Almond Growers Face a Tough Season as Weather Swings Continue

The 2024/25 almond growing season has been anything but predictable. Just a couple of months ago, heavy winter storms dumped record rainfall across the Sacramento Valley, giving farmers hope for a strong crop. But fast forward to January, and things took a sharp turn—weeks of dry weather left growers worried about soil moisture, bloom health, and water supply for the coming months.

California’s almond orchards rely heavily on winter rains and Sierra Nevada snowpack, and while the north saw a solid 162% of normal snowfall early in the season, that number dropped to 89% by the end of January as precipitation slowed. In the San Joaquin Valley, some areas barely saw three inches of rain all month, making it harder for farmers to keep orchards in top shape heading into bloom season.

Challenges with Bud Development and Pest Management

Bloom is All Over the Place: Some orchards, especially those with stressed trees, have already started blooming earlier than usual—particularly the Sonora variety. This irregular bloom could throw off pollination timing and affect nut development.

Pests Are Becoming a Bigger Problem: Last year’s harvest saw one of the worst Navel Orangeworm infestations in recent history, and that’s putting pressure on farmers to step up their pest management game. Many orchards still have mummy nuts (leftover almonds from last season), which are prime breeding grounds for these pests. Dry conditions have made it tough to knock them off trees, and without proper sanitation, the problem could get worse.

Cover Crops Didn’t Get the Rain They Needed: Many farmers plant cover crops to protect soil, attract pollinators, and improve orchard health, but with such little rain in January, these crops struggled to establish. Without enough vegetation, orchards may see lower bee activity, making pollination less efficient.

Water Shortage Might Be A Concern In Summer

Water Storage is Holding Up—for Now: Thanks to last year’s strong snowpack, reservoirs like Lake Shasta (118% of average) and New Melones (78% capacity) are still in decent shape. But if this dry spell drags on, irrigation could become a bigger concern heading into summer.

Pest Pressure Could Impact Yields: If growers can’t manage Navel Orangeworm infestations effectively, we could see higher reject rates at processing plants, which might push prices up due to lower quality supply.

Pollination is the Next Big Hurdle: The next few weeks will be critical. If we get more rain soon, it could help strengthen bloom and pollination. But if dry conditions persist, bees may struggle to do their job, potentially reducing yields for the 2024 harvest.

Final Thoughts: A Season Full of Unknowns

As bloom season kicks off, almond farmers are dealing with one curveball after another. From early blooms and dry weather to pest worries and uncertain water conditions, this year is shaping up to be anything but smooth sailing.

For now, the industry is keeping a close eye on upcoming weather patterns, hoping for some well-timed rain to turn things around. But one thing’s for sure—farmers will need to stay flexible and ready for anything in the months ahead.





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