California Ag Network

Category: Featured Post

  • Will Declining Raisin Grape Acreage Lead to Higher Raisin Prices?

    California raisin growers have been disappointed this year with the raisin market after coming off of record high raisin prices the year before.  Is this price volatility expected to last, and will the continued removal of raisin acreage impact future pricing? Watch this brief interview with Steve Kister, Chairman of Board with Sun-Maid Growers, and read more about it in the February issue of American Vineyard Magazine.

     

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support and tell them you saw them on California Ag Network.

  • PD/GWSS Board Designates Spotted Lanternfly as a Pest of Winegrapes

    The Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (PD/GWSS) Board officially added the spotted laternfly (SLF) to its list of designated pests and diseases, making it eligible for research and outreach funding.

     

    “The best quarantine efforts happen at the points of origin. By showing that this is a pest we don’t want in California, we have a better chance of getting cooperation and action to control its spread,” said Roger Spencer, Pierce’s Disease Control Program acting statewide coordinator.

    The SLF, a native to Asia, was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014. It is spreading rapidly and the PD/GWSS Board has been closely following the situation. The pest is primarily known to feed on the tree-of-heaven, but has a wide host range including grapes. It is considered a high risk pest due to its mobility, with eggs and adults easily transported long distances by normal trade and transportation activities, making it a concern for grape growers nationwide. Learn more about the spotted laternfly.

  • World’s Best Vineyards to be Announced in Sonoma Wine Country this Summer

    First 100% sustainability, now host of the World’s Best Vineyards — Sonoma County Winegrowers is on a roll and proud to be the World’s next host of the announcement of the top 50 vineyards across the globe.  Watch this brief interview with Karissa Kruse, President of Sonoma County Winegrowers for more details, and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support and tell them you saw them on California Ag Network.

  • A Brand New Sun-Maid: Investing in the Future

    The dried fruit sector hasn’t been as popular with millennial consumers as in other generations, but Sun-Maid Growers are working to turn things around (at least for California raisins) with some new strategies and investments as shared at their annual meeting in Fresno recently.  Watch this brief interview with Sun-Maid CEO Harry Overly and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

     

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support and tell them you saw them on California Ag Network.

  • California Walnut Board Goes Worldwide with New Marketing Campaign

    Happy Valentine’s Day from Pacific Nut Producer Magazine and the California Walnut Board. In the midst of American Heart Month, the California Walnut Board has launched an exciting new worldwide marketing campaign. Watch this brief interview with Jennifer Olmstead to see how you can get involved to promote heart-healthy walnuts, and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

     

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support and see them at their booth at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, February 11-13 (Booth K24), and at the APG Conference in Monterey, March 2-4 (Booths 20-21).

  • What to Expect at American Pistachio Growers’ Upcoming Annual Conference

    American Pistachio Growers Annual Conference is returning to Monterey on March 2-4th, where growers can expect some exciting new things this year.  Watch this brief video with the Executive Director of American Pistachio Growers Richard Matoian for more details.  Pacific Nut Producer Magazine is a proud sponsor of this annual event, so be sure to see us there!

     

     

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support and see them at their booth at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, February 11-13 (Booth K24), and at the APG Conference in Monterey, March 2-4 (Booths 20-21).

  • CDFA Releases CA 2019 Preliminary Grape Crush Report

    The 2019 crush totaled 4,085,772 tons, down 9.3 percent from the 2018 crush of 4,506,010 tons.  Red wine varieties accounted for the largest share of all grapes crushed, at 2,135,112 tons, down 12.8 percent from 2018.  The 2019 white wine variety crush totaled 1,755,141 tons, down 4.3 percent from 2018.  Tons crushed of raisin type varieties totaled 61,051, down 26.0 percent from 2018, and tons crushed of table type varieties totaled 134,468 down 5.6 percent from 2018. 
     
    The 2019 average price of all varieties was $790.43, down 5.0 percent from 2018. Average prices for the 2019 crop by type were as follows: red wine grapes, $990.07, down 2.9 percent from 2018; white wine grapes, $580.66, down 8.6 percent from 2018; table grapes, $262.60, up 36.8 percent; and raisin grapes, $244.88, down 19.0 percent.
     
