Published end of March • For April planning & operations
♦ ALMOND HULL SPLIT AUG TARGET ♦ PISTACHIO BLOOM ACTIVE ♦ WHEAT PRICES FIRMING ♦ PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: PREMIUM 97™ & PREMIUM 95™ HA
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Section 1
Crop Status & Growing Season
April is one of the highest-leverage months in the Central Valley, nearly every commodity is in a critical growth phase simultaneously. Temperatures warming into the 70–80°F range, soil moisture from winter rains, and long daylight hours combine to drive explosive biomass accumulation. Watch irrigation timing closely as evapotranspiration climbs rapidly.
🍐 Almonds
Nut Set
Petal fall complete. Jackets dropping. Hull and shell development in full swing, most water-sensitive period of the season. Confirm adequate pollination; identify small nut counts now. Watch for navel orangeworm egg lay and mite monitoring. Confirm irrigation scheduling for hull split push starting in May.
🌿 Pistachios
Bloom / Pollination
Peak bloom mid-April. Wind-driven pollen transfer occurring now, avoid orchard disturbance. 2026 is an “on-year” in the alternate-bearing cycle; yield potential elevated. Monitor for Botryosphaeria panicle & shoot blight. Minimal irrigation during bloom to avoid soil cracking near root zone.
🪓 Walnuts
Catkin / Bud Swell
Chandler and Howard breaking bud. Catkin elongation underway, critical window for codling moth first flight. Deploy degree-day traps now. Watch for walnut blight (Xanthomonas) if late rains hit. Verify chill hour accumulation; any deficit means uneven leafout and reduced fruit set.
🍇 Wine & Table Grapes
Bud Break
Bud break to 2–4 inch shoot growth. Frost risk persists through mid-April, monitor overnight temps closely. Most frost-vulnerable period. Begin powdery mildew spray program at 0.5-inch shoot. Coachella table grape harvest ramping; SJV vineyards in early growth stage.
🥝 Kiwis
Shoot Growth / Pre-Bloom
Rapid vegetative shoot growth phase. Training and tying new canes is a priority this month. Begin thinning overcrowded fruiting canes. Pollinator bee hive placement should be scheduled, bloom is 3–5 weeks out. Botrytis pressure rises with April fog events; monitor canopy microclimate.
🍊 Citrus
Bloom / Petal Fall
Orange and navel bloom peak in April. Regulate irrigation to mild stress leading into bloom, then ease off at full petal drop. Monitor for citrus thrips during fruit set. Asian Citrus Psyllid (HLB vector) monitoring is a top priority, report suspicious symptoms to CDFA immediately.
🌿 Cotton
Pre-Plant / Planting
Soil temps need to hit 65°F at 4-inch depth, typically achieved mid-to-late April in Kern and Kings counties. Final pre-plant herbicide applications due. Soil prep and bed shaping should be complete. Planting window opens last 10 days of April. Wait for stable soil temps.
🌾 Wheat (Winter)
Jointing / Heading
Stem elongation to early head emergence. Apply final top-dress N if not done in March. Scout heavily for stripe rust and powdery mildew, fungicide window is tight at flag leaf through heading. Aphid populations build fast in warm April weather. Check soil moisture at depth.
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Section 2
April Fertilizer Requirements
April is peak demand season for most crops. Nutrient uptake curves are steep, timing and placement are critical. Fertigate where possible to match uptake to demand. Soil and tissue testing from March should be guiding your rates.
Crop
Primary Nutrients
Micros / Notes
Timing & Method
Almonds
N: 40–60 lbs/ac split via fertigation through July. K critical post–petal fall for hull sizing.
Zn & B foliar at petal fall HIGH. Ca foliar for shell integrity.
Split fertigation every 10–14 days via drip. First K push now through May.
Pistachios
Minimal during bloom. Post-bloom K & Ca become priority.
No foliar during bloom. Zn correction if leaf tissue deficient. HIGH
Hold N & heavy fertigation during bloom. Resume aggressively post-petal fall.
Walnuts
N: 80–100 lbs/ac season. Deliver 30% in April via fertigation. K demand increases with catkin extension.
Zn foliar at catkin stage. Mn if deficient. MED
Fertigation via micro-sprinklers or drip. First 30% N dose applied now.
Grapes
N: 30–50 lbs/ac; apply 40% in April as shoots push. K demand begins at 4-inch shoot.
B foliar at pre-bloom critical for fruit set. HIGH Zn & Mg via foliar if deficient.
Fertigation and/or dry broadcast. Foliar micro sprays before bloom, not during.
Kiwis
High N demand during shoot growth, 40 lbs/ac N in April–May. K essential for vine structure.
B & Ca foliar ahead of bloom. HIGH Mg via fertigation if pale leaf color noted.
Split fertigations every 2 weeks. Foliar nutrients 2–3 weeks before first bloom.
Citrus
N: moderate, 20–25 lbs/ac in April. Avoid excess N at bloom. Ca & Mg important.
Zn & Mn foliar post-petal fall. MED Iron chelate if chlorosis in young leaves.
Fertigation. No heavy N during peak bloom; resume at petal fall.
