Central Valley Agricultural Intelligence
August 2026 Field Report
Published August 1, 2026 • For August planning & harvest operations
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♦ ALMOND HARVEST STARTS EARLY ♦ PISTACHIO OFF‑YEAR CROP RUNS SHORT ♦ SILAGE CORN CHOPPING ♦ COTTON INTO CUTOUT ♦ POMEGRANATE SPLIT & LEAFFOOTED BUG WATCH ♦ SPOTLIGHT: POST‑HARVEST SOIL SAMPLING & JABB BIOLOGICALS ♦ AUG 2, 1776, 250 YEARS SINCE THE SIGNING
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Harvest Season Is Here
Now is the time to schedule your annual post-harvest soil samples. The window between shaking and dormancy is short, and it’s the one chance all year to see what your ground actually gave up, and what it needs before next season starts.
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🌿
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Section 1
Crop Status & Harvest Outlook
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August is when the Valley starts cashing in the year. Almond shaking is running roughly a week and a half to two weeks ahead of normal, silage corn is being chopped, cotton is closing in on cutout, pomegranates are coloring up ahead of a fall pick, and pistachios are heading into a harvest that will be lighter than anyone hoped. The crop in front of you is largely set, but next year’s crop is decided by what you do on this ground in the next ninety days. That starts with a post-harvest soil sample.
| 🍐 Almonds |
Harvest Underway |
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Shaking has started on Nonpareil and early varieties, roughly 1.5 to 2 weeks ahead of normal. USDA pegs the 2026 crop at 2.70 billion lbs, down 1% from last year, and handler estimates have since drifted to 2.65–2.70 billion on a warm spring that pushed maturity and trimmed kernel weights. Bearing acreage fell for the first time in 30 years. Keep NOW sanitation tight, get nuts off the ground fast, and pull soil samples right behind the sweeper.
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| 🌿 Pistachios |
Short Off-Year Crop |
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An off year compounded by an unusually hot March. Pollen viability drops above roughly 85°F during bloom, and orchards, especially south of Fresno County, are showing high blank counts. Early estimates run 600–900 million lbs against last year’s record 1.6 billion. Harvest approaches late month into September. Industry leaders call 2026 an anomaly and expect a strong 2027. Use this light year to fix the soil.
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| 🪓 Walnuts |
Kernel Fill / Pre-Harvest |
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Kernels filling and packing tissue browning, early harvest is four to six weeks out. Walnut husk fly and third-flight codling moth remain the pest calls. Hold water steady through fill, then plan your pre-harvest dry-down. Sunburn is the quiet yield thief in a hot August, keep canopies covered and irrigation ahead of the heat.
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| 🍇 Wine & Table Grapes |
Harvest / Post-Veraison |
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San Joaquin table grapes are in full harvest; early wine varieties are coming off late month. Nitrogen should be done, finish on potassium and water management to hit sugar and color targets. Shade clusters through heat spikes. Book post-harvest sampling now so the fall amendment pass is planned before the crews are gone.
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Fruit is putting on its last size ahead of an October harvest. Vines are shallow-rooted and unforgiving in triple digits, keep water heavy and consistent. Maintain potassium for size and dry matter. Shade the fruit; sunburn losses this month are permanent. Watch mites and leafroller.
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| 🍊 Citrus |
Valencia Harvest / Sizing |
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Valencias are moving while new-crop navels size for fall. Steady moisture prevents splitting and drop, August swings cost fruit. Keep potassium available. Citrus thrips and red scale pressure continues, and Asian Citrus Psyllid monitoring stays a top priority, report symptoms to CDFA. Protect young trees from heat.
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| 🍀 Pomegranates |
Sizing & Color Development |
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Wonderful is putting on final size and building aril color ahead of a late-September through November pick. Two things decide this crop in August. First, irrigation consistency, pomegranates split when soil moisture swings, and a split fruit is a total loss, not a downgrade. Hold a steady moisture band instead of chasing the heat. Second, leaffooted bug, which UC IPM flags as building to very large numbers from mid-August through harvest. Late-season feeding often leaves no mark on the outside while the arils darken and wither underneath, and the wound opens a door for fungal entry. Get scouting in place now. Shade exposed fruit as well; sunburn on the sun side is permanent. Keep potassium up for size and color, with calcium supporting rind integrity, and watch Alternaria heart rot in any block carrying late moisture.
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| 🌿 Cotton |
Boll Fill / Cutout |
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Bolls are filling and fields are moving toward cutout. Nitrogen should be finished, late N only delays maturity. Keep water on until the last harvestable boll is set, then start planning termination. Watch lygus, aphids, and mites through cutout; sticky cotton from late aphids is a grading problem you cannot fix at the gin.
