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.
Washington growers say this year’s cherry crop may be smaller than last season but still strong enough to support promotions.
The risk is prolonged crop weakness. Stable farmland values remain critical if losses continue.
Drought remains a major risk, with the ERS reporting that 98 percent of the U.S. cotton production area was affected by drought in early May.
The coalition says the program was designed to make cover crop enrollment faster and easier for producers.
Canadian industry leaders argue the tax policies cited by U.S. officials are similar to exemptions already used by American growers.
Low snowpack and rapid melt are heightening irrigation concerns across the West as farmers face falling reservoir levels and strained water supplies.