News
Dangerous heat waves in much of the western U.S. could soon break all-time temperature records.
In the wake of water shortages, food processors have reduced the tonnage of tomatoes they plan to buy from California farmers.
Contracted processing tomato acreage for the 2021 season stands at 231,000, down from the January forecast of 240,000. Fresno County remains the top county in contracted acreage, at 62,000. The other top counties – Yolo, Merced, Kings and San Joaquin – combine with Fresno to account for 71% of the contracted acreage.
The latest government estimate says tomato acreage and tonnage will be down 4% from an original planting-intentions survey released in January. The U.S, Department of Agriculture said tomato processors reported they expect to have contracts for 11.6 million tons of processing tomatoes, down from 12.1 million tons in the earlier survey.
"Another year of dry weather during the winter and spring caused concern over water availability and resulted in a decrease in contracted acreage and tonnage" the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service said.
The report said the early tomato crop "has been developing nicely," with no descriptions of disease or pest problems.
"At this point in the season, yield is projected to be average,” the report said, "but expected high temperatures in the coming months could have a significant impact".
"Record-high temperatures will just continue the vicious cycle that so often happens in droughts, where hot, cloudless skies result in increased evaporation of what little water is left in lakes and rivers," says CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller. "This, in turn, worsens the drought."
The latest drought monitor released June 17 categorizes a majority of the southwestern US as experiencing extreme to exceptional drought conditions. Major heat on the way this week will only worsen the deteriorating outlook.
"Another year of dry weather during the winter and spring caused concern over water availability and resulted in a decrease in contracted acreage and tonnage" the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service said.
The report said the early tomato crop "has been developing nicely," with no descriptions of disease or pest problems.
"At this point in the season, yield is projected to be average,” the report said, "but expected high temperatures in the coming months could have a significant impact".
June 2021: record high heat soars, worsening the Western drought
All-time records are in jeopardy this week (week 25, June 20-26) as a dangerous heat wave bakes much of the Western United States, an area already begging for moisture due to exceptional drought. Sacramento, Calif., recently set a new daily record of 109°F (43°C).
"Record-high temperatures will just continue the vicious cycle that so often happens in droughts, where hot, cloudless skies result in increased evaporation of what little water is left in lakes and rivers," says CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller. "This, in turn, worsens the drought."
The latest drought monitor released June 17 categorizes a majority of the southwestern US as experiencing extreme to exceptional drought conditions. Major heat on the way this week will only worsen the deteriorating outlook.
According to local sources, some of California's major reservoirs, which span the center of the state, are in areas with the highest levels of drought. Eleven of the state's twelve major reservoirs are below their historical average, according to California's Department of Water Resources.
Sources: foodinstitute.com, edition.cnn.com
