Agriculture welcomes summer

Temperatures across California's Central Valley pushed past the century mark in conjunction with the official arrival of summer yesterday. The warming weather is, for the most part, being welcomed by the agriculture industry, though some wished the warm-up hadn't been so sudden, Capital Press reported.

CP reporter Tim Hearden spoke with UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor Rick Buchner about almond, walnut and prune orchards, which he said are holding up well, although gradual warming would have been better.

"We haven't found a whole lot of problems at this point," Buchner was quoted. "We've seen some pretty good prune and walnut crops."

The Capital Press story summarized USDA's National Agriculture Statistics Service National Crop Weather Report. It said:

• Alfalfa growers have been getting cuttings throughout the state in June
• Sunflower seed, corn and bean planting continued
• Blueberry harvest has gone into full swing
• Strawberry picking continues, while strawberry nursery planting is about finished
• Carrots have been harvested in Kern County
• Onions and garlic in Fresno County are maturing to harvest
• Processing tomatoes are starting to grow after the cool weather held them back
• Non-irrigated pasture and rangeland are in good condition

The cool spring slowed grape growth and caused mildew and fungus problems.

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