-March 10,2019-
Valencia orange crop pegged at 19mil cartons, smaller fruit size
The California Valencia orange crop looks to be similar in size to last year pegged at 19 million cartons. A March 1 survey indicates an average fruit set per tree of 573, a 9 percent increase from the previous year and above the five-year average of 568. The average March 1 diameter was 2.534 inches, slightly below the five-year average of 2.556. Known as the juice orange, farmers are harvesting about half the volume of this fruit they did in 2008 with the planting of more exotic varieties of citrus taking off.
Tulare County jobless rate ticks up from year ago
The long string of improved job numbers year over year in many California counties has come to an end in January 2019 reports the EDD.That goes for Tulare County and the larger Fresno County job market as well.
The unemployment rate in the Tulare County was 11.3 percent in January 2019, up from a revised 9.4 percent in December 2018, and above the year-ago estimate of 11.1 percent. This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.8 percent for California and 4.5 percent for the nation during the same period.
Across the US job creation appeared to come to a halt in Janaury, made worse by the government shutdown.
New Federal order orders-up better milk prices
Milk Producers Council reports that California dairy operators hopes of improved milk prices by joining the Federal order last fall may be paying off.March Class IV milk settled at $15.79, not far from the February price at $15.86, but much better than the $13.04 dairy producers were paid a year ago.
For dairy producers in California’s new Federal Milk Marketing Order 51, the combination of $14.97 Class III and $15.79 Class IV will likely result in a blended milk price more than $2 higher than those of their March 2018 milk check.
High Speed Rail vows to continue building
Despite threats from the Trump administration the CEO of California High Speed Rail Authority responded to a February 19 letter from the Federal Railroad Administration in recent days saying construction will continue. The Federal Railroad Administration letter threatened to take back federal funds directed to the rail project. CEO Brian Kelly responded “The threat to de-obligate these funds ignores the steady progress made on the project that now has 24 active or completed construction sites, employs some 2,600 workers in the Central Valley, and includes the participation of some 488 small businesses, including 15 from outside California.” He added the Authority has met their obligations under the federal grant agreements to date.
Dry pattern expected next two weeks
California should dry off for the next two weeks as high-pressure sets in after this wet weekend and week and a record breaking stormy February. Forecasters say there may or may not see some storms push into the state the last week of the month.
The 10 day forecast for the Feather River Basin in northern California shows a wet pattern through March 7 with nearly 14 inches of precipitation followed by a dry patten for the next 2 weeks with under an inch expected.
Los Angeles should dry off too with sunny skies and temps in the 70s and even high 70s some days.
The warm temps could help bring out a California wildflower super-bloom some are predicting. California deserts may see another spectacular floral display this spring—similar to the impressive wildflower blooms of 2017—as a result of the amount of rainfall the state recently received. This unpredictable, rare occurrence may attract thousands of people to rural deserts areas including Carrizo Plain in Central California.