The California almond industry relies heavily on exports, and with a crop that continues to grow in volume every year, expanding those markets in the future will be critical. On the contrary, with the lack of resolution to the current international trade disputations, and now almond harvest well underway, the industry is naturally very concerned about how these issues will impact the marketing of this crop. Watch this brief interview with the Richard Waycott, President & CEO of the Almond Board for his insights on the topic. Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
Tag: 2018 almond crop
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Irrigation Tips to Mitigate Almond Hull Rot & Bark Damage
The posting of this video is a little belated as almond harvest has already begun, but if you’ve had hull rot issues this season, be sure to watch this brief video interview with Nut Crops Advisor Mae Culumber as she provides some tips to prevent hull rot and trunk damage through better irrigation practices, as explained at a mid-July Nut & Vine Irrigation seminar at the UC Cooperative Extension office in Fresno. Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine. Culumber will also be addressing almond growers at the Annual Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo coming up on November 13th at the Big Fresno Fairgrounds, so be sure to attend!
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Almond Objective Forecast Shared at Hilltop Ranch Luncheon
The California Almond Objective Forecast for the 2018 crop year was released just after the Fourth of July at 2.45 billion pounds. Growers listened in on the broadcasted announcement as they enjoyed a nice lunch at Hilltop Ranch in Ballico, CA. Watch this brief interview with the Long family at Hilltop Ranch and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
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USDA Estimates Record-Breaking 2018 Almond Crop
Forecast estimated at 2.45 billion pounds for the 2018 California almond crop
MODESTO, Calif. – Despite concerns earlier in the year about freezing weather during almond bloom, careful management by California farmers and newer orchards coming into production have resulted in a record-breaking crop according to the 2018 Almond Objective Measurement Report. This confirms earlier predictions from the 2018 Almond Subjective Forecast released in May.
Published today by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service – Pacific Regional Office (NASS/PRO), the Objective Report is the official industry crop estimate. The report finds that the 2018 crop estimate is up 7.9% from the 2017 crop production of 2.27 billion pounds.
“2018 looks to be a milestone year for California almonds with over one million almond-bearing acres now in California,” said Holly King, chair, Almond Board of California (ABC) and Kern County almond grower. “However, it is not just about the number of acres, it’s also about growing more almonds per acre. As we have grown in size, we have continued to find ways to grow almonds more efficiently, using fewer resources and leaving a smaller footprint per nut.”
The California almond community, through ABC, has invested nearly $70 million over more than 40 years to build a foundation of research on improving how almonds are grown, processed and consumed. This culture of continuous improvement brings benefits to local communities and the environment while helping farmers be responsible stewards of the land.
Today’s Objective Report follows the Subjective Forecast, which provides an early estimate of the coming crop after it has set on the trees. The Objective Report collects data later in the growing season, closer to harvest, and is based on an actual count of nuts on the trees. This year’s Objective Report projects an almond crop up 6.5% from the May forecast of 2.30 billion pounds.
“California is home to the world’s most efficient almond farmers, who produce more than 80 percent of the world’s supply,” said Richard Waycott, president and CEO, ABC. “The California almond community continues to meet the steadily growing demand for almonds, supporting healthy and diverse diets around the globe.”
Per the Objective Report, the average nut set per tree is 5,677, down 0.6% from the 2017 almond crop. The Nonpareil average nut set is 4,924, down 13.9% from last year’s set. The average kernel weight for all varieties sampled was 1.54 grams, down 1.9% compared to the 2017 average weight of 1.57 grams.
For More Information:
Ashley Bloemhof
(209) 531-7628