California Ag Network

Category: Featured Post

  • American Pistachio Growers Nets More Than $2.8 Million in Marketing and Research Grant Funding

    American Pistachio Growers (APG) has secured more than $2.8 million in funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand international trade in overseas markets, confront unjustified trade retaliation and to enhance research on the healthful attributes of American-grown pistachios.

    This week, APG received news that it had secured $911,108 under USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP), completing a funding trifecta. On January 31st, APG was awarded $1.715 million in Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) Program funds, and it was recently the beneficiary of $248,158 in Specialty Crop Block Grant funding.

    The MAP funds, administered through USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, are awarded to organizations that partner with the service to share the costs of overseas marketing and promotional activities that help build commercial export markets for U.S. farm products and commodities.

    American Pistachio Growers is among 57 organizations nationwide receiving ATP funds. The award of $1.715 million to APG will help its grower and processor members identify and access new export markets for pistachios. The ATP is one of three USDA programs created to mitigate the effects of unjustified trade retaliation against U.S. agricultural commodities.

    “The award of these funds will go a long way toward boosting the appeal and demand for American-grown pistachios in some of our existing and emerging pistachio markets,” said APG Chairman Brian Watte of Brian Watte Farms in Tulare. “Considerable work has gone into securing these funds and now the work really begins as we help our industry get the biggest bang for the bucks that we have been awarded.”

    Watte said the APG Marketing Communications Committee has been involved in developing the strategy to determine the best opportunities for market expansion on behalf of all pistachio growers.  The committee includes growers and nine of the industry’s 10 largest processors.

    The $248,158 Specialty Crop Block Grant, which was awarded to APG by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, is administered through the California Department of Food and Agriculture to help enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops like pistachios.

    Richard Matoian, Executive Director of American Pistachio Growers, said the grant will help fun
    d additional pistachio nutrition and health benefits research. He noted that American-grown pistachios have already captured the imagination of health-conscious consumers in the U.S. and abroad, and the additional research is welcomed to add to the expanding knowledge base about pistachios.

    In securing the three government awards totaling $2.874 million, Matoian credited members of the APG Board of Directors, many of whom met with congressional leaders and USDA officials In Washington, D.C. as well as with officials with state departments of agriculture in California, Arizona and New Mexico.  APG represents pistachio growers and member processors in all three states.

    “These funds don’t fall out of the sky. It takes diligence, persistence and patience to be successful, and this was a cooperative effort by APG’s marketing team, the members of our Marketing and Communications Committee, and ongoing relationship building by our growers and member processors. It is an example of the positive outcomes that result from this joint effort,” Matoian said. “It’s through these efforts that we have funds like this available to boost our reputation around the globe as the producers of the world’s best pistachios.”

     

    American Pistachio growers logo

     

    Contact: Judy Hirigoyen

    jhirigoyen@AmericanPistachios.org

  • How Retaliatory Tariffs are Impacting the Almond Industry

    There has been a lot of talk and concern about the retaliatory tariffs impacting the California almond industry, and as almond production continues increasing, just how is this all going to impact the market? Watch this brief interview with Julie Adams from the Almond Board of California as she responds to these concerns, and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • Almond Pollination and Hive Removal Timing

    Almond pollination is underway in California and growers are hoping for another good crop this year.  How can you monitor the progress of your bees during almond pollination and determine when it is time to remove the hives?  Watch this brief interview with Billy Synk from Project Apis m. for some answers, and read more about it in the March issue of Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • California Almond Industry Sets Sights High with 2025 Goals

    The Almond Board of California recently unveiled their vision of industry in 2025 and set some ambitious goals on how to get there.  These goals were not just made for the sake of pleasing the consumer and community, but also for the longterm success and viability of the industry moving forward.  Watch this brief interview as Daren Williams from the Almond Board of California explains, and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.  Don’t currently receive the magazine?

