The latest California Crop Weather report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Sacramento, Calif., Field Office:

Weather

Warmer than normal high temperatures were reported Monday across most of California as weak ridging dominated the weather pattern.

During the mid-part of the period, a trough of low pressure from the Pacific moved onshore and resided over extreme Northern California. This created an increase in the Delta influence, and lowered temperatures to around 5 degrees below normal on Thursday. Regions in southern California, including Imperial Valley, were not influenced by this weather system as temperatures remained near normal.

An even deeper trough moved onshore Saturday into Sunday keeping temperatures 5-10 degrees below normal for southern California. Light sprinkles fell in close proximity to the northern Sierra Nevada crest on Saturday.

Field crops

While weed and insect control continued in alfalfa fields, cuttings ranged from the third in Siskiyou County to the sixth in Fresno County. Wheat straw was baled from the grain harvest.

Sunflower fields were defoliated for harvest. Safflower was harvested in Sutter County. The harvest just started in Kern County.

Rice fields continued to progress. Corn was harvested for silage in much of the San Joaquin Valley (SJV). Cotton growth continued with fields at various stages of bloom and squaring.

Sugar beets were harvested in Fresno County. Field operations continued with irrigation, ground preparation, and spray applications of fertilizer, herbicide, and insecticide, as needed.

Fruit crops

Peaches, nectarines, and plums were harvested and packed as the prune harvest began. SJV gala apples were picked.

Valencia oranges were picked in the Central Valley and along the southern coast. Fertilization and irrigation of orange groves was ongoing. The lemon harvest along the southern coast neared its completion.

The SJV table grape harvest continued as the wine grape harvest was underway and raisin grapes continued to develop.

Strawberry nurseries in Siskiyou County were prepared for fumigation while SJV strawberry fields were prepared for fall planting.

Nut crops

There was shaking and harvesting of Nonpareil almond varieties in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys as hull splitting continued and final hull split sprays were applied in later varieties.

Codling moth and husk fly sprays were ongoing in walnut orchards as the crop developed well, though harvest is expected to be one to two weeks later than usual.

Sprays to suppress navel orangeworm were planned for pistachio orchards. Walnut and pecan orchards were also irrigated.

Vegetable crops

Farmers’ markets were at the peak of the summer vegetable season.

Imperial County continued ground preparation for fall vegetables. In Kern County, carrots were harvested. In Tulare County, tomatoes, eggplant, green beans, squash, and assorted peppers were harvested while some areas prepared for early plantings of winter vegetables.

In Fresno County, summer carrots, melons, garlic, and fresh market and dehydrator onions were harvested. Winter carrots were planted. In Stanislaus County, melon harvest was in full swing while processing tomato harvest began on the west side of the county.

San Joaquin County farmers harvested onions and processing tomatoes. Fall tillage and ground preparation for planting continued.

Sutter County reported the continued harvest of vegetables for farmers’ markets. Field work and ground preparation continued. Beans were treated for spider mites and aphids. Tomatoes were treated for stinkbugs.