SMALL GRAINS AND OTHER FIELD CROPS: Corn fields are growing well, many fields have reached full height. Fields are being green chopped and brought to local dairies. Tomatoes continue to grow and produce fruit. Tomato harvest has begun and will continue for the next few weeks. Cotton fields continue to progress with several fields having a nice stance. Alfalfa is growing well, and fields are being cut, dried, and baled. Irrigation is the priority for all row crops due to the high temperatures we are experiencing. Black-eyed beans continue to grow with many plants producing pods. Oat seed is being delivered to the local seed dealers. 

DECIDUOUS TREE FRUITS, NUTS, AND GRAPES: Stone fruit harvest is going full bore with peaches, nectarines, plums, and pluots being harvested. Stone fruit is being exported to Canada, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Mexico, Taiwan, Indonesia, New Zealand, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Thailand. Persimmons are maturing and labor crews are placing scaffold supports in most orchards. Kiwis continue to develop. Almonds are developing nicely, and harvest has started with some of the early verities.  Pistachio clusters are gaining size and becoming more developed. Walnuts are near full shell size and nut meat is sizing. Pomegranates are small currently and are still gaining size. Table grape harvest continues for several varieties, and grape maturity has been good. Some grape varieties being harvested are sheegene, Thompson, ruby rush, summer royal, flame, and sweet sapphire. Grapes are being exported to Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and Australia. Some late variety grapes are being covered with plastic sheeting to protect the grapes from the rain.

CITRUS, AVOCADOS, AND OLIVES: Mechanical and chemical maintenance continues in citrus groves with fungicide and herbicide sprays being applied. Citrus groves are being sprayed with whitewash to prevent leaves and fruit from getting sunburned. Navel orange exports have slowed for the off season. Valencia oranges continue to be harvested and packed for both domestic and export markets such as Mexico, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Olives continue to mature and preparation for harvest has begun. Lemons have been packed and have been shipping domestically. Fruit thinning from mandarin groves started in some locations.

VEGETABLES, MELONS, HERBS, AND BERRIES: Cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew are being harvested and sold at local fruit stands. As well as sweet corn, zucchini, tomatillos, okra, eggplants, squash, tomatoes, and onions. Sugarcane continues to grow and increase in size.

LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY: Cows and bulls have been selling at all-time highs with heifers and middleweights selling a little lower than in recent weeks. The fed-cattle price is up at $190/cwt this week. Irrigated pastures are in good condition. Non-irrigated pastures are in poor condition. Foothill grazing conditions are limited and ranchers are moving their cattle to other areas with better forage. Rangeland is very dry with some brush clearing being done by Cal-Fire to prevent wildfires. Local dairies are using fans and water to prevent heat stress and milk production loss in their dairy cattle herds. 

TOM’S ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Nursery stock movement into local retailers has slowed with the extreme heat. Cut flowers are being imported from Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Colombia to flower shops in Tulare County. Manure is being cleaned out of dairies and used for compost. Surface water has slowed but is flowing in many of the irrigation ditches and canals.