  • Enhancing Almond Pollination with Cover Crops


    How do you maximize the efficacy of your investment in bees for a successful almond pollination period?  According to Billy Synk, director of Pollination Services with project Apis m., the answer is planting cover crops in the fall that will flower prior to almond bloom to get the bees active early in preparation for a successful pollination period.Watch this brief interview as Synk explains, and read more about it in the February issue of Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

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  • How the New Farm Bill will Assist California Dairy Producers

    While there has been a lot of talk about the new Farm Bill that finally passed, California dairy producers may be wondering how and if it will really impact them.  Aubrey Bettencourt, Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency in California shared that it will, through the new Dairy Margin Coverage Program replacing the less impactful Margin Protection Program.  Watch this brief interview as Bettencourt explains and don’t miss the Farm Bill Implementation Listening Session of February 26th.

  • USDA 2018 Farm Bill Implementation Listening Session

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture is hosting a listening session for initial input on the 2018 Farm Bill. USDA is seeking public input on the changes to existing programs implemented by the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Risk Management Agency. Each agency will take into account stakeholder input when making discretionary decisions on program implementation.

    Deadline for registration to attend the event in person is February 22, 2019. Register at www.farmers.gov/farmbill.

    The event will be streamed live on www.farmers.gov/farmbill for those who are unable to attend in person. No registration is required to view the livestream.

    Written comments are encouraged by February 22, 2019; additional comments will be accepted through March 1, 2019. To submit comments, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov  and search for Docket ID USDA–2019–0001.   Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. You may also submit written comments at the listening session. Comments received will be publicly available on www.regulations.gov.

  • Statement on Bureau of Reclamation’s Initial Water Supply Allocation

    FRESNO, CA – Yesterday, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) announced a 35% initial water allocation for south-of-Delta Central Valley Project (CVP) agricultural water service contractors.
    Westlands appreciates that this initial allocation is higher than it otherwise would have been but for the diligent work by Reclamation staff to make the initial allocation as high as practicable. However, given the current hydrologic conditions, including above average precipitation and snowpack in the northern and central Sierra Nevada Mountains, a 35% allocation is further evidence that the 2009 biological opinion controlling temperature management of Shasta Reservoir is placing unreasonable restrictions on CVP operations. Moreover, the 35% initial allocation demonstrates the need to update the existing biological opinions to reflect the science that has emerged over the last decade.
    This year total runoff into the Shasta, Trinity, and Folsom reservoirs during the months of April-July is projected to be 1.0 million-acre-feet (MAF), more than was projected at this time in 2012 when the District received a final allocation of 40%. Similarly, the same comparison shows the San Joaquin basin is expected to have 1.1 MAF more runoff into the New Melones, Don Pedro, and McClure reservoirs, and storage at the San Luis Reservoir is on track to be 140-thousand-acre feet more than at this time in 2012.
    For Westlands farmers, low initial allocations create uncertainty about how much of their land can be farmed and how much productive farmland will need to be fallowed and contribute to over pumping groundwater. Westlands looks forward to working with Reclamation and other federal and state agencies to reexamine regulatory restrictions that are imposing unreasonable restriction on operations of the CVP. Westland logo

  • Unnecessary Trade War Risks Irreparably Damaging U.S. Dairy

    By Laurie Fischer, CEO, American Dairy Coalition

    Laurie Fischer

    Mexico imports nearly a quarter of the U.S. dairy industry’s exports annually. It’s a critical $1.4 billion marketplace. And it’s one that President Trump continues to risk damaging permanently — and unnecessarily.

    Locked in a trade war since May, Mexican leaders are setting aside American business connections that took decades to build as our neighbors to the south find new sources of cheese, butter and other products.

    This should have changed in November when Trump declared success with his newly rechristened U.S.-Canada-Mexico Trade Agreement replacing NAFTA. In retrospect, it was a disingenuous statement: The administration has not lifted steel and aluminum tariffs on Mexican and Canadian products, and — in response — those countries are refusing to sign the pact or lift retaliatory tariffs, impacting dairy products and other items.