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| 🌽 Corn (Silage & Grain) |
Silage Chopping |
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Early silage is being chopped; later plantings are in grain fill. Chop to moisture and kernel milk line, not the calendar, it drives feed value all winter. Dairy demand stays firm. Sample chopped ground immediately so double-crop or fall cover decisions are made on data, not habit.
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| 🌾 Wheat Stubble & Open Ground |
Sampling Window Open |
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Wheat ground is open and orchards are opening up behind harvest, this is the sampling window. A post-harvest soil test shows what the crop actually pulled out, where salts and pH have moved, and which nutrients are sitting there tied up and unavailable. That data is what turns a fall amendment and custom-blend program into a targeted plan instead of a guess. Sample now; the window closes when the ground gets wet.
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Section 2
August Fertilizer Requirements
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August fertility splits in two directions. On crops still filling, potassium finishes the job while nitrogen stays off. On crops coming off, the priority shifts to post-harvest recovery, the single highest-return fertility window in tree crops. Post-harvest zinc and boron set next year’s bud, and a post-harvest soil test tells you what your custom blend needs to carry. Apply what the ground asks for, and nothing it doesn’t.
| Crop |
Primary Nutrients |
Micros / Notes |
Timing & Method |
| Almonds |
In-season N and K are done. Post-harvest is the window, modest N and K restore reserves before leaf drop. |
Post-harvest Zn & B foliar sets next year’s bud. HIGH Soil sample behind the sweeper. |
Irrigate up after harvest, then fertigate. Foliar Zn/B before leaf drop. |
| Pistachios |
Finish K into harvest. Cut N to match the light crop, a short crop does not need a full-crop N budget. |
Post-harvest B is critical for 2027 bloom. HIGH Address salinity & pH now. |
Soil test post-harvest, then build a corrective blend for fall. |
| Walnuts |
K through kernel fill. No further N, late N delays hull split and hurts color. |
Zn & Mn foliar if tissue is short. MED Plan post-harvest program. |
Fertigate K; taper water into pre-harvest dry-down. |
| Grapes |
Nitrogen off. Potassium only, to finish sugar and color. Nothing heavy near pick. |
Post-harvest N & Zn restore reserves. MED Respect PHI on everything. |
Fertigate to quality targets; resume feeding after the last pick. |
| Kiwis |
Potassium for final sizing and dry matter. Hold N, soft growth invites damage. |
Ca supports storage life. MED Keep micros balanced. |
Fertigate every 10–14 days. Water stays heavy and steady. |
| Citrus |
N: 15–25 lbs/ac on sizing blocks. K for size and split prevention. |
Zn & Mn foliar. MED Iron chelate if chlorotic. |
Fertigate every 7–14 days with steady summer irrigation. |
| Pomegranates |
K drives size and aril color. Taper N now, late nitrogen delays color and softens rind. |
Ca supports rind integrity & split resistance. HIGH B & Zn per tissue. |
Fertigate K on a steady schedule. Even moisture matters more than rate. |
| Cotton |
Nitrogen complete. Potassium through boll fill only, heavy loads pull K hard late. |
Foliar K on heavy sets. HIGH Late N delays cutout. |
Foliar or fertigated K to cutout, then shut it down. |
| Corn |
N is finished on silage ground. Grain corn: K per soil test through fill. |
Sample chopped ground for residual N. HIGH Credit manure history. |
Test immediately after chopping to size the next crop’s program. |
| Open Ground |
No in-season fertility. Build the fall program from a fresh post-harvest test. |
Check pH, salinity, OM & base saturation. LOW Amend before rain. |
Sample now; spread a custom corrective blend ahead of winter moisture. |
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Advisor Note: Post-harvest is when a tree decides next year’s crop. Trees that go into dormancy with full carbohydrate and nutrient reserves set stronger buds and bloom more evenly, which matters enormously in a pistachio block coming off a short year and heading into an expected on-year. Sample first, then blend. Applying a full-rate maintenance program to ground that already has the nutrient sitting there is money spent twice.
