Nut crop outlook raises concerns locally, statewide
With almond trees bearing fruit and walnut trees blossoming, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released two reports this week on nut crops. But an action last week by the Butte County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office may be a stronger indicator. For the second straight year, Ag Commissioner Louie Mendoza filed an emergency declaration with the California Office of Emergency Services and California Department of Food and Agriculture due to weather impacts on almonds, covering 40,000 acres in the county. Separate weather conditions affected walnuts last year, too; that crop’s outlook remains uncertain.
Related articles:
- SJV Sun: Report – Valley almond crop to dip for third-straight year
- The New York Times: Opinion - When one almond gulps 3.2 gallons of water
- Yale Climate Connections: How one strawberry farmer is coping with erratic weather in California
- KCRA – Sacramento: Almond grower in Ceres tests the benefits of cover crops