Heavy rain, hail and rising production costs created new challenges for California Central Valley orchard growers during April, according to Blue Diamond Growers regional crop report covering March 30 through April 26.
The report said two strong spring storms brought 3 to 4 inches of rain to much of the Central Valley, although some southern San Joaquin Valley areas received just 0.25 to 0.5 inch. A thunderstorm April 10 dropped quarter-sized hail near Ripon in San Joaquin County, stripping nuts from trees and damaging orchards. Strong winds also knocked over trees in some orchards.
The wet conditions reduced irrigation demand but increased concern over fungal diseases, particularly red leaf blotch, which has spread rapidly in the valley during the past two years. Growers and Pest Control Advisers (PCAs) also reported higher populations of leaf-footed plant bugs, stink bugs and boxelder bugs…