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| 📈 |
Section 3
August Market Brief
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Indicative levels as of the close of July 2026. Tree nut ranges reflect reported handler and field-level bids and vary by variety, grade, and contract, confirm with your handler. Trade policy continues to drive volatility; consult your broker before making marketing decisions.
| Almonds |
| $2.10–$2.90 |
| per lb · new-crop |
| ↑ Firm. Crop revised to 2.65–2.70 billion lbs, tight carry-out. Nonpareil leads; inshell lags on soft India demand. |
| Pistachios |
| $3.20–$4.00 |
| per lb · in-shell |
| ↑ Sharply higher. A 600–900M lb crop against last year’s 1.6B record. Strong demand meets short supply. |
| Walnuts |
| $0.70–$0.95 |
| per lb · grower |
| ↑ Improving. Continuing to recover off multi-year lows as carryout tightens. Watch new-crop handler bids. |
| Grapes |
| $300–$1,700 |
| per ton · varietal |
| → Mixed. Wine contracts still soft on lower-value fruit; premium reds hold. Table grape movement strong. |
| Kiwis |
| $40–$46 |
| per 9kg container |
| → Steady. CA crop sizing for an October start; market still on imported and stored fruit. Gold premium holds. |
| Citrus |
| $11–$17 |
| per 40-lb carton |
| ↑ Firm. Valencia supply tight into late summer. Florida HLB losses keep CA fruit valued. Organic premium holds. |
| Cotton |
| $0.79–$0.81 |
| per lb · Dec futures |
| ↑ Higher. Rallied through July to near 80¢ on tight acreage. A solid window to price a portion of the crop. |
| Wheat |
| $6.50–$6.65 |
| per bushel · Chicago |
| ↑ Well off lows. Closed near $6.60 in late July, a strong recovery from early-summer levels. Plan fall seeding acres. |
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Pomegranates
30,400 acres
California · >90% of U.S. supply
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→ Pre-season. New-crop pricing opens with the late-September pick, so there is no meaningful August quote, Wonderful sets the market and quality drives the spread. California carries roughly 30,400 acres and better than 90% of U.S. production. Protect pack-out now: splits and leaffooted bug damage cost you grade, and grade is where the money is in this crop.
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Corn
$4.45–$4.55
per bushel · Sep CBOT
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↑ Higher. September corn closed near $4.49 in late July, up sharply from early-summer levels even after a soft close to the month. Central Valley silage corn holds at roughly $55–$75/ton standing, dairy demand remains the floor. Chop to milk line, not the calendar.
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Tariff Watch: Trade policy continues to affect all export-dependent commodities. Almonds, pistachios, and walnuts carry significant China and India exposure, India’s buyers stepped back in late June waiting on new-crop pricing. Monitor USDA trade updates weekly. Consult your commodity broker, this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
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Section 4
Product Spotlight
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Two things this month. First, Post-Harvest Soil Sampling, the reading that sets your whole 2027 program, and the reason to call us before the ground gets wet. Second, an early look at JABB 2.5 and 120, the Beauveria bassiana endophyte inoculants we have growers running right now, with encouraging reports coming back from both permanent and row crops. One tells you what your soil needs; the other helps the plant defend what that soil grows.
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Annual Program · Lab Analysis
Post-Harvest
Soil Sampling
GPS-Guided, Results & Recommendations
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Soil Sample $50 / field |
Water Sample $65 / sample |
Best Window Right after harvest |
Includes Sampling, lab results & recs |
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Harvest is the honest moment. A post-harvest sample shows exactly what the crop removed, where pH and salts have shifted, and which nutrients are present but tied up. It is the only reading of the year taken with the crop’s demand out of the way, which is what makes it the right basis for next season’s program.
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| ✓ GPS-guided sampling, consistent, repeatable, year over year |
| ✓ Reads pH, salinity, OM, macros & micros and base saturation |
| ✓ Catches problems before they cost you a bloom |
| ✓ Pair with a water test, your irrigation is part of your fertility |
| ✓ Builds the multi-year trend line that shows soil health improving |
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ALMONDS
PISTACHIOS
WALNUTS
GRAPES
KIWIS
CITRUS
POMEGRANATES
COTTON
CORN
WHEAT
DAIRY FORAGE
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Biological Program · Beauveria bassiana
JABB 2.5 & 120
Symbiotic Endophyte Inoculants
Seed · In-Furrow · Drip · Foliar
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In The Field
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Active Beauveria bassiana |
Rate 1 oz per acre |
Two Formulations 2.5 conventional · 120 organic |
Pre-Harvest Interval Zero |
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We have growers running both products this season, and the early reports are encouraging. Across permanent and row crops alike they are telling us the same thing: pest pressure is down from what they expected at this point in the year. Both formulations deliver Beauveria bassiana, a naturally occurring fungus that establishes inside the plant as a symbiotic endophyte, colonizing roots, stems, and leaves and growing with the crop instead of sitting on the surface. We’ll be straight with you: these are field observations, not finished trial data, and we won’t know the full impact until the crop is off and weighed. But it is showing up in enough blocks, on enough different crops, that we’d rather tell you now than next spring.
