Impello Agronomy Newsletter: May 2025 Edition

Spring in full swing: A field-level look at Central Valley California agriculture.

This season in California feels like a fast-forward button’s been pushed — crops are waking up, taking off, and coming in all at once. I talked with Brandon, one of our Technical Crop Advisors, to hear straight from the field what he’s seeing across the Central Valley and coastal regions. The big picture? Everything is moving, and it’s moving fast.

“We’re in that rare window,” Brandon told me, “where citrus is flushing, blueberries and cherries are being harvested, corn and cotton have just been planted, and tomatoes are both going in and setting fruit — it all depends on where you look.”

It’s not just Central Valley crops in motion — coastal strawberries are finally catching up after some cool weather, and broccoli, celery, and leafy greens are coming off strong. “The weather’s been good,” Brandon said, “and that’s great news — but it’s also flooding the vegetable market a bit. We’re seeing oversupply drive down prices.”

Under the surface: Pressure is building.

While the fields look good from a distance, Brandon pointed out that market and resource pressure are building below the surface. “Walnut prices are still low, and some growers are feeling like they have to back off inputs,” he explained. “But when you do that, soil health suffers, and it gets harder to bounce back. If we don’t invest in those soils now, we’ll feel it in next year’s yields.”

Citrus isn’t immune either — inventories are high, movement is slow, and concerns around tariffs are creeping in. And although the weather has been mostly cooperative, bloom was scattered in many crops. “Almonds and citrus both had on-and-off bloom,” Brandon said. “Nonpareils especially, were all over the place. You’ve got some blocks that look great, and others that are noticeably light.”

Heat is here — and it’s early.

As of early May, parts of the Valley hit their first triple-digit days. For crops in early fruit set or nut fill, that’s a real risk. “Heat stress this early can impact tissue quality, water-use efficiency, even fruit finish down the line,” Brandon told me. “It’s not about fixing it after the fact — it’s about getting in ahead of it.”

Brandon’s tip: Use Dune for fast, foliar support.

One product Brandon strongly recommends this time of year is Dune, Impello’s stabilized monosilicic acid. “When you put Dune into a foliar program — whether it’s with crop protection or fertility — it’s fast and noticeable. You get firmer, fuller tissue, better leaf hydration, and more consistent nutrient movement.” It is a recipe for defense against abiotic stress.

In a recent trial, foliar Dune application led to: +27% calcium uptake in cherries and +53% potassium uptake in almonds. Why do these changes matter? Brandon tells me that among other benefits, it is because calcium reinforces cell walls — keeping tissues strong and reducing water loss; and potassium supports stomatal function — so plants can regulate cooling without wasting water. These kinds of cellular improvements might seem small, but they cascade out into huge impacts on end-of-season quality and quantity.

However, we all know that program integration is everything, so it is valuable to point out that Dune is compatible with most standard foliar passes and can be easily folded into protection or nutrient applications with no disruption to the schedule.

Crop-by-Crop: Other observations from the field:

Here’s a snapshot from the field:

• Almonds: Nut fill is progressing, and the season’s looking stronger than some past years — though bloom variability could cause uneven finish in some blocks.
  
  

• Grapes: Bloom and berry set underway. Now’s a good time to get ahead of early stress to support cluster development.
  
  

• Strawberries: After a slower start, harvest is ramping up. “We’re watching for signs of stress in older fields as the pace picks up.”
  
  

• Celery & Leafy Greens: Yields are high — but prices are soft. This is a moment to get more out of every input, and avoid overdoing it.
  
  

• Processing Tomatoes: Young plants need rooting support; early-set crops need resilience. “It’s a split season — but both sides benefit from improved nutrient transport and water balance.”
  
  

• Corn & Cotton: Recently planted. Cotton’s coming up on its first herbicide pass.

Biological product integration, whether through microbial products that support the soil community and improve nutrient availability; or nutrient products that support consistent, robust, crop and fruit development can address many of these challenges. 

Brandon’s practical advice:

• Stay ahead of heat stress — use Dune in your next foliar pass if high temps are on the forecast.
  
  

• Don’t starve the soil, even in tight markets. “Biological tools can help stretch what you’ve got without needing high-cost inputs.”
  
  

• Use this good weather to your advantage. When crops are actively growing, they’re primed to respond to foliar and microbial support.
  
  

Final thoughts for a face-paced season.

Brandon summed it up this way: “This year is better than a lot of folks expected. The key is to protect that momentum. Keep crops fed, hydrated, and stable as we roll into summer — and don’t let early heat take away the gains we’ve already made.” If you’re not sure how Dune or other biostimulants could fit into your current program, or if you’d like to compare tissue data from your fields, just reach out. We’re always here to talk strategy — because good growing starts underground, and no two systems are exactly alike.

How We Can Help

Impello goes beyond identifying problems—we offer actionable solutions. Whether it’s improving soil health, optimizing irrigation, or leveraging biological products for better resilience, we’re here to partner with you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to discuss how we can address your specific challenges.

Stay Connected

Looking for more insights or personalized support? Contact our agronomy team today to discuss how we can help address your growing needs.

Contact Technical Support

Jose Ramirez (PCA, Directory of Agronomy): jose@impellobio.com

Brandon Malm (PCA, Technical Account Manager): brandon@impellobio.com

James Marlier (Technical Account Manager for Controlled Agriculture): james@impellobio.com