Castellón’s citrus belt recalls last November, when rain arrived in heavy bursts over citrus groves, soaking fields and then fading away. A drought has lingered since, and forecasts hint at little relief in the near term. Even with reservoirs in this province holding more water than in Catalonia or Andalusia, farm use has jumped roughly 20 percent in recent months. Reservoir levels are dropping, and there is a real risk that oranges and mandarins will not reach the market sizes demanded by trade.
The president of the Presidency Pascual Broch, head of the Mijares River Central Water Association, notes irrigation was unnecessary through May thanks to March and April rains. He adds that now irrigation must run three to four days a week due to heat, yet fruit size remains stubbornly unchanged because size depends on rainfall timing and patterns. — Mediterráneo
José Francisco Nebot of Unió Llauradora shares the same concern. If rainfall stays insufficient, the outcome of the next harvest cannot be guaranteed. He stresses that weather trends will heavily influence planning and risk management in the months ahead. — Mediterráneo
Bloom
Experts highlight the flowering phase as a key indicator, signaling a potential production rise in the next autumn if there is enough water, ideally from rainfall, to reach the target size. Nebot notes that fruit size outside market specifications has little value and drains the tree’s resources, diverting energy from core growth stages. — Mediterráneo
That puts citrus growers in a tense period. The best case would be moderate rain in late summer and early autumn to reach desired dimensions. Yet no reliable forecast exists for the coming months. Broch stresses that these weather-driven fluctuations are becoming more common, pointing to broader shifts in climate patterns and their impact on orchard management. — Mediterráneo
Restlessness on land and livestock
Dryland farmers have long worried about the outlook for crops, and citrus groves amplify that unease. Mediterráneo reports that olives and almonds face crop-loss risks that would worsen the previous season. Livestock and grain pastures are already fragile in places because the soil is bone dry. A light rain did fall, but it was insufficient to replenish groundwater or refill aquifers through mountain snowmelt. To cope, farmers must purchase feed and water for their animals in barrels, pushing up operating costs and squeezing margins. — Mediterráneo
Across the countryside, the pattern is clear: a dry spell stretching into the growing season disrupts planning, raises costs, and threatens harvest quality and market access. Stakeholders are calling for coordinated water management, drought-resilient practices, and contingency planning to weather future dry periods. Within the expert community, the consensus is that climate variability is here to stay, and adaptation will define the health of citrus crops and rural livelihoods in the coming years. — Mediterráneo
As farmers monitor soil moisture, rainfall forecasts, and vegetation cues, they rely on a blend of traditional wisdom and modern irrigation strategies to balance water use with crop needs. The region’s citrus sector hinges on aligning water inputs with growth stages, protecting tree health, and ensuring fruit meets the quality standards demanded by buyers. This ongoing effort reminds readers that farming landscapes respond to more than the calendar; they answer to the rhythms of rain, soil, and weather that shape harvests and economies. — Mediterráneo