The latest California Crop Weather report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service Field Office in Sacramento, Calif., released Sept. 6.

Weather

The week of Aug. 29 began with the now-familiar weather pattern of high pressure over the Central United States while a low pressure trough lay over the West Coast. This resulted in seasonable temperatures across California with no precipitation.

As the week progressed, the Central U.S. high pressure finally buckled slightly and allowed the low pressure trough to shift eastward from the coast across California and into the Great Basin.

This brought some clouds and suppressed temperatures. Right behind the trough high pressure filled in over California resulting in a warm-up for the Labor Day weekend. No significant precipitation was noted in California during the week.

Field crops

Rice fields developed as most rice was headed out. The early planted rice harvest was underway.

Cotton showed good development; fields were in various stages of bloom and squaring. Producers monitored pest levels.

Corn for silage harvest continued. Alfalfa fields were between the fourth and sixth cuttings. Black-eye beans made good developmental progress. Sunflower rays dried down in preparation for harvest.

The safflower harvest continued in Southern California. Early planted Northern California fields were harvested but the majority was still drying down.

Fruit crops

The table grape harvest continued in the San Joaquin Valley for Red Globe, Summer Royal, Thompson Seedless, and Flame Seedless varieties. Harvest began for white wine grapes.

The cling peach harvest continued with good quality reported. The Fuji, Granny Smith, and Gala variety apple harvests were underway. Pears were harvested with the Bosc pear harvest winding down.

The olive crop progressed. The prune harvest continued. Kiwis developed well.

Valencia oranges, tangelos, grapefruit, and lemons were packed.

Nut crops

The Nonpareil almond harvest was in full swing across the state. Growers expected to start harvesting other varieties in the next week or two.

Weed, husk fly, and mite control continued in walnut orchards as the crop was prepared for harvest. The pistachio harvest was expected to begin in a week or two.

Vegetable crops

Kern County reported the bell pepper harvest was about over and several fields were disked down. Carrots and tomatoes were harvested.

In Tulare County, bell and serrano peppers were harvested while honeydew melons were picked and packed.

Fresno County reported tomato and carrot harvests as fields were prepared for next year. The fresh onion harvest continued. The dehydrator onion harvest was expected to start soon. The lettuce and cantaloupe harvests continued.

In San Joaquin County, sweet corn was harvested as were fresh market and processing tomatoes, bell peppers, watermelon, cucumbers, and onions. Pumpkin harvest began.

Sutter County reported field work and ground preparation while tomatoes were harvested and treated for stinkbug. The garbanzo harvest was ongoing. The beans were treated for leafhoppers. Vegetable harvests for farmers’ markets continued.

Dehydrator onions fields looked good in Siskiyou County. Fall ground preparation following harvest, especially for next season’s onion crop, was ongoing.