CROP REPORT: Tulare County crop report for week ending Oct. 3.
Small grains other field crops: Alfalfa continues to be harvested both for green chop and hay. Harvested corn fields are being prepared for winter wheat. Silage corn continue to be cut for dairy feed. In the cotton fields, most of the bolls have matured and are opening. Black eye bean fields are being cut and dried for harvest.
Deciduous tree fruits, nuts, and grapes: Plums, peaches, and nectarines continue to be harvested. Exports and domestic sales are slowing due to the season winding down. Picking of table grapes is going steady. Varieties being harvested are Flame seedless, Autumn Royal, Thompson seedless, Crimson, and Red Globes. The harvesting of walnuts continues. Early picked raisins will be picked up this week as the drying of raisins continues. Harvesting of grapes for raisins is complete. Wonderful pomegranate harvest is in full swing. Kiwifruit are starting to be picked, the crop is heavy with good quality.
Citrus, avocados, and olives: Valencia harvest has slowed as the season winds down. Only a few processors are still packing oranges. The Valencia harvest is around 90 percent complete. The upcoming navel oranges continue to develop in size, and growers are spraying growth regulator treatments. Tangerine maturity is increasing and harvest is about to start. Olive harvest has begun.
Vegetables, melons, and berries: Harvest of various summer vegetables is still ongoing, but activities have started to slow down. Varieties still being harvested include assorted peppers, okra, sweet corn, squash, eggplant, and tomatoes. Pumpkins and winter squash are starting to be harvested.
Livestock and poultry: Supplemental feeding continues by ranchers due to poor forage conditions for their livestock.
Additional comments: Nursery shipments for local, out- of- state, and Canadian deliveries are slowing down. Replanting and restocking of nursery stock continues for upcoming spring shipments.
--Prepared by Gary Kunkel Tulare County agricultural commissioner-sealer.
