We usually start with what is “Ripe In the Land of Oceana." This month the focus is looking in the rearview mirror and reviewing what was ripe in the Land of Oceana before moving on. The asparagus season is a wrap. A slow harvest start saw a lack of product to meet demand, with Peru and Canada filling the gap. Grower returns went down until weather events improved production. The season was somewhat longer than normal, and growers were mostly satisfied overall.
Strawberry season had a slower start, with production down due to cold weather. Prices were slightly higher with few quality issues, and on a positive note, it could have been worse.
Corn and soybean planting had a slow start, and again, cool wet conditions early on delayed planting emergence. As warmer conditions began, improvement was noted. The old corn standard of knee-high by the Fourth of July found most fields exceeding that. Nitrogen side-dressing applications and warmer weather contributed to better growth.
Orchard bloom was a 180-degree turn from 2025. High temperatures and a short blossom time in 2025 found cooler bloom temperatures and an extended blossom in 2026. Several cold nights at critical bloom times either killed flowers or weakened them, resulting in a poor set. Tart cherries took the brunt of undesirable weather, with the smallest crop many had not historically seen before. While there are limited locations with a good crop, many producers are leaving harvesting equipment in the sheds this season. Depending on insurance adjusters' appraisals, harvest will happen to meet policy requirements. Sweet cherries saw better conditions but are still a shorter crop than desired.
May rainfall of 2 inches was much less than the almost 10 inches in April. Once the June temperatures reached the mid- to high-80-degree level, insect populations increased rapidly and now should slow until the next generation of bugs begins.
"Share the road" is my constant reminder to drivers to remain alert at all times so everyone can return home safely every evening.
