Skip to ContentFarm country has seasons you can plan around. This calendar combines what the sources above say about rice, almonds, apples and winter birds. Months are typical; weather moves them.
Checked November 1, 2026
The Calendar
| When | What Is Happening | Source |
|---|---|---|
| November to January | Almond orchards are dormant. Winter birds are at their peak at Gray Lodge (October through February). | Almond Board; CDFW |
| Mid-February to mid-March | Almond bloom. | Almond Board |
| Late winter to early spring | Rice fields are leveled. | California Rice Commission |
| April to May | Rice seed is dropped into flooded fields. | California Rice Commission |
| March to June | Almond kernels mature; irrigation starts. | Almond Board |
| July | Almond hulls split. Peaches start late in the month at Noble Orchards. | Almond Board; CA Grown |
| August | Almond harvest begins; the rice station’s Rice Field Day (per our guide); apple season starts late in the month. | Almond Board; CA Grown |
| August to September | Rice fields are drained as the crop matures. | California Rice Commission |
| September to October | Rice harvest. U-pick apples begin in Paradise. | California Rice Commission; CA Grown |
| First weekend of October | Johnny Appleseed Days in Paradise. | Town of Paradise |
| After rice harvest | Many fields are reflooded for straw breakdown and birds. | California Rice Commission |
| Year-round | Saturday farmers market downtown. | Our guide |
Orchards and rice fields are working private land. Look from public roads and pullouts, keep out of the rows, and never block a farm gate (general guidance).
Questions People Ask
What is the best month to see farm country?
It depends on the crop: February or March for almond bloom, April to May for flooded rice fields, September and October for rice harvest and apples.
When do the winter birds arrive?
CDFW says peak visitation at Gray Lodge is October through February.
More in Agriculture
- Agriculture Home
- Rice Country
- Richvale
- Rice and Wildlife
- Almond Country
- Walnuts, Prunes and Other Crops
- Paradise Apple Orchards
- Rancho Chico Farming History
- Chico State University Farm
- Farmers Markets and Farm Stands
- Farm Year Calendar
Sources
- Almond Board of California, almond lifecycle: https://www.almonds.org/why-almonds/growing-good/almond-lifecycle (checked November 1, 2026)
- California Rice Commission, Rice 101: https://calrice.org/rice-101 (checked November 1, 2026)
- CA Fish and Wildlife, Gray Lodge Wildlife Area: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Gray-Lodge-WA (checked November 1, 2026)
- CA Grown, Noble Orchards: https://californiagrown.org/blog/noble-orchards/ (checked November 1, 2026)
- Town of Paradise, Johnny Appleseed Days: https://www.paradiseca.gov/community/page/johnny-appleseed-days (checked November 1, 2026)
Cite this page: It's Chico, “Farm Year Calendar: Rice, Almonds, Apples and Birds”, itschico.com/agriculture/farm-year-calendar/ (updated ). By the It's Chico editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.