How Will Dry Weather Impact California Producers?

Since the start of the year, much of California has been significantly dry.

What does this mean for Golden State crop, nut, and fruit tree producers as spring arrives in later this month?

"Not only do we have budding and blooming taking place early in some of the key California agricultural areas, we've got a shortage of top soil moisture," said USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. "And so that is going to require early irrigation just to keep fruit and nut trees in good shape as they proceed through this early bloom period."

Rippey noted California reservoir supplies remain above average. That dryness unfortunately has extended to us here in the Northwest. And this comes as some trees are already starting to bud out.

"Another thing that could have an impact on in the West is forage production. Because the timing of the wet season we had some rains early, but very little, recently in California that could adversely impact forage production this spring," Rippey said.

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