Californian Almond, Crop Progress Report – February 6, 2023

The California Central Valley experienced a wet winter in 2022/23, contrary to forecasts of a dry winter due to La Nina conditions. The valley received much-needed rainfall and snow, with the highest amounts recorded in the north state, ranging from 8 to 13 inches in the Sacramento Valley. The Sierra Nevada snowpack reached record levels and reservoir storage has increased, giving hope for adequate water supplies for the 2023 growing season. However, the heavy rainfall also caused flooding and created problems for growers such as soil saturation, which can lead to root diseases, and difficulty with orchard sanitation. Bud development for the upcoming bloom is progressing well, but there is a concern about a slow-down caused by recent colder temperatures. Some growers are reducing the number of hives they use to reduce costs, but this could impact yields if inclement weather occurs during the bloom. All are closely monitoring weather forecasts to avoid freezing temperatures like the ones that severely impacted the 2022 crop.