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California field and fruit crops

Feb 15, 2008 3:18 PM

Field crops

Recent rains improved the growth of oat, barley, winter forage, and wheat fields. Fields were being treated with herbicides. In Colusa County, some wheat was flooded due to 5 inches of rainfall received the previous week. Dry land grain continued to emerge after the recent rains. Spring alfalfa fields were growing well, with some fields being treated with herbicides, while alfalfa seed fields were growing back from the last mowing. Spring sugar beet fields continued growing well with some being fertilized, irrigated, cultivated and treated to control insects, weeds and diseases. Pre-irrigation of cotton fields was ongoing in Fresno County. Sweet potato hot bed planting had begun. Potatoes continued to be harvested.

Fruit crops

With warmer weather, early nectarine varieties began to bloom in Tulare County. Other early stone fruit varieties were still in the budding stage. Growers were getting trapping programs in place. Lingering wet conditions in groves and vineyards still prohibited many cultural activities. Attempts at fertilizing, grafting, windrowing, shredding, applying pre-emergent, and fungicide were made nonetheless. Spring strawberries were growing well in Fresno County. Some Southern California strawberry fields were still recovering from previous damaging rains and fruit supplies remained low. New blueberry bushes were still being planted. The harvests of mandarins, minneolas, Navel oranges, lemons, grapefruit and pummelos remained underway.

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