Week 5

Week 5, day 1, Rubber Boot Journalist is discussing almonds all week since they are in full bloom under blue skies and 70 degree weather today.  Did you know the almond tree was brought to California from Spain in the mid-1700s by Franciscan Padres?











Week 5, day 2, Rubber Boot Journalist. The almond bloom for 2014 is nearing the end. Did you know a good yield in the 1980s was 1,400 pounds per acre. The average yield for 2011 was 2,670 pounds per acre. Does anyone know why yields have increased? Tune in tomorrow to find out why.

Week 5, day 2, Rubber Boot Journalist.  In answer to yesterday's question the increase in yield is due to improvement in varieties.  Do you know what the main varieties are in almonds?

Week 5, day 2, Rubber Boot Journalist, the main varieties of almonds are nonpareil, carmel, mission, butte, padre, Monterey, Sonora, fritz, peerless and price.  Do you know how many pounds of almonds were produced in 2012?


















Week 5, day 2, Rubber Boot Journalist, there were 2 billion pounds of almonds produced in 2012.  Do you know where most of those almonds were sold? Tune in Monday to find out the answer or post it for me.

Week 4

Week 4, day 1&2, Rubber Boot Journalist has been on the road taking photos of cattle.  Did you know most California cattle ranchers have less than 50 head of cattle?







Week 4, day 3, Rubber Boot Journalist is working on almonds this week.  Did you know almonds bloom in February?

Week 4, day 4, Rubber Boot Journalist is working on almonds again.  Did you know there are 800,000 acres of almonds grown in California?

Week 18, day 5, Rubber Boot Journalist is still working on rice and almonds.  Did you know if we get a cold snap during the almond bloom growers use irrigation to protect the blossoms?

Week 3

Week 3, day 1, Rubber Boot Journalist it's celebration time. We got almost three inches of rain the last few days and more is predicted! Will it be enough for farmers?

Week 3, day 2, Rubber Boot Journalist is working on rice straw.  Did you know less than five percent of the rice stubble is harvested for straw for animal feed?





Week 3, day 3, Rubber Boot Journalist, finished the rice straw article and is moving on drought in the Klamath Basin. Did you know Tulelake, California, has some of the finest soil anywhere?

Week 3, day 4, Rubber Boot Journalist is working on the drought in California. Did you know what the five main crops are in the Klamath Basin? Tune in tomorrow to find out or post them first.

Week 3, day 5, Rubber Boot Journalist is still working on the drought in California. The five main crops in the Klamath Basin are forage, livestock, onions, potatoes and peppermint. Do you know what some of the more minor crops are?

Week 2

Week 2, day 1, Rubber Boot Journalist is working on rice this week. Did you know rice is seeded from the air?

 Did you know 95% of California rice is grown about 100 miles from the state capital of Sacramento?  For more information on rice go to http://www.calrice.org/Industry+Info/About+California+Rice/California+Rice+Growing+Region.htm

Week 2, day 3, Rubber Boot Journalist starts work on a haylage article. Anyone know what haylage is? It's rice straw that's made into a kind of silage and the straw is the left over stubble after the straw is harvested. Anyone know what silage is? Check in tomorrow to find out.

Week 2, day 4, Rubber Boot Journalist silage is pasture grass that has been ‘pickled’. Farmers raise corn and harvest and store it for silage. Here's a video that shows the process.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWyC2ee1ESk  Tomorrow's topic walnuts and the drought.