-May 3,2021-
Almond acreage up 6%
California’s 2020 almond acreage is estimated at 1,600,000 acres, 5.3% higher than the 2019 acreage of 1,520,000. Of the total acreage for 2020, 1,250,000 acres were bearing, 5.9% above 2019, and 350,000 acres were non-bearing, up 2.9% from 2019. Preliminary bearing acreage for 2021 is estimated at 1,330,000 acres.
Nonpareil continued to be the leading variety based on bearing acreage, followed by Monterey, Butte, Carmel, and Padre.
Fresno, Kern, Stanislaus, Merced and Madera were the leading counties. These five counties accounted for 73% of the total bearing acreage.
Corn prices hit 7-year high
May corn are at d a seven-year high at $7.40 per bushel, up more than $1.75 this month. The U.S. has exported huge volumes of corn and there is no sign of a slowdown. Brazil’s corn crop is said to be withering with little rain forecasted.
Dry milk powder price at 7-year high
This past week spot nonfat dry milk (NDM) jumped 7.25ȼ to $1.325- the highest spot value since October 2014. The USA has a good supply and much of the rest the world does not. Visalia’s California Dairies Inc (CDI) sports the largest milk powder plant in the US.
Navel orange prices are good
Talks over Farmworker legislation underway
Politico reports that the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, supported by California agriculture is still undergoing negotiations in the Senate after passing the House in March but Republicans are firm that they do not support the House version of the bill and are working to make changes.Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, has stepped forward to lead negotiations with Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., on a Senate companion bill to the FWMA. They will need the support of at least 10 GOP Senators to pass.