Pistachio growers are eager for springtime to arrive, and warm weather on the horizon means dormancy is almost over.
“Pistachios need a certain amount of heat to push buds and begin flower development. Once this begins to happen, the tree is no longer an ectoderm, it’s end of the season can begin with the initiation of flowering and bloom. Trees, of course, plants are not warm-blooded like us. They’re really dependent on the air temperature and soil temps, so the speed at which they metabolize, the speed at which they begin plant development in the spring depends on the warmth: how warm or cold it is,” said Craig Kallensen.
There has also been talk that carbohydrates in the tree can trigger bloom. Kallensen tells aginfo.net that is a myth.
Oklahoma State University extension specialist Todd Hubbs joins us for an update on wheat harvest conditions in his state and the key factors shaping marketing decisions.
Kansas farmer and friend of RFD-TV John Jenkinson joins us to discuss wheat crop conditions, regional variability, producer financial concerns, and the outlook for the growing season across Kansas.
Panama matters to agriculture as both a freight corridor and a potential future market for U.S. ethanol.
Ethanol and feed coproduct exports remain strong outlets for corn demand, even after April’s pullback.
The most notable crop changes came in wheat.
United Soybean Board Director and Missouri farmer Kyle Durham joins us to discuss farmer sentiment, alternative revenue programs, conservation incentives, domestic demand trends, and conditions on his farm this spring.