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| ✓ SPE-120 is OMRI listed & a CDFA organic input; SBb 2.5 for conventional ground |
| ✓ One ounce per acre, seed, in-furrow, through the drip, or foliar |
| ✓ Zero pre-harvest interval, fits right up against the pick |
| ✓ Safe for lacewings, predatory mites & parasitic wasps, works inside IPM |
| ✓ Labeled for tree nuts, grapes, citrus, stone fruit, cotton, corn & forage |
| ✓ Both carry California-specific labels |
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August timing: apply at 68–80°F and avoid anything above 85°F, run foliar passes early morning or late evening, targeting leaf undersides. Separate from copper fungicides by 5–7 days and sulfur by 3–5 days.
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ALMONDS
PISTACHIOS
WALNUTS
GRAPES
KIWIS
CITRUS
POMEGRANATES
COTTON
CORN
WHEAT
DAIRY FORAGE
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| How They Fit |
Post-Harvest Soil Sampling |
JABB 2.5 & 120 |
| Primary purpose |
Diagnose what the crop removed and what’s short |
Build plant resilience from the inside out |
| What you get |
Lab results, GPS maps & written recommendations |
A living B. bassiana endophyte established in the plant |
| Cost |
$50/field soil · $65/sample water |
1 oz/acre rate, quoted by acres and formulation |
| Best timing |
Immediately after harvest, before winter moisture |
In-furrow at planting; drip or foliar in established blocks |
| Payoff |
No guessing, decisions made on your own data |
Growers reporting lower pest pressure, full read after harvest |
| They work together |
Gets the soil chemistry right |
Helps the plant defend what that soil grows |
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Harvest Strategy: A light year is not a lost year. Pistachio blocks are running an off year made worse by a hot March, and almond yields are trimmed as well, but the trees are also carrying less of a load, which means fall is the ideal time to correct soil chemistry, rebuild reserves, and go into 2027 ready. Sample now, correct what the results show, and let the on-year work in your favor. If you want to talk through whether JABB fits your blocks for next season, that conversation is worth having before planting decisions get made. Call us and we’ll get your fields on the sampling schedule.
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Get On The Sampling Schedule
Harvest crews are rolling and the post-harvest window is short. We offer GPS-guided soil sampling, water testing, lab analysis, custom blend formulation, compost and amendment quotes, and fertigation planning, built to your crop, your soil, and your budget.
Post-Harvest Sampling
Water Testing
Lab Analysis
Custom Blends
JABB Biologicals
Compost Supply
Fertigation Planning
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This Month in American History
August 2, 1776, The Day They Actually Signed It
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Independence was declared on July 4, 1776, but the parchment most Americans picture was not signed that day. On August 2, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, the delegates of the Second Continental Congress gathered to put their names to the engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence. John Hancock signed first, bold and unmistakable, at the top.
Fifty-six men eventually signed, arranged by state from New Hampshire down to Georgia. Some were not in Philadelphia that August day and added their names weeks later. Every one of them knew what a signature meant: under British law it was treason, punishable by death. They signed anyway.
Two hundred fifty years later, that’s the part worth remembering. July 4 was the decision. August 2 was the commitment, the day ordinary men put their own names on the line and made it permanent. Farmers understand that difference. Anyone can plan a crop in the winter; it’s signing for the ground and the water and the inputs that makes you responsible for it.
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…we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Closing line of the Declaration
Signed August 2, 1776
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⚒
Army
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✈
Air Force & Space
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⚓
Navy & Marines
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🚢
Fire & Rescue
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🚒
Law Enforcement
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🚑
EMS & Medical
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To the Men & Women of Our Armed Forces and First Responders
Fifty-six men signed their names in August of 1776 knowing exactly what it could cost them. Every generation since has produced Americans willing to do the same, in uniform, on the engine, in the ambulance, on the patrol shift. From the fields of the Central Valley to the far corners of the world, your courage is what lets the rest of us plant, grow, and build in peace. We remember those who gave everything, and we thank those who still stand watch.
You are the reason we are Safe and Free.
B Mello Ag Services, Proudly American, Central Valley, California
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This one comes straight from the field, shakers in the almonds, blanks in the pistachios, choppers in the corn. A light year stings, and we won’t dress it up. We’d rather you hear it from someone who shares your sunrises, your sunsets, and the long day in between. That’s the promise behind every B Mello Field Report.
Proudly American · Rooted in the American Dream
Bryan Mello
B Mello Ag Services, Central Valley, California
Every issue we have ever published is free at bmelloag.com/reports, field conditions, ag crime, markets, fuel and fishing.
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B Mello Ag Services · Central Valley, CA
August 2026 Edition · Published August 1, 2026
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(559) 816-3889
bryan@bmelloag.com
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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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