AG NEWS
May 16,2014
Tulare County Milk Production Rebounds
CDFA reports Tulare County milk production in March was up 3.1% from March 2013 and Kings Co was up 4.2% as milk prices have improved. Statewide, nearly half the dry milk made here is being exported to the Far East and 63% of the dry whey. Some 36% of our cheese is also exported to the Far East.
China may reopen market for citrus in June after Chinese inspectors visit Tulare County groves. The USDA has announced that a supplementary agreement has been reached with China’s phytosanitary regulatory agency to reopen the Chinese market that has been closed to California citrus exports since April 2013. There will be a two year pilot program that stipulates that the California industry should implement certain measures. An inspection team from China will come here in June with the market likely to reopen after that.Growers agreed to certain procedures to fight plant destroying Phytophthora with cooper sprays and other precautions. US orange exports to China and Hong Kong combined have been valued at over $100 million in the past.
Tule River’s Low Flow
Watermaster Richard Schafer says that the Tule River is going to have an April/July runoff of about 8,000 acre/feet. In an average year it produces around 70,000 acre ft.The expected 8000 af runoff is lower than 1977 drought yield says Schafer.
Despite Drought Big Table Grape Year Predicted
The California Table Grape Commission estimates the 2014-15 crop at 116.5 million, 19-pound boxes compared to last season’s record crop of 117.4 million boxes. Final estimates will be ready in June. Like a number of California crops this year – table grapes will arrive early. The Commission says efficiencies will offset lower volume due to the dry conditions.There are nearly 500 table grape farming operations in the state who produces 99% of the table grapes grown in the United States.