This report covers conditions and observations made on Monday, February 22, 2016.

The photos accompanying today’s report show the petal fall and jacket stages of the Nonpareil variety in Madera County, the petal fall and jacket stages in the Carmel variety in the Easton area of Fresno County, and a down-the-row shot of a Nonpareil and Monterey orchard in the Arvin area of Kern County.

Warm, sunny weather made its return to the South San Joaquin Valley on Monday. Overnight temperatures in the low 40s quickly gave way to afternoon highs in the upper 60s. Skies were clear and winds were calm making for very good bee weather. Bees were able to put in seven solid hours of forage time.

Bloom is beginning to wind down in the southern region. All varieties have achieved their maximum number of open flowers and are now beginning to shed petals. The early blooming Sonora only has one-third of its flowers presenting for pollination, while just over one-third of its flowers have lost their petals completely. Nonpareil, Monterey, Carmel, and California-type pollenizers have under half of their flowers presenting for pollination while over one-fifth of their flowers have shed all petals. The Butte variety has 40% of its flowers shedding petals while the Padre cultivar is a day behind.

Herbicide applications continue where needed and flail mowing was observed over much of the region as warmer weather and adequate moisture spurred weed growth. Growers with significant amounts of viable flowers left are applying a second round of fungicides as they deem necessary.

By Brian Noeller