Feb 28, 2024Blue Diamond Growers releases crop report
Trent Voss, regional manager, member relations for Blue Diamond Growers updated the industry with the latest crop report, released Feb. 23, 2024.
Voss noted that California almond growers experienced “disruptive weather and progressing bloom” during the past week.
Sonoras are past the peak bloom and into petal fall, Voss shared in the report. The update also noted that Nonpareil fields show variations, but most are expected to reach peak bloom during the week of Feb. 26.
Rapid progess was noted for the California type varieties, and Voss noted that many are within a couple of days of the Nonpareil.
“Monterey and Carmel have also sped up in the last week with Monterey now syncing up with many California types. Late blooming Butte and Padre have started to show their flowers, with many set to bloom in the next week. Independence had some of the most rapid movement this week seemingly going from pink bud to full bloom overnight,” Voss wrote in the udpate.
Notably the progression occurred during unfavorable weather early in the week where California growers faced heavy rains and strong winds that caused some early petal fall.
“Even though the weather has been unfavorable growers are still optimistic,” Voss noted.
“Daily bee flight hours are dramatically increasing just as bloom is progressing rapidly. A lot of pollination should be accomplished between now and mid-day Monday,” Jim Maxwell, an almond grower in the south valley, said .
Voss noted that growers, such as Maxwell, are noticing substantial changes from day to day. “This progression is not just from warm days but warm nights with many areas staying in the mid 40’s,” he said in the update.
“Growers spent most of last week applying preventative disease treatments before the storms, those who did not are now applying their first treatment before the next round of wet weather,” Voss shared. “Growers have also been busy clearing downed trees caused by the high winds and saturated soil. Fertilizer applications have also started as leaves start to emerge on the trees and photosynthesis can occur.”
