May 2, 2023The Blue Diamond crop report says weather impacts still ongoing
Blue Diamond Almond Growers released its May 1 crop report. In an email, Mel Machado, vice president, member relations for Blue Diamond noted weather patterns are trending warmer, drier, yet the March deluge of rainfall continued to impact growers.
“Growers and their advisors spent much of the past few weeks evaluating their crops, seeking to determine their potential yields and resource requirements for the balance of the growing season,” Machado detailed in the email. He also shared that the reports are indicating “highly variable crop sets,” which is believed to be a result of the lack of honeybee pollination during the cold, wet weather.
Overall, growers in the Sacramento Valley have reported improved crop loads over 2022, and growers in San Joaquin Valley have reported a decrease in yields compared to 2022. than experienced in 2022, with the greatest variation in older plantings.
As many growers wait for orchard soil to dry, damage has been observed to the root systems, due to the excess water. “Orchards under the greatest degree of stress will most certainly suffer an increased proportion of nut shedding,” Machado said in the email
The Blue Diamond crop report also detailed information on both the Federal Central Valley Project and the State Water Project and the allocation of contracted water amounts for this year.
To read the full Blue Diamond crop report and to see pictures of the weather impacts, click here.
