From the Fields - Kevin Herman

By Kevin Herman, Fresno, Madera and Merced counties tree crop grower

We’ve wrapped up our pruning, and we’re completing the mulching of the pruning clippings on almonds, pistachios, figs—pretty much everything. Fortunately, we have not had to do much irrigation yet with the late spring rains we’ve been having. We are getting ready to start our first fertilizer applications and some fungicide applications.

The almond crop looks a little spotty. I’ve got some ranches that have great crops, and I’ve got some that are just OK. I wish I knew why. Talking to my friends, the consensus is that it’s probably going to be a pretty good-sized crop.

Pistachios are just leafing out, and I think it’s going to be a good crop, but not a great one, certainly less than last year. The walnuts are starting to wake up, and bloom is just starting. Once again, it looks like a nice crop, but last year was huge, and I don’t think it’s going to be as big this year.

On figs, there’s what they call the first crop and then the main crop. The first crop comes off last year’s wood, and you can see that pretty well right now. I’m sounding like a broken record because last year we had a really big first crop, and this year it’s just a good first crop. It appears to not be as big as last year.

We have good groundwater conditions though, and the reservoirs are nice and full. I’m a little frustrated that the government is not releasing more than 35% to us right now, considering the circumstances.

Almond sales have been really strong, which is a pleasant change. Pistachio sales are just astronomical. We’re 58% ahead of last year, so it’s really good because last year was our biggest crop ever. Fig sales are kind of slow right now. I’m not sure why. That’s a mixed bag from one crop to another.