    “If you’re using the tariffs as leverage, if you get an agreement with countries that have come to the table because of that, if you don’t relieve them of tariffs, you’re going to marginalize that as an effective leverage point for other negotiations,” U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, told reporters at a recent press conference.

    “The longer this trade war goes on … the greater and more permanent the damage will be,” added Johnson, whose home state saw the dairy-fueled economy lose $139 million through October of last year.

    A Pyrrhic victory is defined as one that inflicts such a devastating toll on the victor that it is tantamount to defeat. That’s an apt description of the precipice President Trump stands on today.

    His surprise electoral path to victory in 2016 ran straight through the American “Farm Belt,” fueled by Midwest states where agriculture still figures prominently in the day-to-day lives of their citizens. Those same farmers — whether they deal in dairy, livestock, dairy or crops — have generally remained supportive of the president’s efforts to secure more favorable trade deals from nations historically benefiting from lopsided agreements.

    However, having won concessions from Mexico and Canada, Trump now risks squandering those hard-fought gains — wiping out thousands of agriculture-related jobs in the process, ignoring one of his core constituencies and, in the most ironic twist of all, irreparably undermining his 2020 re-election ambitions.

    A Pyrrhic victory, indeed.

    “The president’s trade policies have sent U.S. agricultural exports plunging, exacerbating already difficult economic conditions facing farmers,” Politico’s Ryan McCrimmon recently reported. “Average farm income has fallen to near 15-year lows under Trump, and in some areas of the country, farm bankruptcies are soaring.”

    President Trump sells himself as a champion for agriculture. However, a good general knows when the day is won and when to remove his troops from harm’s way. If Trump can’t learn the same lesson, he may find few farmers willing — or able — to stand behind him.

    About The American Dairy Coalition:American Dairy Coalition Logo

    The American Dairy Coalition (ADC) is a farmer-led national lobbying organization of modern dairy farmers. We focus on federal dairy policy.

    www.americandairycoalitioninc.com

  • Central Valley Citrus Growers Manage through Mid-Season Freeze

    Exeter, CA, February 11, 2019 – Temperatures once again fell below freezing across the Central Valley citrus belt last night with overnight lows around 28 in the coldest areas. Growers report running wind machines in order to raise grove temperatures as much as 3-5 degrees to prevent freeze damage.

    Central Valley Citrus Growers Manage through Mid-Season FreezeWhile the temperatureswere within manageable ranges, there is some concern that rain on Saturday and Sunday in combination with the cold temperatures last night may impact the external quality of the fruit. However, if there is damage it will not materialize for at least a couple of weeks. Generally, afternoon sun and breezy conditions on Sunday helped to dry the fruit before temperatures dropped, which growers hope will be enough to mitigate any damage. As an added precaution some growers used wind machines to dry the fruit before temperatures started to dip into the low 30s.

    Central Valley Citrus Growers Manage through Mid-Season Freeze

    Wind machines were mostly utilized for the less cold tolerant mandarins and lemons, but the temperature did not drop low enough to cause concern. Navel orange varieties can tolerate temperatures as low as 27-28 degrees before wind machines are needed. Mandarins and lemons are less tolerant of cold temperatures due to their size, or in the case of lemons, low sugar content. For these varieties wind machines are utilized at temperatures as high as 32 degrees.

    Generally, last night’s temperatures are not a cause for concern for Valley citrus growers. In the coming weeks growers will be assessing the external quality of the fruit and implementing standard protocols to ensure blemished and damaged fruit does not enter the market.

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    About CCM – CCM is the only advocacy organization representing CA citrus growers on the economic, regulatory, and political issues that impact them most. We are a voluntary, non-profit trade association dedicated to enhancing the sustainability of the CA citrus industry by advocating for sound, reasonable policy that allows for fair competition in the market place. Our 2,500 members represent 75% of California’s 320,000 acre, $3.8 billion citrus industry.