolls came off the cotton plants,” Damien says. 

Jenna points out almond trees are used to being jostled. Mechanical shakers roughhouse trees more than a little wind, she says.Still, some nuts were blown off the trees. But in a way, Mother Nature helped some growers with orchard sanitation by knocking off would-be mummy nuts.

For certain, the thunderstorm generated a little coffee shop talk and a small diversion from the daily chores. Now back to reality.

“We’re still full blown with the harvest,” Jenna says. “I’ve collected nut samples and put them in cold storage.”

 Later this fall, Jenna will get cracking on examining the samples to check on the amount of pest damage experienced in project orchards. This evaluation will help growers with their pest management plans next season.

Right now, spider mites have exploded in orchards. Mites reproduce quickly during the warm summer months and produce eight to 10 generations each season. The pests will damage the foliage, butthe problems show up next season – reduced crop yield and vegetative growth.

In cotton, growers continue to ramp up defoliation activities, Damien says. Fields are treated twice before the plants dry out enough for harvest. About two weeks after the final treatment, the cotton is ready to be picked. October certainly will be a busy month for harvesters.

 Meanwhile, Damien reminds growers to stay vigilant for aphids, white fly and mites, which can lead to sticky cotton. “You continue to worry about these pests until the plants are defoliated.”