Seafood lovers need not fret over the Salmon shortage this year due to the ban on Pacific Coast salmon fishing.  They simply need to adjust their palates to the taste of calamari and continue dining.  According to Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center, giant squid have been appearing in greater numbers since fishermen started seeing them off the Oregon and Washington coasts in 2004.  Researchers believe warmer ocean temperatures are benefiting the squid while at the same time, salmon that like colder water are disappearing. 

Why the sudden change in ocean conditions?  Maybe it’s global warming, maybe it’s the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, documented to warm and cool the eastern Pacific in 10-20 year cycles.  Maybe it’s a huge bubble of low-oxygen water off the coasts of North and South America that scientists are discussing.  Scientists say squid love low-oxygen and warm water.  Whatever the cause, it’s spring break for squid and Salmon are looking for cooler waters elsewhere. 

Maybe its not the pumps after all.  

Grape growers in several parts of the state suffered crop losses during the recent cold weather snap.  Growers who invested in high-efficiency drip irrigation had less flexibility to use water as a means to keep orchard temperatures up, which may not provide adequate protection for the young grapes against untimely cold temperatures.

Growers who use micro-sprinklers, furrow or regular sprinklers were able to more thouroughly wet the soil which can help prevent vineyard temperatures from dropping below the freezing level.  As a result, some vineyards dodged the bullet and may still have a successful harvest this fall.  

There is always a tradeoff.  Drip irrigation systems provide enormous benefits for controlling water applications and improving distribution uniformity across the field.  They can, however, fall short if circumstances are right...or wrong.