    In 2019, Chardonnay continued to account for the largest percentage of the total crush volume with 15.6 percent.  Cabernet Sauvignon accounted for the second leading percentage of crush with 14.1 percent.  Thompson Seedless, the leading raisin grape variety crushed for 2019, held only 1.1 percent of the total crush.
     
    District 13, (Madera, Fresno, Alpine, Mono, Inyo Counties; and Kings and Tulare Counties north of Nevada Avenue (Avenue 192)), had the largest share of the State’s crush, at 1,307,233 tons.  The average price per ton in District 13 was $300.60.
     
    Grapes produced in District 4 (Napa County) received the highest average price of $5,797.07 per ton, up 3.9 percent from 2018.  District 3 (Sonoma and Marin counties) received the second highest return of $2,823.67, up 0.2 percent from 2018.  The 2019 Chardonnay price of $899.83 was down 7.3 percent from 2018, and the Cabernet Sauvignon price of $1,720.61 was up 2.2 percent from 2018.  The 2019 average price for Zinfandel was $564.74, down 5.8 percent from 2018, while the French Colombard average price was down 5.0 percent from 2018 at $275.89 per ton.

    See the tables below for more information and read the full report HERE.

  • CA Tomato Processors Expect 12 Million Tons in 2020

    The USDA-NASS Pacific Regional Office surveyed California’s tomato processors for their intended contract acreage and tonnage for the upcoming 2020 season.  The data reported by processors was either tonnage with derived acreage, or acreage with derived tonnage.
    As of January, California’s tomato processors reported they have, or will have, contracts for 12.0 million tons in 2020, which is an increase of 4.3 percent compared to what was reported under contract in the August 2019 California processing Tomato Report.  Processors estimate that the contracted production for 2020 will come from 235,000 acres, generating an average yield of 51.1 tons per acre.  The contracted planted acreage forecast is unchanged from the 2019 acreage reported under contract in August.
    This early processing tomato estimate is funded by the California League of Food Processors, in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

  • Daniel Errotabere Elected President of Westlands Water District

    On December 17, 2019, Don Peracchi announced that he would step down as President of Westlands Water District’s Board, effective December 31, 2019. Following his announcement, the District’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to elect Director Daniel Errotabere as President of the District.

    Mr. Peracchi stated, “It has been an honor to serve as Westlands’ President, and I am proud of the District’s accomplishments over the last several years. These include the District’s role in passage of the WIIN Act, its role in negotiating revisions to the Coordinated Operations Agreement, conversion of the District’s water service contract to a repayment contract, and development of the groundwater sustainability plan. The District has a well-functioning Board supported by competent, dedicated staff. I believe it’s time to provide another Director with the opportunity to serve as President of the District.”

    Tom Birmingham, the District’s general manager, stated, “On behalf of the staff, I want to express our appreciation to Mr. Peracchi. Few people understand the time commitment required to serve as Westlands’ President; it is a full-time job. Mr. Peracchi led the District through difficult times, when drought and regulatory restrictions severely reduced water supply, but because of his leadership on the Board, the District is in a good position.”

    Mr. Errotabere stated, “Don Peracchi leaves big shoes to fill. He did an incredible job of leading the District through difficult times. I am gratified that the Board has confidence in my ability to continue the course set by Don and the Board.”

    Mr. Peracchi has served as a Director of Westlands since 2008 and was elected President in 2011. He will remain on the Board of Directors. Mr. Errotabere, who previously served as Westlands’ President from 2002 through 2005, will begin his second term as President of Westlands on January 1, 2020. 

    Westlands is a public water district governed by a nine-member Board of Directors. Elections for the Board are held every two years and Directors are elected to four-year terms in office. The Board elects the District President and appoints other officers. 

    Westlands Water District is the largest agricultural water district in the United States, made up of more than 1,000 square miles of prime farmland in western Fresno and Kings Counties. Under federal contracts, Westlands provides water to 700 family-owned farms that average 653 acres in size.

  • Federal Government Invests $6 Million to Combat Formidable Tree Nut Pest

    California tree nut growers received a ‘holiday gift’ from the Federal Government last week — to the sum of $6 Million in appropriation funds to combat the formidable pest of the tree nut industry, Navel Orangeworm.  Watch this brief video with the Executive Director of American Pistachio Growers Richard Matoian for more details.

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support with an email of gratitude this holiday season.