April13,2106
Kaweah & Kings Runoff Offers Some Relief
Chair of the Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District Don Mills says runoff on both the Kaweah and Kings River should be around 73% of average based on the snowpack – a whole lot better than 26% of average last year. Local districts who get Kaweah water include the Boswell company and Lakeside Water District who should see about 4 weeks of irrigation runs while Kings River water users might get 5 to 7 weeks of runs. ”It will feel more like a normal year where people will be able to float down the Kings River in inner tubes.” But Mills adds that while things feel better after four years of drought, El Nino did not pack the punch some thought it would. While rainfall in the Sierra stands around 100% of average – snowpack is down to 73%. “We need much more than that to repair the damage done by the drought. At least for a part of the summer – farmers will be able to turn off their pumps.”
Next crisis will be the approaching deadlines to form state-mandated Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) in Kings County.”The state has set us locals up to be the bad guys, to tell farmers they will have to restrict their pumping.” Mills adds that “this program is not going to be popular.” On the other hand if locals don’t do it and the county does not act – the state will organize it “and nobody wants that.” Mills says one deadline to organize is by year’s end.
Report Says Ag Land Values Here Head Lower
The annual report from the California Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisals released Friday in Visalia says in a word – watch out below. While ag commodity prices including nuts prices were higher in most of 2015 the year 2016 appears to be a different story. “Nut prices began to slip in the latter half of 2015, led by the walnut market and followed in November by a stomach-clenching free fall in the almond market”comments the report. What is the upshot “One of the key factors driving the increase in land values—record farm profitability—has fundamentally changed in 2016.” Among the predictions: Milk prices continued to drop, along with feed and fuel costs. Whereas in the past, many older dairy facilities might have been converted to nut-crop ground, that’s less of a possibility today. Larger dairies will now likely show more interest in purchasing those properties. ”Nut growers might not be able to pay as much,”said presenter Janie Gatzman of American Ag Credit , adding that the larger dairies are likely to make those purchases in order to grow their enterprise by increasing the permitted herd size.
Vineyard New Plantings Slow
Planting of new California vineyards slowed significantly during the past year, according to a report released Tuesday. The government survey says farmers planted fewer than 9,000 acres of new vines last year, down more than 40 percent from the previous year. The grapes most frequently planted included wine varieties such as cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and chardonnay. California leads the nation in grape production.