This report covers conditions and observations made on Thursday, February 11, 2016.

Taken in western San Joaquin County, photos for the central region provide a glimpse of an orchard being irrigated to provide a wet soil profile during bloom, various stages of bloom in the Independence variety, and the pink tip stage in the Carmel variety.

Above average temperatures continue in the Northern San Joaquin Valley. Overnight lows in the mid 40s gave way to daytime highs in the mid 70s with clear skies and low winds. Bees had 7 excellent hours of flight to pollinate the oncoming bloom.

The above-average temperatures continue to advance bloom at a rapid pace in the central region. The early blooming Sonora variety has over 10% of its flowers presenting for pollination. Nonpareil and its California-type pollinizers are two to three days behind and at similar stages of development with one another. The Monterey and Carmel varieties continue to be a day behind Nonpareil. Meanwhile, the later blooming Butte and Padre have almost no dormant buds remaining and more pink tissue is starting to emerge from the sepals daily.

New orchards are being planted as growers are taking advantage of the dry weather. Many growers have taken delivery of their fungicide material in anticipation of some wet weather next week. Growers along the west side of the valley with access to well water have begun irrigating to more completely fill their soil profile prior to bloom.