Cotton
Pre-plant: P & K incorporated if soil test warrants. At emergence: starter N (15–20 lbs/ac).
Zn pre-plant or in-furrow. MED B pre-plant on deficient soils.
Pre-plant broadcast & incorporate. In-furrow starter at planting.
Wheat
Final top-dress N: 30–40 lbs/ac UAN at flag leaf. HIGH S: 10–15 lbs/ac if not in base program.
Foliar Mn & Zn if flag leaf tissue shows deficiency. Mn particularly important on alkaline soils.
Ground or aerial at flag leaf (Zadoks GS 37–39). UAN 28% via streamer bars.
Advisor Note: April soil temperatures and tissue tests from late March should drive final rate decisions. Water stress during fertigation events reduces uptake efficiency by 30–50%. Always confirm irrigation scheduling before injecting, nutrients sitting dry in soil don’t benefit your crop.
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Section 3
April Market Brief
Commodity prices as of late March 2026. Trade policy and tariff uncertainty continues to create volatility, consult your broker before making major marketing decisions.
Almonds
$1.30–$1.55
per lb · handler
↑ Firming. Crop size down slightly, supporting stronger prices vs. prior 2 yrs. Watch China tariff exposure.
Pistachios
$2.00–$2.40
per lb · in-shell
→ Steady. ‘26 on-year could push supply higher. Prices firm on strong domestic & Middle East demand.
Walnuts
$0.55–$0.75
per lb · grower
→ Challenging. Supply overhang & China trade friction persist. Cost-of-production squeeze is real.
Grapes
$250–$450
per ton · varietal
↓ Soft on wine. Wine contracts under pressure. Coachella table grapes starting, early variety premium intact.
Kiwis
$42–$46
per 9kg container
→ Steady. LA terminal Hayward at $42–$46. Gold kiwi premium remains. Quality & timing drive access.
→ Uncertain. Narrow price band with trade policy noise. Check crop insurance before committing acres.
Wheat
$5.40–$5.70
per bushel · July
↑ Firming. Dry weather pushing HRW up. U.S. exports at 900M bu, 5-yr high. Modest optimism.
Tariff Watch: Trade policy continues to affect all export-dependent commodities. Almonds, pistachios, and walnuts have significant China exposure. Monitor USDA trade updates weekly. Consult your commodity broker, this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
Section 4
Product Spotlight
April’s rising soil temps and rapid crop growth create peak demand for calcium and sulfur. This month we’re spotlighting two solution-grade products from Diamond K Gypsum, Premium 97™ and Premium 95™ HA, both engineered for efficient delivery through your drip or micro-spray system.
Premium 97™ is the purest, most soluble mined solution grade calcium sulfate dihydrate gypsum available. Improves soil structure, enhances crop quality, and yields more effectively than bulk gypsum, with lower application rates than other western sources. Delivers Ca and S directly to the root zone via drip or micro-spray.
✓Extremely pure, 97% CaSO₄, the purest available on the market
✓Lower application rates, other western sources require up to 4x more product
✓Highly soluble, 97.6% passing 200 mesh; goes into solution faster than other sources
✓ Helps reclaim sodic soils; adds minerals to improve water penetration
✓ OMRI Listed for organic use, available in 50 lb bags and 2,000 lb totes
ALMONDSPISTACHIOSWALNUTSGRAPESCITRUSCOTTONWHEAT
Diamond K Gypsum · Solution Grade
Premium 95™ HA Solution Grade Gypsum + Humic Acids
Premium 95™ HA combines Diamond K’s Premium 97™ Solution Grade Gypsum with high-quality humic acids from Leonardite, in a single wettable powder. Can be converted to liquid and blended with most fertilizers to aid micronutrient uptake, while delivering the purest available mined gypsum. Safe for micro-jet, drip, foliar, hydroponic and greenhouse applications.
✓ Premium 97™ gypsum base + 0.75% humic acids from Leonardite in one product
✓ Humic acids may aid in the uptake of micronutrients when blended with fertilizers
✓ Very finely ground, 99.5% passing 100 mesh, 97.6% passing 200 mesh; dissolves fast
✓ Safe for micro-jet, drip, foliar, hydroponic & greenhouse use
✓ OMRI Listed for organic use, 50 lb bags and 2,000 lb totes available
April Application Timing: Both Premium 97™ and Premium 95™ HA are ideally applied in early-to-mid April before crop water demand peaks. Maintain water pH between 6.5–7.0 and adjust pH before adding gypsum. Most effective when injected during the first 30–40% of an irrigation set to carry Ca and S into the active root zone. Ask us about recommended rates by crop and soil type, every field is different.
Let’s Build Your Program
Not sure which product fits your ground? Start with the data. We offer soil sampling, lab analysis, amendment quotes, and custom blend programs tailored to your crop, your soil, and your budget.
This newsletter is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Crop conditions, market prices, and fertilizer recommendations vary by location, variety, soil, and season. Always consult with a licensed PCA/CCA and your commodity broker before making agronomic or marketing decisions. B Mello Ag Services assumes no liability for decisions made based on this publication.
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