Sacramento Valley Orchard Source

Irrigation Evapotranspiration (ET) Report for the Woodland, Davis, Dixon, and Verona CIMIS stations.

Irrigation Evapotranspiration (ET) Report for Tehama, Butte and Colusa county CIMIS stations.

These updates are provided as reference information for Sacramento Valley orchard pest and natural enemy activity.

From the northern San Joaquin Valley to the northern Sacramento Valley, walnut growers are reporting a widespread and alarming issue of walnut trees not leafing out this spring. The initial hypothesis from researchers is that we are seeing frost damage from mid-November, however the symptoms on mature blocks are both more unusual and more severe than autumn freeze events in recent memory.

California prune growers generally had good bloom in 2019 and bloom weather was also good. This should see an increase in cropload for many blocks for 2019, meaning that chances are higher for growing smaller fruit. Growers and PCAs are invited to attend a field day to demo cropload checking in Live Oak on Wednesday, May 8.